When actress Patricia Arquette shined the national spotlight on wage equity for women in her recent Oscar speech, I was reminded of a major reason I decided to go into business for myself 19 years ago – to obtain more control over my financial security than I would otherwise find as a female employee in a traditional male-dominated workplace environment.
Getting started in business is tough for anyone, but especially for women and minorities, who historically have not held ownership positions in proportion to the population. Fortunately, I was able to attain my goal of becoming a small business owner by saving enough money to become a co-owner and operator of a Mr. Rooter Plumbing franchise in Sonoma County.
About the author:
Stephan Baldwin received his B.A. from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania in Interactive Design. He went on to start Traffic Media, a successful online consulting firm specializing in website design and marketing for real estate professionals in South Florida. Looking for a change in scenery, Stephan accepted the position of Marketing Director with Franchise Gator and moved to Atlanta where he currently resides. Stephan brings over 10 years of experience in UI design, SEM, SEO, email & affiliate marketing to Franchise Gator.