In twentieth century America while young boys learned construction with Lincoln Logs, little girls instinctively cuddled a Raggedy Ann. Even today Raggedy Anns red yarn hair, patched pinafore and button eyes offer images of another era as she celebrates her 90th birthday in museums and private collections.

But in 1958 Barbie was born. All grown up and designed with fantasy. This was no rag doll. Barbies hair was real and brush-able; her wardrobe generous and trendy. The Barbie figure was to become the ultimate achievement of the perfect body. Playing with Barbie during formative years, young girls have acted out all of their dreams.

The new millennium brought new images for females. Lifestyle issues changed the way the media influenced the female psyche and redefined some old messages about life, love and growing pains. Stay sweet changed to Be strong. Find the right man changed to Get your degree. Careers in nursing were discouraged as parents pushed for Computer Science.

While professional women are up from 48% in 1993 to 50% today, they still hit a glass ceiling when it comes to the corporate pay scale. Some would blame it on the more aggressive male who thinks nothing of asking for his pay raises. There is truth in that observation; women tend to let the high quality of their work speak for itself.

Can white-collar females have successful relationships with blue-collar males? Good question. Confucius once said, Ignorance is a womans virtue, but you wont sell that idea in the twenty-first century. Ironically, intelligence and high professional positions can be obstacles unless one prefers being single. Oprah Winfrey is a good example of a marathon courtship by choice.

A single womans living quarters is a key indicator of her economic status. Virginia Woolf said that a room and sufficient money were enough for a woman who wants to write. But today, single females want more. A home provides personal space and a sense of security to say nothing of a good investment.

In a corporate setting the female personality better be competitive. If you are aggressive in your climb to the top, if you have something to offer that your male counterpart cannot, you may do very well. But the average starting salary is about $40,000 annually and may, after five years increase to $80,000. Perks will be offset by wardrobe and travel expenses. Is this enough?

Women have unique skills with gender-related characteristics. They are excellent listeners and communicators, often better able to build trust among both sexes. They are known to be more effective team builders than men. Perhaps unconsciously, when groups of newly introduced men engage in conversation they establish a pecking order. Women converse to cultivate a group bond.

When women are forced to balance career and family, something suffers. A marriage can end up in divorce. Children grow up with too much freedom. The promotion you waited for goes to your trainee. Cutbacks eliminate your job. While this is not always the case, it happens often enough when considering life in the fast lane.

There is another way. Certainly not as glamorous but pulls in a six figure income without a resume or a business degree of any kind. This is the best time to begin an online business.

Launch one today -- you don't have to make it all up from scratch. There are first-class recipes out there! Do it because it's still the likeliest, fastest, and best way to get rich. Do it because of how universally accepted being an entrepreneur has become. Do it because it is a way out and a way through; think of the wake youll create!

Do it because were not rookies anymore, because the risk-reward equation has flipped. Do it because there is something within you that is uniquely yours; you own it yet rarely acknowledge that its there. The offers on the table! Its time now to bring it out, give it a title and share it with others.

2005 Esther Smith