Our first broadcast of Your Opportunity Knox, Knoxville's only talk radio show devoted exclusively to East Tennessee's small business community and heard every Saturday from noon to 1 pm on WNOX, we described today's new workplace phenomenon as the new "free-agent" economy.

Unlike the baby-boomers who were promised and sought the security of working for a single employer for their entire working careers, today's workforce is quickly adapting to a rapidly changing work environment where millions of would-be employees are entertaining the nontraditional world of the self-employed.

As we have come to accept this more nontraditional environment, it has come with an emotional price tag.  Those of us who have been conditioned to expect that large corporations who would provide lifetimes of salaries and benefit packages would remain on the scene indefinitely are often trapped by fear when we see our security blankets torn from us by a seemingly endless number of companies who are finding it increasingly more difficult to compete in today's competitive world marketplace.

While new realities might paint a picture of "doom and gloom," nothing could be further from the truth.

These changes, while daunting, provide endless opportunities for those of us who embrace this new "free-agent" marketplace.  And although change can create some "Nexium moments," women have exploded onto the scene.

Today's 10 million women owned businesses represent one of the fastest growing and most dynamic sectors of our economy.

Women owned businesses employ an estimated 13 million people and generate nearly $1.9 trillion in sales and are growing at twice that rate of all other firms.

And U.S. businesses owned by women of color have also surged ahead with 2.4 million companies, employing 1.6 million people and generating an estimated $230 billion in sales.

Today's women are successfully navigating the "rollercoaster-like" twists, turns and loops of our new economy and seem as determined as ever to surge ahead.

Unlike our male counterparts, we women also face a variety of other challenges we are so closely identified with such as managing households and child-rearing.  As you might expect, us gals appear the very epitome of multi-tasking although, the truth be known, Tom helps out in the kitchen and laundry room (I sort the colors).

Rather than be deterred by change we should be encouraged as we make our way into this new century.  The opportunities are, I believe, limitless for all of us, but particularly us women.

Armed with the right information we can, as our theme song for the Your Opportunity Knox radio show suggests, "build this thing together."

Don't be the Marlboro man or, worse yet, the Marlboro woman.  Get the facts, arm yourself with the information and seek the counsel of experienced mentors. 

And the best place to start is by listening to "Your Opportunity Knox" on Knoxville's Big Talker, FM-100, WNOX heard every Saturday from noon to 1 pm.  You can also listen to selected archives on our website, YourOpportunityKnox.com.

And we can build this thing together

Stand this stormy weather

Nothing’s going to stop us now!

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Rosanne Ferreri-Feske, CEO - http://www.thenewtnwoman.com     | | 2008-10-29 06:19:37 You are absolutely right, and it is my goal to JOIN women across this state (rather than divide them by city, county or region) so they can effect the political climate that effects their businesses! We MUST raise our ranking from 44th in the nation. Period. Take a moment to visit THE NEW TENNESSEE WOMAN: www.thenewtnwoman.com I'd welcome the opportunity to be interviewed. Reply 0   0

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