CBLPI president Michelle Easton and Rep Marsha Blackburn (r), CBLPI’s 2016 Woman of the Year
“At all times, and especially during March as we celebrate Women’s History Month,” writes Congressman Marsha Blackburn in Forbes, “we as women need to encourage each other to have a “can-do” attitude. That’s the spirit that builds great relationships, great businesses, great communities and has built a great nation.”
Margaret Thatcher famously quipped, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done ask a woman.” Just from an entrepreneurial standpoint, women-owned businesses now account for a third of all privately held companies and they’re increasing at a rate of 1.5 times the U.S. average. In my home state of Tennessee, Nashville was recently ranked by WalletHub as the best metropolitan area for women, followed by Chattanooga in second, Memphis in fourth and Knoxville in fifteenth.
This success is a result of the hard work and ingenuity of Tennessee women complemented by our state’s favorable business climate. When given the opportunity, free people will always be more successful at achieving and securing their own economic freedom than the government. It’s why I led the flight to prevent a state income tax while serving in the State Senate and why I continued to push my long-term goal of making the state and local sales tax deduction permanent until it was achieved in Congress this past December. As a former small business woman, I knew the ability to keep a little more of my income would in turn help to grow my business and care for my family.
I always tell my children, “There is no such thing as a failed test. You will learn every time you challenge yourself.” Today I’m impressed to see so many women accepting challenges, and in turn, accomplishing incredible things. Every time I open the door of a female-owned small business, I witness that “can-do” attitude in action: taking risks, accepting responsibility and beaming with pride as they accept the rewards of hard and productive work.
Read Rep Blackburn’s full article, Celebrate the ‘Can-Do’ Woman