Patently Female
© Money Magic, Inc. 12/15/01
Saturday Daybreak KATV, Chn. 7
Mary Ann Campbell, CFP

Patently Female
by Ethlie Ann Vare and Greg Ptacek
Wiley, $24.95

"Stories of Women Inventors and Their Breakthrough Ideas."

Christy Simmons is a UALR undergraduate student majoring in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. This past week, she placed second place in this year's state business plan competition. Christy earned $23,000 as an award and plans to use it to start her business of a firearms safety training center named Eagle Eye, Inc.

Calvin Bacon, her professor, The Arkansas Small Business Development Centers, asbdc.ualr.edu, and others gave support and guidance to this bright young woman. You, too, can log on for help with counseling, training, and library services.

Women continue to increase the number of businesses they open and run successfully, as well as the number of patents they obtain. One of the premier search directories for women online is www.WWWomen.com.

Although Christy had help, she was the driving force behind her business plan. She had a clear vision of the hole that needed to be filled and knew exactly what she wanted to do to fill it. Inventors and entrepreneurs say that is what you must have, a clear vision, an ability to articulate it, and a written plan to achieve it.

Patently Female is a sequel to the award-winning book, "Mothers of Invention: From the Bra to the Bomb, Forgotten Women and their Unforgettable Ideas." The authors present brief biographies of women whose inventions have changed the world around us, and show the ways in which technology-and the women-were affected by them.

The first computer language, the first effective treatment for smallpox, and the first electric motor were conceived of and develop by women. This book destroys stereotypes of women's capabilities to be scientist, discoverers and inventors. It gives long overdue credit to the many remarkable women whose inventions have made an impact in all our lives.

As Chair of the National Women's Business Council, I was inspired by the women I met and the amazing businesses they are running. The opportunities to innovate and succeed in business improve annually with increased resources and support systems. It's up to you to use your magic to achieve your dreams.