Third Time Around

Summary

Tracy Mullens, a resilient businesswoman, challenges traditional business practices, advocates for ethical consumer solutions, and overcomes gender bias to establish her own brokerage company after previous setbacks.

Abstract

The narrative "Third Time Around" introduces Tracy Mullens, a tenacious businesswoman who stands her ground in a male-dominated industry. Despite facing skepticism and gender-based dismissal of her ideas, she champions consumer-centric strategies over increasing costs. Her ethical stance against predatory lending leads to her departure from her former company, which eventually fails. Mullens, undeterred by past failures, emerges from adversity to launch her own venture, Millens Brokerage Company. Her journey, reflective of real-life experiences, resonates with her audience, signaling her return and anticipation for her next business move.

Opinions

Tracy Mullens believes that providing a product consumers want is a better strategy for increasing revenue than raising consumer costs.
She is critical of the common dismissal of women's ideas in the workplace as being too emotional and illogical.
Mullens prioritizes ethical business practices, particularly opposing predatory lending, even when it means going against the status quo.
Her determination and resilience are evident as she starts anew after predicting and escaping the downfall of her previous company.
The narrative suggests that powerful women are willing to face consequences and take action, emphasizing Mullens' success despite the challenges she faces.
The audience's reception to Mullens' speech indicates a strong connection with her experiences and message, highlighting the impact of her story and the anticipation for her future endeavors.

Third Time Around

Succeeding against the odds

The first installment of Thrid Time Around introduces Tracy Mullens, a focused businesswoman determined to succeed against the odds. This short story is inspired in part by real-life experiences and Henery X, author of An Uncommon Business Practice.

I was the only woman in the room with seven men sitting around the table. I entered the conversation fully aware that my reputation was at stake. “I disagree,” I said. “The solution to increased revenue is not higher consumer costs. The answer is providing a product that consumers want.” “Let’s approach things logically,” Harry, the vice president, said.

Just as I suspected. The stale but familiar excuse of eliminating women’s ideas as emotional and therefore unsound peeked its ugly head. Again. But I was willing to go the distance to stop predatory lending practices. My conscious would not allow anything less. It was an uphill battle, but one I intended to win.

Three years later, the company folded. I left two years before the closure after telling the round table of men that the company business model sat in a landmine. It was only a matter of time before it would explode. They happily accepted my resignation letter, convinced that I was emotionally incompetent and, therefore, a threat to profitability.

Powerful women step up to the plate, fully aware of the consequences, and we take action anyway. I avoided the massive layoffs and wealth deterioration that many of my male counterparts did not. But success comes with a price. I was starting from scratch for the third time in my life.

Tracy Mullens, the owner of Millens Brokerage Company, stood motionless behind the podium. The women in the sold-out audience stood and absorbed her message like water in the desert. “I’m back,” Tracy whispered to herself.

Look for Tracy Mullens’ next exciting move coming soon.