This week I was able to read a summary of Jim Collins, Good to Great. In this book he outlines six concepts what it takes for a company to transform from good to great.
The concept that I found most interesting was the Hedgehog concept. “Hedgehogs are relatively simple animals who
know just one big thing and stick to it.
Good-to-great companies do something similar – they consistently stick
to doing what they do best and avoid getting distracted into new fields of
business that are away from their core competencies.”
This is a good concept in theory. I actually believe it. BUT, (and you knew this was coming) how does
one put this in practice? How does a woman put it into practice?
THE PROBLEM: I’m a
mother. I wear many different hats. When I had younger children, I was chief
cook, housekeeper, educator, bottlewasher, and taxi driver. Now that my children are older, I’m primarily
in the role of mentor – though occasionally I have to fulfill those earlier
roles. This does not allow for a
hedgehog mentality. Add onto that, I’m a
wife (and not a very good one at that).
I also have been blessed with many talents – one in particular, but I’m
still capable of many other wondrous capabilities. For instance, my particular talent is
sewing. I’m truly blessed with this
talent. Yet, my current emphasis of
study is Family History with a specific goal in mind. In order to accomplish a vision, I have with
my sewing, I need to put this goal on hold, so I can learn about business. How can I be a hedgehog? And let’s add – visiting teaching, keeping
healthy, studying scriptures, fulfilling my church calling, maintaining
relationships with my extended family and friends, going to the temple. How can I be a hedgehog? (And since most of my children are out of the
home, I have reverted to chief cook and bottlewasher.)
I don’t resent being a woman or a mother or a wife. In fact, I love being all three (most of the
time), but I do feel the pull of being “I am Woman, watch me roar!” I want to create this business vision I have. But can I be a hedgehog?
This lead me to look for business books written by
women. The three books we read for class
are all written by men (there is nothing wrong with that, I just need a woman’s
perspective on being in business and being a woman – can I do it all?) According, to George Leonard, I need
to pick my instructor carefully. I was
talking about this hedgehog concept with a girlfriend and we couldn’t think of
one business book written by a woman.
One of our favorite woman leader, Sheri L. Dew, is CEO of Deseret Books. She writes wonderful books and gives
wonderful addresses. But, they are not
about being a businesswoman. I think she
understands the circumstances of her life allow her to do what a goodly portion
of women cannot do. She can be a CEO
because she doesn’t have the inherent responsibilities of home. (Now, to a Mormon woman, not being married
and having children is a difficult situation.
Sister Dew has taken her difficult situation and made wonderful
lemonade out of it. I so appreciate her
example. I would hope someday to be as gracious and thoughtful as she is.)
Back to the books, so I would have to carefully peruse these
books. I found an article on Inc.com "60 Great Business and Leadership Books All Written by Women." I don’t want to read a book on
business by a woman who doesn’t believe in family and home. They are my primary consideration. I do follow a woman entrepreneur on social media and she has
had phenomenal success, but I’m not sure at what cost. She became a phenomenal success because
her motivation was she HAD to put food on the table for her babies, she HAD to
provide a roof for their shelter. I’m
not in that boat either.
Is being a woman of business really as difficult as I’m
making it?
Some of my favorite verses of scripture are found in Proverbs 31. Many know these verses as a the verses that speak of a virtuous woman and her role in life. I love these verses. I want to become this woman. I believe from these verses, it gives "permission" for a woman to have a business (see verses 13-14, 18-19, 24). I look to women such as Martha Washington and Abigail Adams how they maintained their husbands' farms/plantations while their husbands were being leaders that brought forth this great nation of the United States of America. I have raised my daughters to consider that they will probably have to help with the financial well being of their families once they are married and have children.
How is it to be done?
Some of my favorite verses of scripture are found in Proverbs 31. Many know these verses as a the verses that speak of a virtuous woman and her role in life. I love these verses. I want to become this woman. I believe from these verses, it gives "permission" for a woman to have a business (see verses 13-14, 18-19, 24). I look to women such as Martha Washington and Abigail Adams how they maintained their husbands' farms/plantations while their husbands were being leaders that brought forth this great nation of the United States of America. I have raised my daughters to consider that they will probably have to help with the financial well being of their families once they are married and have children.
How is it to be done?
