March is Women's History Month, and there's no better time to mark the occasion. The pandemic has made painfully clear how important women are to the success of our society.

Women have recently taken the brunt of home and childcare over the past year, often while working full time themselves. And too many women in business today still deal with inequality or lack of opportunities. At ThriveCo, we believe in breaking down those barriers as we lift each other up.

As a woman owned business, we know about the day to day struggles an entrepreneur faces—balancing hard work and ambition with family life, while trying to carve out a little space for herself, too. So, we're celebrating this month by highlighting a few ThriveCo members who are making amazing strides in their careers.

We wondered what advice these members would give their younger selves if they could. They didn't hold back!

Tara Kinney, CEO of Atomic Revenue

Tara was born to be an entrepreneur. At age 3, she came up with the idea of washing rocks in the dog's water bowl and selling them to her neighbors door to door! Only a nickel per rock! Her parents weren't impressed, but that drive to succeed on her own terms never went away.

Here's the advice she gives to women just starting out:

Be BOLD - people do business with people who inspire them to seize the opportunity.

Be BRAVE - you don't have all the answers but have all the capability to try, and you'll never know what's possible if you never try.
Be RESILIENT - don't take no for an answer without asking "why not" then take what you learn to be better next time.
Be YOURSELF - if you don't like who you have to be to do this work, then it's not for you--entrepreneur or otherwise. Entrepreneurship is hard and it's all about building something that focuses on serving others - employees, vendors, clients, your ideas. If what you do doesn't bring you joy, you will struggle to overcome all the challenges that being an entrepreneur will bring to your life.

Joy Miller, Co-Director of The Fit and Food Connection

Joy Miller considers respect a key component to success. She advises entrepreneurs to treat others the way they'd like to be treated. "Showing respect for others and being intuitive about people and your surroundings has always helped me deal with situations and be my best self."

Gabrielle Cole, Co-Director of The Fit and Food Connection

Gabrielle Cole, the other half of The Fit and Food Connection, has this to say:

"I would tell my younger self to never let up! Be true to yourself and kind. There are so many learning opportunities, so I needed to be open minded while keeping my values in the forefront. I live by these words and it has given me the greatest confidence, a clear mind and the best experience."

What Will You Do With Your Power?

By highlighting entrepreneurs like these women, and remembering women who have made a difference in history, we open up a world of possibilities to others—especially the young girls we parent and mentor.

This month, don't forget to take a few moments to appreciate your own power and the value you bring into the world. The world needs women like you.