Book Description

What Women Need to Know to Succeed in International Business

From meeting protocol and sexual harassment to dining and gift giving, the rules for conducting business abroad can be dramatically different from those at home—and they can also vary from country to country. But with this indispensable resource, you'll have everything you need to successfully interact with your business counterparts, whether you're doing business in Caracas, Calcutta, or Copenhagen. Bestselling author Roger Axtell combines his 30 years of experience working abroad with the advice of three cross-cultural consultants to provide you with guidance and specific advice on:

• Survival —Knowing the culture, protocol, safety, and staying healthy
• Cultural differences —A country-by-country listing of the rules for proper dress, speech, table manners, etc.
• Climbing the career ladder —Resources listing the best schools, courses, and language training, advice on finding mentors, and more
• Personal issues —Dating rules in different cultures, balancing an international career and family life, dealing with harassment and discrimination

Reviews (3)

great exploration of gender equity issues
my middle school students have found this book useful because
it not only discusses gender issues in the world of business,
but also offers strategies how U.S. women can be successful in
cultures with even less equitable relations between the genders than our own country.

Outstanding Resource for Military Spouses on OCONUS Tours
Great information for preparing for an overseas tour. It includes a wealth of information, country-specific tips, wonderful checklists to help you prepare for the overseas tour, and an extensive reference list to continue your pre-travel research. It will alert you to cultural nuances at your destination so that you can be prepared to present yourself effectively and avoid possible embarrassment. If you plan to work (or even become involved in the native community abroad), I highly recommend this book-- it will ensure you are better prepared and confident, so you'll enjoy your overseas adventure.

"Must read" for businesswomen planning to travel overseas.
Our consulting staff recommends this book to every women planning to be, or already involved in international trade. Female business executives must realize that they will, at least for the next few years, be forced to operate in a "man's world". To help with this enigma, this excellent publication reviews the social and business protocol for most of the countries to which women might be traveling on business. There are also important tips on how to travel safely and what types of wardrobes are most acceptable and attractive in foreign countries. This is an outstanding publication that also happens to be enjoyable reading. John R. Jagoe, Director, Export Institute ... Read more

Book Description

The media, from Dr. Phil to the New York Times Magazine, is adamant that there is no love lost between working parents and those who stay home with their children, each fighting an ideological and economic war based on what they think is best for their children. Yet in reality, as Miriam Peskowitz powerfully discloses, parents don't want to fight one another at all; they simply want more options. Moreover, the very sides in this debate don't exist: one third of all mothers work part-time, falling into the vast abyss between full-time careerist and at-home mommy. How does the corporate climate in America force women to claim either a career or a family at any given time? Are the choices women are making—to either adjust careers, "carousel" in and out of the workplace, or quit altogether—really choices at all? And how do we expand the definition of productive worker to include an engaged parent? These questions and more are answered and explored in this moving and convincing treatise on the new-century collision between work and mothering. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An important introduction to the mothers movement of today
Skip "Perfect Madness" and read this instead. Peskowitz has researched her topic thoroughly, and it shows in this thoughtful, important book. After reading this book and "Perfect Madness," I was puzzled that "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" has received comparatively little media attention. Unlike Warner, Peskowitz analyzes how cultural attitudes about parenting and the ideal worker affect mothers in all socioeconomic classes - and she does so with style and grace.

Mommy Wars & Choices Examined Carefully
A really good, thoughtful, well-written book. I don't know why it hasn't been reviewed anywhere in the mainstream media, when Judith Warner's book (which I haven't read yet, so no comparisons) is all over the place.

Peskowitz looks at SAH moms, moms who work PT, and WOH moms, and every permutation of work/childcare and "sequencing" you can imagine. She examines the stereotypes, politcal manipulation, media & marketing, and what women (and some men) really do, and how women's "personal choices" (as in "opting out") may actually be better described as being "squeezed out" by culture, companies, and just the time crunch that being a parent entails. She looks at feminism's role in this and in motherhood.

This book was a huge breath of common sense. Peskowitz doesn't rant, she doesn't tell gut-wrenching personal stories (or especially hilarious ones), and she doesn't over-simplify the issues. Maybe that's why it hasn't been a big hit? It's too reasonable? I don't know.

One thing lacking: an index. There are good footnotes, and you can tell that her statements are backed up by fact (and you can check the facts yourself via the footnotes), but an index would help you when you think, hmm, what did she say about FMLA (the Family Medical Leave Act)? What chapter was that in again?

Here's one of my favorite quotes: "With the kids interrupting and needing attention, who can finish a setence, let along organize a piece of a revolution?" (p. 173).

Brings much needed sanity and compassion to this discussion
In this spring full of "Madness", Miriam Peskowitz brings much needed sanity to a thinking woman's discussion of motherhood."The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" isfull of intelligence and compassion.Peskowitzdid thorough research and interviewed a wide variety of women to paint a complete portrait of modern-day American motherhood with all its problems and joys.I especially appreciated her discussion of the sociology of motherhood, and the related issues of politics and the future direction of feminism.

The most important book on family life this year
Forget the much-hyped "Perfect Madness," this is the book that should be on the cover of Newsweek.

Miriam Peskowitz expertly weaves together research, analysis, personal stories and her own thoughtful insights to paint a picture of a nation of women hungry for the social change needed to end the "working mom vs stay at home mom" debate once and for all.

This is a must read for anyone interested in the zeitgeist of modern motherhood.

Katie Allison Granju
Author, "Attachment Parenting"
www.katieallisongranju.com ... Read more

Book Description

A legacy of leadership for women only.

For centuries men have used the lessons of Machiavelli's The Prince to gain and hold power. Today's women, struggling to succeed in a man's world, must learn a crucial lesson of their own: men and women are not equal--and that is a woman's greatest strength. From the wars of intimacy to battles of public life, whether confronting bosses, competitors, or lovers, the greatest power belongs to the woman who dares to use the subtle weapons that are hers alone.

This provocative work urges women to claim what they want and deserve, offering a bold new battle plan that celebrates a woman's unique gifts: passion and intuition, sensitivity and cunning. It draws from history's legendary female divas and poets, saints and sinners, artists and activists--who, armed with a desire for justice and a spirit of outrageousness, achieved their impossible dreams. Their lasting legacy is codified in The Princessa: act like a woman, fight like a woman, and life will be yours to command. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Yikes! Y'all either love it or hate it, don't you?
While reading The Princessa, I found certain ideas about power made me very uncomfortable, which is usually a sign that something is hitting a nerve. I absolutely adored this little book, and like another reader, keep picking it up to go over pieces of it. Obviously, you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I'm amazed at the vehemence with which certain reviews wrote. I thought Rubin's expression of ideas was fascinating, and I think she's a fine writer. I also liked the manner in which she presented these ideas about women and power; like a myth, like a story, like a fairy tale. Seductive but deadly.

I'd save my griping for the drivel John Gray writes; I mean, how many times is he going back to his word processor to "fix up" Mars and Venus?

You either love it or you hate it....
I loved it. Harriet Rubin is a visionary for those of us that still believe (or wish to believe) that the path of the heart (combined with the good sense of a skillful mind) has the potential to be the most winning combination in business, as in life. Not for the faint-hearted or those who cannot think outside the box.

Good Business Tips
I enjoyed this book. Although the author takes too long to get to most of her points, it is a very insightful book and has ideas about power tips to use in the jobplace such as how to act in meetings, where to sit to attract attention, and dealing with staff. I would recommend it to a reader interested in advancing her place in business with the warning that a lot of "skim reading" is needed.

This is not a how-to book
I, too, am amazed at the differences in the reviews. I go with the "read-4-times-a-year" group. This is not a how-to book with step-by-step instructions on how to get and keep power. Perhaps that is why people are so violently opposed to it: they think Rubin is telling women to cry to get their way. I read it more like: it is okay to cry, if you have tried everything else and that has failed.

I find it quite meditative and like to read a chapter here and there at night. I usually sets me off analyzing situations I have recently encountered. And I must say, many of her insights are quite helpful.

I recommend this book to every woman I encounter who had just taken a step up the power ladder!

Rx - Reread 4 Times Annually
An affirming little tome, Rubin continues to bolster those of us who just want to do good business - and are surprised when our best intentions don't speak for themselves. With wit, character studies and a bit of mystery, she continues in this writ to draw our best selves out of us - the ones that want to win at the boys' game but have a little girl's sense of play about the rules.

I find myself bringing this book out when I have been broadsided and need to regain my bearings in this mannish world of business-as-baseball ethics and practices. And I bring it out to add to the underlines already there, because with each re-read there are more messages, more thought-provoking phrases and more challenges to the greater good that I have missed in readings past.

It's a mysterious book; don't think you'll get all the illustrations and diatribes with the first read. But know that it was written just for you, wherever you find yourself having to 'best' instead of 'win' for the sake of good business. ... Read more

Book Description

The allure of Southern women is undeniable. Men are captivated by them, other women are mystified. Even the South's most treacherous enemy, General William Sherman, fell victim to the fluttery charms of a Georgia belle and loved her to the end of his life. So, what does a Southern woman have that other women do not possess?

Simply put, Southern belles survive in a man's world while wrapped in a pouf of flowery femininity and gracious manners. In fact, Southern women often over-emphasize their femininity and use it as one of their most successful tools in business and life.

What Southern Women Know is the business book for women who want to be successful without sacrificing their femininity, good manners, and family-centered traditions and life-style. ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Splendid First Book, Excellent Second One!
Not realizing that this book existed, I read the sequel first -- What Southern Women Know About Flirting. The Flirting sequel was so wise and witty, I couldn't wait to read the first one. I liked it a lot, too, and can recommend it to any woman who wants to celebrate her femininity or to increase her femininity. It's hilarious in places, thought-provoking in others. While I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be giving it as gifts, I think I have to choose the Flirting sequel as my favorite. In fact, it's probably going to become my favorite book of all time. The ability to flirt is the best accessory that a woman can possess (that and a little fluttering and a lot of flattering!)
How did this woman get so smart? Lots of lessons, apparently. The kind of lessons she shares with her reader in both What Southern Women Know (That Every Woman Should) and What Southern Women Know About Flirting.
I just discovered that she has written a novel so I must now grab my shopping cart and buy The Town That Came A-Courtin'. How funny. In less than a week, I have bought THREE Ronda Rich books but seven days ago, I had never heard of her!
Just goes to show that you never know when you'll dig up a hidden treasure chest.

Just What I Needed To Hear!
This book was just what the doctor ordered for me. Thank goodness, I ordered it! I was raised in the South and taught manner and extreme courtesy. However, after graduation, I moved from the South so slowly but surely I got away from the roots of my raising. I'm embarrassed to say that I got away from doing thoughtful things like -- as the book suggests -- taking magazines to families waiting with loved ones at the hospital. I also neglected myself. No more lipstick or mascara. While on a trip back to the South, a friend recommended What Southern Women Know so when I returned, I bought it.
Well, I'm glad I did. It's back to being thoughtful to others and, just as importantly, to myself. Hurray for a book that celebrates Southern womanhood and holds us up for an example to all.

Southern women are better than this
If you believe Ms Rich, then what Southern women "know" is thatmen are easily manipulated, shallow, ego-maniacs, who only value women in as much as how good they make them (men) feel about themselves.

We all appreciate thoughtful, kind, positive people and I have met plenty of Southern women and men who fit that description. For the most part I think their charm was sincere.I certainly hope their consideration was not simply a means of getting something they wanted from me.

This is really cynical stuff wrapped in "spun sugar" asMs. Rich would say.I'm not interested in getting what I want if it forces me to live in the affected, inauthentic way Ms. Rich advocates here.

The BEST Book About Southern Women
I clicked on to order copies of this book -- one of my all-time favorites -- for gradutation gifts. There's such good advice in this that I think the messages should be shared with young women about to embark on college or career. It is always a favorite graduation gift for me to give. When I read a reviewer who pointed out a couple of things the author had written that seemed to go against the true message of the book, I had to respond. I have read What Southern Women Know so often that the pages are worn so I consider myself a bit of an expert on it. The heart of this book where Miss Rich points out being charming, kind and thoughtful is the essence of this book. Like most Southerners, she has a tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating sense of humor so it isn't mean-spirited. It's funny in a way that true bred Southerners understand it. A reviewer pointed out that she is from New York and that might be the difference for her. Trust me, it is.
When I read such passages, I chuckled, knowing it was a joke, not true. This book, after all, is listed as a "humor" book and that it is. But it also has a lot of great wisdom and heart in it. If you're Southern, you'll understand completely when you read it. If you're not, just remember: The South is so renowned for its sense of humor that there is actually a term "Southern Humorist". To my knowledge, there isn't terms such as Western Humorist, Midwestern Humorist or Eastern Humorist. I'm not throwing aspersions, just pointing out that what makes this book so adorable is that it is Southern Humor.
Happy Reading!

Fun reading, but definitely not words to live by
I bought this book because I wanted some nice, light reading.That I got.I got through the book, but I must admit I could have easily stopped reading it.I do agree with the author, there is something compelling about Southern women.I think their grit and tenacity are wonderful. I also think that her advice to be polite and tactful at all time is a great piece of advice. I am even and old fashioned enough to think it is nice to spoil your man.What I did not care for was what I saw as artificiality to get what one wants, the complete fixation with how one looks on the outside and the advice to seek revenge. There were many passages that talked about stuffing your anger/negative feelings down. Doesn't seem good for us. Also, she talks often about how Southern ladies ostracize women that do not fit in the mold.For all the author's talk about being polite and charming, there was some pretty mean spirited advice in there--always directed at other women, never men. When reading it, I kept thinking about Elaine's line in Seinfeld when she says girls just tease another girl until she develops an eating disorder. Fun reading, but definitely not words to live by. Then again, I don't hale from the South, but from New York.


... Read more

Book Description

One of America’s leading brand strategists shares her step-by-step program for creating an unforgettable identity in today’s marketplace.
For any woman who has ever gone to work in the morning and thought "there must be more," branding expert Robin Fisher Roffer reveals the eight surefire steps for developing a unique, personal brand strategy for success by identifying your extraordinary attributes, thinking about your values and passions, and learning how to use them to build a successful and fulfilling professional life.Whether you’re starting out in the workforce, beginning your own business, changing careers, or tying to make it in the corporate world, Roffer will help you to uncover a focused direction for your career that celebrates you.
... Read more

Reviews (11)

Branding Made Personal
This book is an easy, empowering, motivational read. I found myself folding over a lot of pages for reference and ideas - ultimately the sign of a good book. It isn't over-complicated or laden with a lot of marketing/branding spin words that don't mean much. Ms. Roffer's background and experience are in the entertainment industry - so a lot of her examples may be a bit out of mainstream America's world making some insider references and terminology hard to relate to - but ultimately, this is a book that should speak to women. In essence, it's a good tool kit to help you realize what's important to you, how to figure out your core attributes/interests - and make it all work together!

An uplifting get-to-it book critical to business success
This is one of two books (the other being 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)that have entered my life at critical times and contributed significantly to my success. Different from 7 Habits, this book focuses specifically on marketing your strengths and how to do it. Just like 7 Habits, it calls you to a new level of understanding about yourself and what to do about it. It is fun and easy to read and delivers valuable info and steps to celebrating what makes you different. I always knew that what drove people crazy about me as an employee would be the very thing they would want in me as a entrepreneur/consultant(which I have been now for 11 years). Making A Name For Yourself reinforces that your uniqueness (your brand) packaged correctly, will bring you happiness and success whatever your career. This book does it with humor, how-to-steps, and a universal understanding of women that refreshes hope and inspires you to succeed. Many steps above most self-help books.

Worth its weight in gold!
I love this book. I couldn't read it fast enough the first time--it is well written, well organized, and easily understood. There are many useful examples of women who have successfully branded themselves using a variety of strategies. The 8 steps suggested by the author for defining your personal brand identity are within anyone's grasp. That's the beauty of the book--you don't need a big hunk of startup capital, you don't need a PhD, you don't need to aspire to a six figure income. Anyone can jump RIGHT IN and use the principles today. I have begun the process and find it very do-able even in the context of an insanely busy life. It is forcing me to think more clearly about my business goals and really define what I am offering to my customers. It is equally applicable to someone on a career path within a company as it is to a small business start-up like mine. Highly recommended...wish I could give it 25 stars. Amongst all the business books out there, this one provides the missing piece that can really help you differentiate what you offer to your employer or customer and maybe more importantly--the value or benefit THEY perceive will come from working with you.

Marketing YOU is a must in today's environment!
Any politician will tell you that success rests with public image and getting people talking about you, your business, or your product. But not everyone is comfortable with self-branding. So before you take a giant leap towards the front covers of "Time" and "Newsweek," your community newspaper - or even the company newsletter - keep in mind that you never, ever get a second chance to make a first impression. The image you present is the one you will have to live with, or live up to! Step ONE in the art of self-promotion is to do an honest self-assessment of who you are, what you have to say - and why anyone would want to listen to your story! Following a careful step-by-step process will help even the most timid become comfortable with the concept of self-promotion. Women, especially, show far too much humility about their talents and skills. If we want people to value our skills, we must first show that we value ourselves -- by making sure our accomplishments are visible to targeted audiences. If we want people to hire us, promote us, buy from us or invest in our companies, they have to know who we are, what we have accomplished and why they should do business with us! Self-promotion isn't bragging. It is a valuable business tool that career women must add to their strategies for success. (from Marion E. Gold, award-winning author of "The Personal Publicity Planner: A Guide to Marketing YOU")

Outstanding for any women in business!
Tons of great information packed into one book. This one will definitely stay on the top shelf in my office. Lots of great how-to advice. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Beardstown Ladies, move over. From the sassy, wisecracking wife of pro hockey player Phil Housley (and mother of four) comes an investment-club how-to for all those postboomer, pre-X women who not only bring home the bacon (in an SUV, most likely) and fry it up in a pan, but who want to find greater financial autonomy and profits than mutual funds can provide--and in the process do some "You go, girl!" bonding that would put those chatty gals of The View to shame. Granted, when you cut out all the schmoozing and gabbing in here, the actual take-home advice and guidelines on group online investing could be reduced to the size of a TV-listings blurb for Ally McBeal (to which Housley refers with near-obsessive frequency).

But having said that, it's admirably straightforward and explained in plain English, especially for a genre glutted with so-called "easy-to-follow" volumes that are nonetheless incomprehensible. And, since this is a guide to starting and maintaining a fun and social investment club as much as it is to mastering the stock market, it's got just as much kitchen-table advice on putting together a gang of gals, convening them via Internet bulletin boards, and keeping club communication and camaraderie alive as it does on picking the right stocks, finding a broker, following their progress against the S&P 500, and knowing when to buy, sell, and hold.Housley's writing style is caffeine-charged, bordering on insane, and the bulletin-board conventions and online meeting notes she shares from her own group are so full of references to maternity due dates, hectic suburban-mom itineraries, and free-floating cravings for everything from Quarter Pounders to Tom Cruise that you sometimes feel like you're trapped in a programming loop from the Lifetime Channel.

In truth, though, it's that very jotty, gabby style that actually makes the book as least as much fun to read as Housley makes starting up a club sound like. And lest you're thinking only the wives of NFL hockey players have the spare cash for such hijinks, Housley actually gears most of the book toward women who can only invest as little as $50 a month. If you can't set aside that much toward your future financial autonomy, you're probably putting it all in the hands of some man who's gonna stiff you anyway, girl, Housley seems to be saying. And it's that blend of sisters-doin'-it-for-themselves practicality and pop-level empowerment that makes Chicks the kind of smart, fun group-investment guide that even some of us NYSE-illiterate roosters out there would do well to read. --Timothy Murphy ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Empowering, Fun Read of Interested Investor Wannabes
I wish you could read my review first. I fit right in with Chick Karin's target audience. I must, because I LOVED this book! Not only did I get easy to understand investment concepts, but also the author gave me bonus information on what tax forms are needed and how to do an investment club tax return. I mean, really, how much more could I want?!

Additionally, just when I needed a break from the technical stuff, (which again, was painless to read,) I got to meet the Chicks -- not face-to-face, but through the Chick Chat provided in each chapter. I found myself wanting to discover more about Chick Cheryl and Chick Jana's pregnancy rather than the Russell Index.

I'm hoping this review will help you decide to read the book. If you read the other reviews, from Amazon and Publisher Weekly, you'll see for your own eyes that everything you need is here, in a lighthearted, entertaining prose.

Truly, if you've wanted to invest and never have had the courage or personal belief, now is the time to do so. Buy the book, and then contact your friends and their friends. I know I'm going to do so - I'm ready to take control of my financial future, thanks to you, Karin Housley!

Chicks Rule!

Inexpensive, Fun Ways to Experience Stock Investing
Millions of investing books are bought or read by people who never get around to buying any stocks. Karin Housley, busy mother of four and wife of professional hockey player Phil Housley, found that the solution for her was to form an investment club with her friends across the country. Occasional face-to-face meetings would be supplemented by having a bulletin board on-line, regular e-mail, and now they have a web site where you can visit to keep up-to-date with them and share their results.

The book is the first simple explanation I have seen for how to take all of the little steps needed to start an investment club. By working together, individuals can have a good time, try their hand in the market, and get a lot accomplished with little money and time spent. If you like company when you make financial decisions, an investment club is much less expensive than a full service broker.

I graded the book down by two stars for two reasons. First, Ms. Housley strongly argues for trying to beat the market averages and crows about how easy it is. Seeing the club's stocks, I suspected that things had fallen down since the book was printed. As of April 10, 2001, the club's stocks had lost 16.56 percent while the S&P 500 had lost 7.27 percent. So the club members during the bear market greatly underperformed, having significantly outperformed during the waning days of the bull market. Only time can tell how they will do in the long run.

I think that most people should have almost all of the money they plan to invest in stocks in indexed, no-load mutual funds. Since this investment club is just a small part of the member's total investing, no harm is done.

However, do take the crowing here with a big grain of salt. Most people would not even claim to have outperformed the S&P 500 with a track record of less than 5 years. This club has been going for less than 3 years.

Second, the book is very badly organized, poorly written, and hard to follow. There are brief summaries at the ends of chapters, but the material is very circular. Brief lists of key points at the end of each chapter help. The book has a solid glossary. Now, I did not grade the book down more because any book by the typical head of a newly formed investment club would probably have similar problems.

On the other hand, I do recommend that you read the book if you find it hard to get started with stock investments. I think you will find the book helpful, and I do not know of a better book to steer you to concerning investment clubs. There is an organization you should know about, The National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) based in Michigan, which can help you get started as an individual or as part of an investment club.

Here are the book's strengths. First, it explains financial concepts reasonably clearly. Second, it suggests investing principles that some successful investors use (such as the Gardners, Warren Buffett, and Peter Lynch). Third, it has a fine glossary. Fourth, it is interesting to read about the women in the club, so there's a personal story line that adds zest. This also gives you a flavor of the personal benefits of being in a club, aside from your investing results. Fifth, the book doesn't assume anything. You get help with everything from purchasing a computer to figuring out who to invite into the club to how to file your tax returns. I admired the thoroughness of how the small details were handled.

The club was formed in part because Ms. Housley feels that women need to be able to handle their own finances and develop their own financial security. I agree. So the book is pro-female. The terms used make it sometimes sound like women are being put down. I don't think the book is intended that way, so give her the benefit of the doubt.

In the book's comments, Ms. Housley refers to owning a mutual fund and trailing the averages as a bronze medal. Well, that's the level of performance they have now. She describes the indexed solution as the silver medal. Beating the market is the gold medal. I see almost everyone I know get bronze medal performance by trying for the gold medal. It's not easy to achieve gold medal performance. Less than one professinal investor in ten succeeds.

After reading this book, I suggest that you consider where else having friends to do things with would encourage you to get started. Exercise? Learning a new skill? Finding a better job?

The best way to learn is to get some experience. Start now!

Don't waste your money!
The first problem I had with this book was the incredibly condescending attitude by the writer. Just because *she* was completely clueless about their family investments doesn't mean the rest of the *housewives* in the country are. She continually talked down to her readers and spoke absolutely horribly about her children. Whether she was joking or not, I found her style extremely offensive. This breastfeeding, clothing diapering, homeschooling mother who happens to love her children didn't fit into ANY of the stupid examples she used.

But I muddled through those first few chapters to get to the meat of the matter - The Chicks Dozen. This is the all-knowing formula that one must run each potential company through before buying the stock. The problem? It worked fine when the bulls were running full steam last summer and they went with primarily tech stocks. Now? Their portfolio is a total loser and they were hit hard. I mean HARD. I notice they don't even publish the numbers on their site any longer.

As it is now, I don't think ANY company would fit into their standards and, in fact, they've changed strageties completely (I mean a COMPLETE reversal!) and are now going with mutual funds. There was page after page in the book BASHING mutual funds and now they've realized that putting all your eggs into single stocks in this bear market just doesn't wash.

They may have beat the men on Wall Street for ONE YEAR, but they sure aren't clucking now. So save your money and check out their website to see their current strategies because they've changed their tune. You'll also notice that one of the members has already left.

Didn't anyone at the publishing company *read* this book with it's hogwash advice before publishing it?

Great for Beginners
This book is written in a coffee klatch style, with great ideas and simple explanations. While there is a lot more chatting than content, it keeps the book from being dry and boring. And the content IS good, especially for those who are starting at the very beginning and need the basics explained. I recommend that you read the excerpts to see if her style is okay for you. If so then buy the book!

Chicks laying groundwork
It sounds to me like people either loved or hated this book. I'm in the middle. The content was excellent for beginning investors. Even though the math may have been a bit elementary, sometimes a refresher is needed! Skip over the examples if you have just graduated from Harvard.
I am going to be starting an investment club and have read a few books on it now. This one is very light-hearted, even if you don't think her humor is. It does, however, allow one to read more than one chapter without falling asleep, a problem I did have with another book.
What is comes down to is this -- this book is full of IDEAS, a place to start. Some of us ARE middle-class stay-at-home moms and some of us aren't. It really doesn't matter either way. She is showing us what worked for her and her club. It is up to us to decide which information we would like to use and which information we could care less about.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in forming an investment club, or just learning a few of the ways to go about researching, choosing and following stocks. ... Read more

Book Description

Career or motherhood? Do you have to sacrifice one to be truly successful in the other? And if you're trying to do both, will you have to compromise your career path or your child's needs? With professional demands increasingly impinging on personal time, is "having it all" even realistic, or is it just plain fantasy?

Now leading Stanford University psychologist Dr. Laraine Zappert, who specializes in the issues of women and work, draws upon her twenty years of clinical and research experience and a landmark study to answer these questions and create a road map of innovative solutions. Dr. Zappert surveyed more than three hundred women who have graduated from Stanford's Graduate School of Business, and has incorporated case studies from hundreds of women professionals in each chapter. Her findings address such common concerns as:

Amazon.com

Advancing Women in Business--The Catalyst Guide: Best Practices from the Corporate Leaders is literally a self-help manual for anyone interested in expanding management opportunities for women while simultaneously advancing larger business objectives. Produced by the nonprofit Catalyst organization and opening with a foreword by its president Sheila Wellington, the book presents an array of practical suggestions for developing programs that ultimately benefit all employees and positively impact the bottom line. A variety of helpful resources are identified, and laudable programs at companies such as Eastman Kodak, Sara Lee, and Motorola are described. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Invaluable Benchmarks
For those organizations which seek to establish and then sustain programs which optimize the talents of the women whom they employ, this is an immensely informative book. Of even greater value than the information provided are the specific suggestions it offers based on three decades of research on all manner of companies. Catalyst is a non-profit organization which "partners with U.S. corporations and professional firms that understand the critical power of women at work, that know that women's advancement is not a feel-good or even a do-good issue but a bottom-line practicality."

The Catalyst Award is given to those corporations which have achieved lasting, measurable results in this area. The book examines many of these corporations. For example: IBM, Avon Products, E.I. du Pont de Nemours, Eastman Kodak, Arthur Andersen, Motorola, American Airlines, Morrison & Foerster, McDonald's, J.C. Penney, Dow Chemical, Knight-Ridder, Texas Instruments, and Allstate. I hasten to point out that most (if not all) of the information and suggestions provided by the book are also relevant to small-to-midsize organizations and may indeed be of even greater value to them than to (let's say) "Fortune 100" companies.

Advancing Women in Business is divided as follows:

Part I. Changing the System

Part II. Best Practices

Part III. Resources: The Catalyst Award

"The Catalyst Approach" can maximize the value of a workforce by "capitalizing on the talents of women" only if all efforts are made within an "inclusive, problem-solving, comprehensive program." Specifically, first establish a strong foundation by connecting each initiative explicitly to a business rationale; next, build a fact base by gathering information that will create the baselines for evaluating each initiative's progress; finally, develop, pilot, and implement action plans whose initiatives achieve practical solutions tailored to the organization's environment. How? Several dozen corporations are examined which illustrate what the "Catalyst Approach" requires of those involved in its implementation. Specific strategies and tactics are discussed. Results are measured and evaluated. I rate this book so highly because I think it is very well written, because it provides a wealth of important information about "best practices from the corporate leaders", and because it includes a number of practical suggestions as to HOW to derive greatest benefit from that information.

Frankly, I had hoped that a gender-specific book such as this would not be relevant in the year 2000. Well, unfortunately, it is. I now hope that enough people buy it and enough organizations are guided by it so that one day very soon, my granddaughters will read it and then ask me "What's this all about? Was it really like that? That's ridiculous!" Yes it is.

INTERESTING TOUR DE FORCE OF BEST PRACTICES.
The book begins with a three phase approach for advancing women that is basic to all successful initiatives. It explores some of the best practices of corporations to provide advice on women's advancement issues. It also briefly highlights the programs of numerous Catalyst award winners. The book is based on Catalyst's research reports, case histories, and best practices. This is an interesting tour de force of best practices. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's SourceFinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder. ... Read more

Book Description

In this unique study of Japanese American women employed as domestic workers, Evelyn Nakano Glenn reveals through historical research and in-depth interviews how the careers of these strong but oppressed women affected the history of Asian immigration in the San Francisco-Bay Area. Three generations of women speak in their own words about coping with degraded employment and how this work related to family and community life.

The disproportionate concentration of Japanese American women in domestic service from the early part of this century to the present resulted from their status as immigrants and women of color in a race and gender stratified local labor market. The three generations covered by this study—pre-1924 immigrants (issei), first American born generation (nisei), and post-World War II immigrants (war brides)—were subjected to multiple forms of oppression but were not appendages of men nor passive victims. Dr. Glenn shows how their struggles to achieve autonomy, dignity, and a suitable livelihood were essential to the survival of the family and the community.

Although unique in many ways, the situation of the Japanese American woman has important parallels with that of other women of color in the United States. Ironically her role as a domestic cast her in a menial, degraded job but often elevated her to the position of valued confidant to her employer. Issei, Nisei, War Bride is the first study to offer a sociological/historical perspective on these women. It addresses issues about the nature of labor systems in capitalist economies, the role of immigrant and racial ethnic women in those systems, and the consequences of participation in race and gender stratified systems for minority families and communities. ... Read more

Book Description

In this timely and informative strategy guide, leadership development expert Carol Gallagher reveals the lessons learned from her groundbreaking research with more than 200 women who have successfully climbed the corporate ladder at many of America's Fortune 1000 companies, including America Online, Chase, Pepsi-Cola, and Intel. In lively, engaging prose, Gallagher offers her six-step model and shows how these strategies and practices can open up new levels of accomplishment and satisfaction for women and their employers.

Six Steps for Going to the Top

• Focus on the big picture-avoid the perfectionism trap
• Create alliances-go beyond networking
• Help others be successful-you can be nice and get ahead
• Take risks-reach past your comfort zone
• Be yourself-show your authentic self to build relationships
• Find advocates-mentors can be limiting ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Helpful guide for current & potential female executives
This practical book provides useful insights for aspiring female executives that were gained from Carol Gallagher's interviews with more than 200 senior executive women at Fortune 1000 companies and many of their CEOs. It is divided into three parts. Part I introduces the reader to the windows in the glass ceiling these women discovered by knowing themselves and what they wanted, learning about their companies and their unwritten rules, and finding and emulating role models. Readers are asked to begin evaluating themselves and their own companies. Part II addresses six common myths and offers replacement lessons for success. For example, although results are important, four critical success factors (CORE - competence, outcomes, relationships, and endurance) are important in the big picture. Part III outlines several issues related to life at the top, including the parenting choice, work/life juggling, the experiences of minority women, and proven strategies for advancing one's career. While the guidance is sound and would also benefit current female executives by offering relief from a frequent sense of isolation, the 300+ pages made me yearn for an executive summary of the main points. Many professional women with limited time for reading would benefit from this addition to the book.

Powerful advice with real examples
This book is great because it gives concrete examples of how to succeed. A great read. Advance Mentoring www.AdvanceMentoring.com also has a Mentoring operation that allows people to find Mentors or be Mentors. Find a mentor to help plan your career. This book joined with that site will definitely help peple meet their career goals. Good luck.

A must read to progress in your career!
I would recommend this book as a must read for anyone who wants to refresh his or her career. This is not just a book for 'her'. Ms. Gallagher has done a fantastic job of capturing human attitude and behaviour in the workplace based on observations and interviews and made some very valuable suggestions and recommendation on how one should respond in the world of work. The book covers key issues each of us faces daily in our work-life. The excerpt from the book covers the gist and key points. However, I would recommend reading the book in whole to understand the rationale, justification and thinking behind Ms. Gallagher's suggestion. Nearly every topic has boxed captions which captures the essence of some of these thoughts.

Her chapter on fifteen proven strategies that will advance your career and the last chapter on constructing your road map are a very useful guide to those who are self managing their careers.

Going To The Top
As a business owner for over 20 years, I thought this would be a good book for my niece, but in fact found Carol's insights useful for my own purposes.

Not only is this book rich with insightful, common sense information, but most importantly to me is that the format makes it an easy read as Carol develops a framework and fills it in with lots of practical advice and first hand examples from executives that have been through the ringer.

I wish I had this book 20 years ago as Carol spells out a lot of lessons that I had to learn the hard way.

This book appeals to anyone, male or female, who is considering entering the business world, but especially for anyone who is already trying to learn the elements of success.

I've read numerous "How to" business guides and none put it all together like this one.

Thanks Carol!

Irresistible Landmark Study of Women's Success Models
This book deserves more than five stars.

While many have theories about why women executives do and don't rise to the top, Carol Gallagher has done a real service by going out to find out what those who are succeeding have been doing that worked. She did this in a landmark study that involved personal interviews with 200 women who are either CEOs or within two levels of being CEOs in their Fortune 1000 companies. And, interestingly, she also interviewed many of their bosses (often males) including many CEOs. These latter interviews serve as a sort of control on the self-reporting of the women executives.

The book gets to the heart of the matter. I liked that. While almost all male MBAs aspire to be CEOs, a majority of female MBAs do not. You have to have the goal of going to the top before you can hope to be in the contest. This is the first book about women in business that makes that point, but it is a very important one.

The part of the book that absolutely delighted me was the effort put into dispelling myths about what it takes to succeed that were not proven out in the research. As an example, most women feel they have to have a powerful mentor. Gallagher finds that to be partially right: Women executives need a lot of advocates, not just one mentor.

Two other points in the book really delighted me. One was a thorough treatment of what relationships in the workplace should be for women. I often find women executives to have stalled thinking in this area. Women executives both need more relationships and more professional ones. The point is well explained.

I also liked the emphasis on being effective, rather than being perfect. All of us in business have seen people become ineffective in search of perfection. The point is nicely made here. Don't interrupt the CEO if she/he makes a small mistatement to the board. Your relationship with the CEO, and the CEO's relationship with the board are much too important to interrupt for something that minor. If you don't have all the data you would like, don't start off the presentation with an apology. Be accurate, and be both positive and confident.

The last part of the book is an excellent section on how to think about life choices (45 percent of the women surveyed had no children), and getting on a path that can lead towards and to the top.

I know of no other book of this calibre on this subject. I heartily recommend that all women and men executives read this book. The women can apply it directly and use it to mentor others. Men can do the same. Although the points and research are phrased in terms of women, the ideas apply just as well to men.

If you read only one business book this year, make it this one! In these talent scarce times, helping everyone become more effective at reaching their own goals at their own speed is the best thing we can all do. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Creating Women's Networks is a comprehensive manual for female employees who truly want to accomplish as much as possible in corporate America, and employers of either gender who honestly want their entire workforce to be the best that it can be. Based on a variety of extensive studies conducted over the past 15 years by Catalyst--a respected non-profit research and advisory group "dedicated to helping women achieve their full professional potential and showing businesses how to capitalize on those talents"--it examines successful women's groups that are operating today in companies such as Kimberly-Clark, Texas Instruments, Kodak, and Dow Chemical, and offers detailed instructions for both creating new ones and increasing the effectiveness of those already in existence. Filled with checklists, charts, breakout points, and first-person suggestions that turn the advice into a hands-on program, the book follows the life cycle of the very organizations it helps to define. The first section, for example, lays out all critical initial steps like understanding the company environment, building support, and actually getting underway. The second deals with ongoing maintenance, focusing on ways to keep the coalition on track and tackle challenges that inevitably develop.--Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

How to...and Why
In the Introduction, we are told that "Women's networks are a phenomenon that grew out of the overlapping need of companies to reach out to the women in their organization and the critical need of women to reach out to each other." Enlightened employers recognize that both needs are immensely important. Here is a book which does indeed provide a "How-To Guide to Women and Companies." Part One explains how to design and implement a women's network. Part Two explains how to extend and strengthen that network. Then the reader is provided with a wealth of Resources which include "Catalyst's Summary Findings from The Women's Workplace Network Survey" and examples of successful women's networks (Dow Chemical, Bausch & Lomb, Kodak, and Kimberly- Clark). Of special value to the reader is a series of charts (eg Chart 4.2, "Support Continuum: Middle Management") and Checklists (one per each of the seven chapters) which, together, provide just about all anyone would need to design, implement, strengthen, and (yes) defend a successful women's network.

This book tells you everything you need to know.
I wish I had this book last May (98') when we started our Women's Mentoring Network at work. The good thing is after we read it we realized we had done alot of the right things. If you haven't started your network yet or want to compare how you're doing with other companies this is the book you need to read. ... Read more

Book Description

190 million female consumers . . . $4.4 trillion in buying power . . . one book -- the national bestseller now in paperback and newly revised -- that tells you how to reach them.

She knows business. She knows women. And she definitely knows better than anyone on Madison Avenue how to bring them together. Faith Popcorn, America's leading trend forecaster, shows that no one can succeed in business or successfully start one without understanding how to market to women. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Another Title to Add to Your Success Library
This is a book that gives some of us dim-witted males an idea as to how females think. Most of the book had me nodding my head and silently saying to myself, "Aha! So that's why my wife does this or that!" The only quibble that I had was on the chapter regarding Revlon. While reading it, I was thinking that perhaps Revlon knows exactly what they are doing. In other words, if Revlon is intent upon capturing the teen female audience, they would market that audience by showing youthful fashion models wearing the product rather than practical soccer moms or average middle-aged women. On the whole, however, I found this a very enjoyable read and look forward to other books by Ms. Popcorn.

Well, duh.
This book is - how can one put it politely? - garbage, yes, that's the word. The book has two big messages: that men and women shop differently, and that consumers can buy a particular brand of an item without buying the 'message' that goes with said brand. Well, duh. Hard to believe people get paid for this - and, in the case of Ms Popcorn (real name: Plotkin), paid very well. So don't buy it, it will only encourage her to write something else.

In fact, if you still have any faith in Popcorn, I advise that you cure yourself with a quick look at a book by William Sherden called 'The Fortune Sellers'. Pages 221-224 deal with Popcorn/Plotkin. While you're there, check out what he has to say in other 'futurologists' (read: charlatans) like Toffler and Naisbitt. ... Read more

Book Description

The United States has a large number of well educated, experienced professional women ready, willing and able to move into the boardrooms and executive suites of corporate America, representing a great, untapped economic resource no other country in the world can claim. This is America's competitive secret, argues Judy B. Rosener in this refreshingly pragmatic new book for managers who want to improve their bottom line.

A leading expert on women and men at work and a highly sought-after speaker, Rosener argues that not only are men and women different, so are male and female managers. Drawing on in-depth interviews with top-flight executives and middle managers and the latest research on working women and organizational change, she describes the unique contribution of female professionals. Her profiles of top women managers reveal that they cope well with ambiguity, are comfortable sharing power, and they tend to empower others--leadership traits that Rosener contends lead to increased employee productivity, innovation, and profits.

As businesses today struggle with corporate reorganization and an increasingly diverse workforce, America's Competitive Secret offers compelling evidence that the changes that help organizations more fully utilize the talents of women are the same changes that will give them an important edge in today's fast-changing, service oriented, global workplace. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Actually, No Longer a "Secret" But Still Underappreciated
First published in 1995 by Oxford University Press, America's Competitive Secret suggests how to utilize women as a management strategy. It was an excellent idea then and an even better idea now as globalization initiatives of American companies increase and intensify. In the Preface, author Judy B. Rosener explains that her book is intended for executives and managers "who want to improve their organization's bottom line, and for women who wonder why their career paths so often seem to be shaped by the fact that they are female." Note the reference to "bottom line." For Rosener, it is prudent to leverage the talents of professional women" inorder to create "more innovative, productive, and profitable organizations." Also, for male executives, the principle of enlightened self-interest is relevant to their own success. It makes absolutely no sense to under-utilize the talents of women professionals, especially as the global economy continues to expand so rapidly and extensively. Rosabeth Kanter agrees: "Whatever the duration and objectives of business alliances,...in the global economy, a well-developed ability to create and sustain fruitful collaborations gives companies a significant competitive leg up." Hence the importance of women.

As Connie Glaser and Barbara Steinberg Smalley suggest in Swim with the Dolphins, the female temperament is better suited than is the male's to concluding "win-win" negotiations, resolving conflicts, reaching consensus, preferring to cooperate and collaborate rather than compete, keeping an open mind, asking direct and relevant but not insulting questions, etc. Rosener describes the female temperament in terms of "consensus building, power sharing, and comfort with ambiguity."

She examines five "stages" through which organizations must proceed if they are to undergo the transformation required by new realities as well as opportunities:

Stage One: Staying Out of Trouble

Stage Two: We Need to React

Stage Three: It's a Case of Survival

Stage Four: It's the Right Thing to Do

Stage Five: It's Part of Our Culture

Females as well as males within an organization will proceed from one stage to the next at varying speeds and within varying timeframes. Fair enough. However, all must reach Stage Five. Rosener recommends that, from both a strategic and financial point of view, structural reorganization "should be undertaken in concert with efforts to rectify female underutilization. Flexibility and diversity are two keys to competitive advantage, and both are closely related to the underutilization issue."

So much in the business world has changed since 1995 when this book was first published. However, many American companies and most companies in other countries have yet to take full advantage of -- and reward appropriately -- the talents of women. The companies which do so have a significant competitive advantage, a "secret weapon" if you will. Professional women know at which companies they will be appreciated and rewarded, where there are the greatest opportunities for their personal as well as professional growth. It is no coincidence that these are the same companies which, year after year, are the most profitable in their respective industries. At least until now, many of our nation's companies seem unaware of or indifferent to this "competitive secret." ... Read more

Book Description

The Second Edition of this best selling book provides a comprehensive examination of the role that gender plays in work environments. This book differs from others by comparing women’s and men’s work status, addressing contemporary issues within a historical perspective, incorporating comparative material from other countries, recognizing differences in the experiences of women and men from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Relying on both qualitative and quantitative data, the authors seek to link social scientific ideas about workers’ lives, sex inequality, and gender to the real-world workplace. This new edition contains updated statistics, timely cartoons, and presents new scholarship in the field. It also provides a renewed focus on reasons for variability in inequality across workplaces. In sum, the second edition of Women and Men at Work presents a contemporary perspective to the field, with relevant comparative and historical insights that will draw readers in and connect them to the wider concern of making sense of our dramatically changing world.