Girl Power: Rachel Alexandra Wins the Preakness

Go baby, go and she did! Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness 2009! It is the first time a female horse has become champion in 85 years!

Read about the picks here but you'll have to wait for more news! Congratulations to all who put their trust, support and love behind her!

Just added: 5/17/09 ... Filly Rachel Alexandra Wins Preakness, First Female Champion in 85 Years.

Photo top -- Jockey Calvin Borel, right, gestures after riding Rachel Alexandra to victory in the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes (credit AP).

Photo bottom -- Rachel doing what she likes to do best, run.

Read the article I wrote six years ago entitled, "8 Lessons for Businesswomen Racing to Build a New World," which covers how real business learning can come from horses.

How To Start a Business in the Year of the Ox

Just like there is never the perfect time to have a child, there's never an ideal moment to start a business either. You can spend your whole life thinking about it or you can try and see what happens. Sound familiar?

Starting a business during a tough economic environment as we have right now in the Chinese year of the Ox (2009) is no walk in the zoo -- that's for sure -- but it can be done provided you prepare accordingly.

Read more here.

10 Women To Watch In Technology

Mass High Tech honors women who excel in technological innovation, entrepreneurship and community involvement for their work as leaders in their field through the 6th Annual “Women to Watch” Awards, announced recently by Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology.

It's obvious that these women bring technology out of the closet and into the public domain where we all benefit.

The 10 very happening women to watch in 2009 can be found here.

Intuit Gets It

Intuit has announced a small business “stimulus package” that will provide the 27 million small businesses around the country with a monetary boost totaling $1,000 per small business and more than $350,000 in grants and donations.

They are doing their part to give us entrepreneurs and small business owners the support we need.

Read more about Intuit's offerings here.

Take the Plunge Into Entrepreneurship in 2009

Whoever would have guessed that a simple, reflective walk by the lake -- one year ago today and reported here -- capturing an experience would bring such fun, joy and fame to my life.

On the eve of our new year, I found out that I am a finalist for the 1,000 Words Annual Photo Issue contest through the Chicago Reader. Winners will be announced in the next couple of days by a drawing (which I am lucky because if they seriously judged with a panel of experts, my photo would never cut it against the others; you absolutely must take the time to view them all ... powerful, creative work).

It goes to show you that whether you realize it or not, entrepreneurship plays into every aspect of our life. When you least expect it, a natural, self-expressive act can end up generating revenue. In this case, if we win, a $150 Best Buy gift certificate will be ours to spend as we see fit (possibly donate to a charitable organization). Isn't that what entrepreneurship is all about? Making a living out of doing good and pursuing a passion?

Let's keep our fingers crossed that we come out a winner in 2009! Stay tuned.

May this post encourage you to take the plunge into entrepreneurship in 2009. And, remember, you are already winners in my book.

Happy New Year!