As women, we sometimes forget how much skill we truly have when it comes to creating our own successful journeys in business and in life. Yet, it doesn’t have to be that way if we are mindful of all that is possible, within grasp, and destined to happen by our own ability to make it so. I was enthusiastically reminded of this when my friend Sharon Lechter invited me to speak at her recent event: the Think and Grow Rich For Women Experiential Summit in Austin, Texas.

Sharon has such a powerful message for audiences, including her own successful journey as an entrepreneur, a best-selling author, an international speaker, and all-around great professional. I’ve been fortunate to grace the same stages that she has graced at past events, including Secret Knock in California and Women’s Entrepreneurship Day at Harvard University on past occasions. And Sharon’s goal to help more women achieve their financial aspirations is one I can identify with in my own message to audiences on how to Live R.I.C.H. with a strong Code of Values as a guide. Her Austin gathering landed on my calendar for all the right reasons!

Females and Finances Should Be Great Friends

The topic of women taking control of their lives is very near and dear to my heart. In a recent survey from Financial Finesse, only one quarter of women said they were on track for saving for retirement.  About 30% of women said they were spending more than they earn each month. And only 43% of women said they felt confident about their investments. Women need to feel empowered to understand, control and impact their own financial prowess.

But don’t be discouraged. A study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics found that firms with women in C-Suite positions were more profitable. And the number of women-owned businesses grew 45 percent from 2017 to 2016.

Through my own professional journey, I know that we can break down the stereotypes of effective leadership and financial know-how to encourage more “She-E-O” success at work, at home and in life. And I can speak from a female perspective about the advantages – yes, advantages – I personally harnessed in a traditionally male-dominated industry of the service trades.  At Dwyer Group, where I literally grew up in the business, I eagerly embraced the Mrs. Jones perspective  -- the female of the house who is the target customer in a majority of the millions of service calls that our service brands make every year. I found comfort as an executive by understanding that customer’s point of view and literally walking in her shoes.  And, in turn, I was able to understand the financial side of the business in a way those happy female target customers could help dictate.

Finding those skills within myself not only made me a better leader, but it also allowed me to be a voice for more women with similar pursuits. I have been blessed to champion women in business in franchising at-large, across the service brands at Dwyer Group, and also in a special initiative at Dwyer Group called the Women in Trades program that has supported and encouraged more women in variety of careers across the service trades.

If this sounds interesting to you too, then here’s the gateway to be the boss, operate your own franchise and serve customers in the service trades where demand is at an all-time high for our brands doing more than $1.5 billion a year in system-wide sales: HERE.

Plus, through it all, I’ve had a special roadmap to follow, that our entire system gets to follow too.

Our Nurturing Nature Can Benefit Company Cultures with Values

Beyond my life as a mother, a wife, a business executive and all of the so-called titles I’ve carried, I’ve also consider myself a head cheerleader for a strong Code of Values as the key to navigating it all. When I think of what it means to Think and Grow Rich For Women, I can draw a direct line to how we Live R.I.C.H. at Dwyer Group following a proven Code of Values. And as I told the audience in Austin, our themes for Respect, Integrity, Customer focus and Having fun in the process have made business and life a wonderful journey to be our best authentic selves. The monetary success are simply the rewards for doing what is right.

At another company, somebody might view those values as a cherished company secret worth guarding and keeping to one’s self. But I believe they are best when shared so that others might discover a solution for defining their own company values and, in turn, create a culture with similar success. Consider it a female instinct to nurture and care for others that drives my motive. And it’s certainly why my book Values, Inc. was written to share with the public at-large.  As for that incredible group of women in Austin who are ready to Think and Grow Rich, they have my encouragement to Live R.I.C.H. as well on the road ahead.