So, I married an entrepreneur...the introduction.

I fell in love with a no-fooling, died-in-the-wool, nothing-is-going-to-stop-me woman entrepreneur.  We married without me fully understanding what the consequences of being married to a type A, workaholic, emerging business woman were.  Frankly, these traits didn’t fully manifest until after we formed our union. 

That's my wife, Kelly.  Cute and smart.

Our adventures in business over the years, and our affiliation with other women business owners has affected my view of the difference in the sexes and made me consider the limitations regarding attitudes we all are taught or learned as societal norms. 

Before getting into our particular experiences and my take on our life together, I think a story bares repeating here, for context on some foundational beliefs of the roles of men and women.  So, let’s go back to the story of the first American to receive a patent.

Why start here?  You’ll see.

In 1715 in the American Colony of Pennsylvania, Sybilla Masters earned a patent for ‘Cleaning and Curing the Indian Corn growing in the several Colonies of America’. Some say she invented grits.  At any rate, she earned the patent. 

The patent, however, was issued by King George I in London, to her husband.  Women were not allowed to secure patents. Much to his credit, her husband, Thomas, had them include this wording in the patent: 

"Patent #401 to Thomas Masters for a new invention found out by Sybills, his wife."

This is a picture of Sybills. Apparently also cute and smart.

Of course, in these enlighten times it would have been ridiculous to even consider not giving the patent to Sybills, the one who earned it.  But hold on.  The thinking behind that egregious slight is not all that distantly buried in the past.  In fact, I have heard from lots of women in business that the same thinking that kept Sybills from her patent, is alive and well in the opinions of the majority of men today.

Many, many of the women entrepreneurs we have talked with tell their own tales of prejudice against women as business people.  They talk about their struggles with their male associates, with their boyfriends and even their husbands.  “They just don’t get it,” is the common phrase.  “He’s so insecure.”  “He just doesn’t realize that we could both do so much better in life!” And finally: “That’s it.  I am going to do this with him or without him.” 

Unfortunately, ‘it’ (the business or the idea) often gets done without him.  So, the women do their thing…the thing they are hardwired to do…create a business, or fulfill their idea, on their own.  And they split with the man in their lives because the battle to build the business and stay in an antiquated relationship is just too much.

And they end up lonely.

And the men end up frustrated, apart, and not really understanding that they probably just missed one of the golden opportunities in their life.  The opportunity to actually partner with someone they love…to create an amazing adventure together…to live life more fully.

I know these things because I had a lot of thinking to do before I realized that having a wife who is a no-fooling, died-in-the-wool, nothing-is-going-to-stop-me entrepreneur can make for an interesting, challenging and wildly fulfilling life.

But this is just the beginning of this blog. I have many stories to tell and many confessions to make before this adventure can come into sharp focus.  More soon.