IBA SUCCESS MAGAZINE Issue 2 Vol 4 | Página 3

VOLUME 4 n WELCOME ISSUE 2 n WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT ISSUE Alli MacCarroll and Jennifer Yon L et me be perfectly clear: The effort that my team put into our Women’s Empowerment issue was daunting and I even considered scheduling it for another time. Don’t get me wrong, I will always celebrate women. When we are determined, we can be a force to be reckoned with. But when we allow our paths to be clouded by envy, insecurity and fear, I can certainly understand why some female entrepreneurs are spiraling downward. Fortunately, I am undeterred. This issue is filled with encouragement but there’s a lot of honesty here, too. Very simply, we need to do a better job in our support of one another and ourselves. For years, I’ve had strong business relationships with women. I am always encouraged by their stories of triumph because I see many similarities to my own story. The struggles overcome by the women I know could fill a book and still, they work harder and aspire higher. Today, we are on every level of entrepreneurship from grassroots to corporate, and we are absolutely killing it. On the other hand, I am dismayed when I witness such obvious and unnecessary envy. Maybe she’s prettier or skinner or has more resources, but why not focus on what you’ve got going for yourself? Perhaps your expertise is your knowledge base. No one can compete with that. Have you ever heard the adage that if you focus solely on your business, you won’t have time to be preoccupied with others? Imagine that. You could be so busy climbing, there wouldn’t be time to be angry about your perceived shortcomings! As we continue to travel through 2018, I hope that each woman who picks up this issue and reads the enclosed columns does some self-reflection. How can you reach out to another woman and lift her up? Is there a young woman who you can take under your wing and help her not fear the obstacles you’ve already overcome? We never have less because we give more. Giving only makes us better and personally, I want to be great! Join me in linking up with other women in business and challenge yourself not to be green with envy, but be the woman who always has a cup of guidance for another woman in need. —Jennifer Yon VOL 4, Issue 2 n IBASuccessMagazine.com 1