Dearly Beloved,
Once upon a time, I named my business Women Ever After.
At that point in my life, I celebrated womanhood as my nearest and dearest happy place. I focused on women’s issues. I fought for women’s rights. I honored my identity as an advocate for women, unapologetic about my choice to coach primarily (you guessed it) women. Women populated my safest of personal and professional spaces, ultimately becoming my most intimate comfort zone.
All of which served me beautifully—until it didn’t.
With progress measured in increments of courage and curiosity, I decided to peer outside my definitively female-focused echo chamber, spreading my wings beyond the horizons that characterized and categorized my business.
I took a crash course (the trial-and-error kind) to explore my capacity for differentiating between true and toxic masculinity. Equipped with that practice, I took a deep breath, honored my intuition, reinforced my boundaries and began making space for a few good men within my formerly female-centric business model.
And frankly, I liked the results.
So, here I am, taking the big leap. I’m broadening my work to create a more hospitable environment for male clients and colleagues, and I’ve amplified the space I create for men across my personal and professional spheres.
Don’t get me wrong; my passion for all things womanhood—especially my experience living in this world as a woman among women—holds an exceptional place in my heart and my history. And not gonna lie, there’s a part of me that mourns this transition as much as I’m celebrating it.
But guess what? Turns out, my heart is extraordinarily spacious. It’s big enough to embrace human beings of every gender, and it’s safe enough and sensitive enough to adjust my business framework accordingly.
I’ve concluded that if men can give me an honest chance, the least I can do is openly and authentically return the favor.
And that’s the reason why, on International Women’s Day 2023, I’m officially retiring my original business name, Women Ever After.
Tomorrow begins a brand new era for my work in this world—and with you as my witnesses, I’m gonna make the most of it.
Authentically Yours,
The Business Owner Formerly Known as Women Ever After