A Love Letter for Women
Since I was a child, women have been the inspiration for me to be a better me, and while that started with trying to impress my childhood crushes it continued through friendships, romantic partners and professional partners, at all ages women have deeply influenced my life. I have thoughts and they’re all positive, so allow me a second to rant.
Socially, women are amazing. I deeply admire the way that women connect with each other, create space for each other and support each other. Y’all show up, on time and with coins to support everything. One of the critiques that we receive about experience production is that there’s too many women and while I receive that critique, I also know that women can thrive in and delight in each others’ company absent of men (I want more men in the room too but I’m just aware that 100s of guys rarely have fun absent of women).
Professionally, women are amazing. Did you know that the highest likely return on venture investing is in Black women founders? It’s a thing. Want to forecast the success of any random business venture? See if Black women are adopting it, it’s a leading indicator of future success according to Neilson. Black women are some of the highest performing humans on Earth and it is what it is and that was super dope to learn with backed facts versus my own little observation over the years. The world would literally suck without the contributions and creations by women despite all the system oppression around the world.
Personally, women have made my life better at every opportunity. I’ve been writing this intentionally about women irrespective of men, but this part is for me, here’s a quick story. One of the most important women in my life, my business partner Sabrina threw me a surprise bday party last year (got me crying and all that) and got some of my family in town from Richmond. At one point in the night, I told my father that when I become a millionaire, it’ll be because of a few women in that room who have challenged me over the years in all types of matters. I’m probably still a little dusty boy from Richmond without women pouring into me.
To my best friends in high school who challenged me to be more than the dusty kid with potential I was, to my mentors and bosses in college who challenged me to be a better follower and leader, to my exes who challenged me to be a better partner and to every woman that supports these things we do, thank you, we made them with you in mind. I love you all and thank you for just being you, you make this whole thing fun and there’s nothing I delight in more than seeing Black women happy. We’ll celebrate you real hard this month like we do every other month and every day within them.
For the guys who read this far. Some learnings and challenges to think about. A woman’s value is not dependent on your attraction to her. Figure out the difference between loving a woman’s company and loving (or even liking) women in general. Stop being mean to women in podcasts, it’s weird. Be an ally for women and know that it requires action and intention, not just being a son, brother or partner to a woman (it’s also important when you don’t know them personally). It’s okay to love women and gas them up. Be more honest, they can take your real thoughts and feelings. This may not apply to you, but if you felt something… maybe, ya know?
