Things we can do ‘in the company of women’ (and the men who believe in us)

It's halfway through Women's History Month in the United States, and people in my profession have been busy – arranging events, planning social posts, producing articles, videos and otherwise helping our employers celebrate the power of women in ways that are meaningful and authentic to our brands.

I figure it's time for a more personal reflection on what this month means to me.

Walking my dog in the woods early this morning, I thought of my family. I grew up just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where my father and his brothers and a cousin ran an HVAC distribution business founded by their fathers in 1940, with nothing but a mission statement scratched onto a paper napkin and a passion for serving customers. I had the privilege of working with them early in my career, and I am still inspired and driven by the work ethic I observed – but also by the joy that my dad, in particular, brought to his work. His talents fell squarely in the people category, and he still has legions of fans and lifelong friends he made on the job. He's the first person I ever heard refer to employees as "internal customers," and I always say he was ahead of his time.

As kids, my sisters and I basked in the glow of his (and my mom's) belief in us. We learned to work hard, challenge ourselves, try new things, learn from failure and pick ourselves back up when we fell down.

Thanks to our parents, we all learned to believe in ourselves, too.

I see this in our newest family business, Cedarburg Threads, which my youngest sister, Rachel Arroyo, opened after years of dreaming about it. My dad, who is also a potter, contributes with beautiful, handmade pottery, loads of solid business advice and even works in the (super cute, must-visit!) store along with my mom. My middle sister, Sara Dawkins, is an extraordinarily talented physician assistant with the University of Wisconsin Health system, with a side hustle business crafting gorgeous pottery and handmade jewelry for Rachel's store and online business.

Seeing these labors of love come to fruition over the past several months has been a source of familial pride and so much inspiration for me. It's been an all-hands-in effort, complete with challenges and setbacks, but in the end it's another triumphant "bloom" made possible by the seeds sown way, way back by our entrepreneurial grandfather.

My Aunt Lynne, pictured above, didn't get the chance to work in the family business but still somehow emerged as a charismatic, creative force of nature and business co-owner in her own right. She and my Uncle Jonathan have raised their three daughters, our cousins, to be strong, fearless women working in business and the field of education and I love and admire them all.

After my morning walk, I came across a poem by January Gill O'Neil called "In the Company of Women." It reminded me of all that I love about working with, supporting and loving the women in my life. I hope you enjoy it as you celebrate and empower the women in your life!

Make me laugh over coffee,

make it a double, make it frothy

so it seethes in our delight.

Make my cup overflow

with your small happiness.

I want to hoot and snort and cackle and chuckle.

Let your laughter fill me like a bell.

Let me listen to your ringing and singing

as Billie Holiday croons above our heads.

Sorry, the blues are nowhere to be found.

Not tonight. Not here.

No makeup. No tears.

Only contours. Only curves.

Each sip takes back a pound,

each dry-roasted swirl takes our soul.

Can I have a refill, just one more?

Let the bitterness sink to the bottom of our lives.

Let us take this joy to go.

Learn more about January Gill O'Neill, a poet and professor: https://www.januarygilloneil.com/bio