The Feminine Business Paradigm

By Shiloh Sophia McCloud

The Female Business Paradigm is a lens through which to view our work as women in the business world. A way of being, seeing, and working in alignment with who we are as women. Our work is to create an arena in which women have access to business tools that are designed for the way we want to work as visionary women. We utilize the wisdom of the existing paradigm, transform aspects of it to meet our own ideals, and create a new business model in alignment with our values.

The Female Business Paradigm movement encourages women to embody all aspects of the female life, from nurturer to warrior, from birth giver to athlete, from lover to leader, from homemaker to business woman. We believe that we can live a vital life doing work that does not compromise who we are, and still make a living. This is not a utopian ideal in which we just do what we love, and expect money to follow. Rather, it is the introduction of a system and of tools we can use to transform what we love into a business with a product or service that is needed and wanted by others at this time.

Although our actions can be inspired by it, our work is not in reaction to the existing corporate model. We are creating a vision in which all aspects of our work are in alignment with the highest good for all, at all times. We understand business as being not just a destination, but a journey. Therefore we do not put the rest of our lives on hold in order to work in our business.

The reason we feel inspired to define the movement as female, is to draw a distinction between the current paradigm and the one we are creating. Women's work does not need to be in opposition to males in order to be pro female. If we are being who we are destined to be, this will serve all beings, and men will also be blessed through our living empowering lives.

Two of the key elements to living this movement is that we interpret success for ourselves with a new set of definitions, we use a life affirming process of inquiry and evaluation about decision making and we Celebrate Our Wins every step of the journey!

1. Does this decision excite, nurture, and sustain me?
2. What or who is being served and blessed by this offering?
3. What is the impact of this on others, the environment, and me?
4. Where is the main source of profit; is it accomplished by completely humane means?
5. What will the impact on my family/community be; what will be compromised?
6. Is it aesthetically pleasing? Creating beauty? Adding instead of taking?
7. Is this fulfilling my purpose — a deep place of truth within myself?
8. What and who do I need in order to make this work?
9. Is love, at the center of my motivation?
10. When I see this project at its highest point, are all of the above questions still able to be answered truly?

1. Have I defined reachable and frequent journey points (goals)?
2. What would success look like for me? (Remove other ideas of success for this one)
3. Have I given up my story of what success looked like before?
4. Have I clearly articulated what resources I personally need first, and then for my business?
5. Do I have rewards and celebrations outlined ALL along the way?
6. Do I have systems in place for celebrating team members?
7. Have I established a self-value practice, and does this practice include how I price my work and am compensated for it?
8. Do I have an understanding of the distinction between my free services and my paid services?
9. Have I honored my business by setting up systems to support the increasing flow of business as I reach monetary heights?
10. Do I allow my small accomplishments to affirm that I am doing enough, instead of thinking that I am never enough or that I can never do enough?

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