Celebrating Independent Women Entrepreneurs Throughout History

History books are thick with pages about the founding fathers who blazed new trails to the free world, leading to our independence on July 4, 1776. I remember learning about the early innovators and entrepreneurs including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, but where are the stories about women entrepreneurs in our history books? Young girls need to learn that an entrepreneur named Coco Chanel was creating a fashion empire in France in the late 1800’s, and that Amelia Earhart was not only an aviator, but an author and entrepreneur. Earhart created her own line of casual clothing that was sold in department stores in the late 1920’s.

Here are some of the women in history who inspired me, leading to my independence as a woman entrepreneur.  I’ll be thinking of these Visionistas when I watch the bright glare of the fireworks light up the night sky.

Rock your vision, and get your creative juices flowing, with these 5 inspired summer reads by women entrepreneurs. Together, we’ll rewrite the history books.

Gutsy: How Women Leaders Make Change – Sylvia LaFair

Success Secrets of a Million Dollar Party Girl – Lynn Bardowski

Shark Tales: How I turned $1,000 into a billon dollar business – Barbara Corcoran

Spark & Hustle: Launch and grow your small business now – Tory Johnson

What if? and Why not? – Jen Groover

Ready to really rock your direct sales biz?