Inspiring women

Grace Bonney

Design*Sponge

Initially my book was supposed to be a DIY encyclopedia, but I lost enthusiasm on that idea. There are so many great articles, guides and videos out there already that you can find anything and everything online and offline, too. You can easily go on Pinterest and find tutorials and step-by-step guides.

Even though my publisher isn’t in the business market, I pitched them an idea, I had in my mind for some time, about featuring inspiring women who own a creative business. They agreed to the concept on terms that the book will have the same deadline as the original DIY book. It meant that I had only two months to put “In the Company of Women” together.

I really wanted to write a book that would make women inclusive in business. In 2014 I realised one thing; that majority of women in business were perceived as one type of woman - young, straight and white. Working with some amazing women through Design*Sponge over many years, I knew that there are so many women outside of this stereotypical assumption.

I contacted over 120 women with the proposition of an interview within a very tight deadline and over 100 came back to me. I interviewed women between the age of 19 and 94, from various ethic backgrounds, religion and the scale of their businesses. From young media titans and mother and daughter fashion houses to inspiring painters and poets. These businesses show how diverse these women are. The ultimate goal these women seek is to be happy doing things they love doing. Some didn’t enjoy their work at all, others were looking for a better work / life balance. Some women found it hard to stay motivated and were looking for better personal growth and fulfilment, while others we unhappy with juggling their family life whilst holding down a full time job. They reached a tipping point where they realised that doing something they like doing has far more benefits than staying in the same situation.

Another common thing, they all have, is that they all are role models. They are not necessarily famous or well-known, but through their actions and their stories they inspire other women. Those moments I spent listening and learning from these women have provided me with enough inspiration for decades to come. They also have inspired me to change the way I run my own business.

PIECE OF ADVICE: I realised that no one has it all figured out. There is always a trade-off. You have to accept that you can’t have it all. There never will be the perfect balance. It’s always about give and take. And, the sooner you realise that “having it all” doesn’t exist, the sooner you can move forward. But there is more. We also have to let go of expectations we put on ourselves. Seeing failure as a positive rather than a negative.

In the design and creative world failure is something everyone is trying hard to avoid. On the contrary, in technology failure is seen as a necessity. So many entrepreneurs started and failed businesses from which they learned. Failure puts them on the right path as a result. Women should see failure as an opportunity to learn. Personally, I always want to hear the “failure” stories because they can be so interesting and informative.

Getting a negative feedback is something not many of us want to hear, but learning to embrace criticism pushes us to achieve more. Be authentic and be yourself. This goes back to women who inspired me in my own journey. They really showed me that I can be myself in whatever business environment.

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

on life & business

"You have to accept that you can't have it all. There never will be the perfect balance. It's always about give and take."

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