Book Description

The acclaimed author of The Price of Motherhood applies the lessons of parenting to thebusiness world, blowing away the myth that the job of raising children is not "real" work. After reading numerous bestselling management books, Ann Crittenden noticed that theadvice was shockingly similar to that found in parenting books. After more than onehundred interviews, Ann also discovered that everyone felt the skills they learned as aparent made them better, more effective managers and workers.If You’ve RaisedKids, You Can Manage Anything illustrates the countless lessons learned fromraising a child that are directly applicable to the workplace.

With insight from prominent women in a number of fields, Crittenden discusses howchild-rearing:
o Calls for multitasking and sharpens focus in the midst of constant distractions
o Enhances interpersonal skills, including win-win negotiation
o Develops the ability to motivate and empower others
o Requires a keen sense of fair play and integrity

Full of positive, real-life stories and exploring whether corporate culture has begun torecognize the value of parenting, If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can ManageAnything is a groundbreaking book that validates what working mothers have knownall along. ... Read more

Book Description

According to the National Foundation of Women Business Owners, six in ten women business owners use the Internet with frequency. In this up-to-the-minute book, Patricia Cobe and Ellen H. Parlapiano offer these entrepreneurial women advice on how to get an at-home Web business up and running, take an existing business online, or find a company that allows telecommuting. With the sound and timely advice in Mompreneurs Online, women can build an Internet-based,kid-friendly business in the comfort (or chaos) of their very own homes.

* Target the hottest, family-friendly Web businesses
* Maximize online money-making potential with innovative marketing strategies
* Build a dynamic website-one that will keep visitors coming back again and again
* Network with other "mompreneurs" online ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Laurie Wing-Mompreneur...
Mompreneurs Online is a great book for those who want to work from home but just don't know where to start and what to do. It is full of resources and success stories! A definite must-have if you want to join the Mompreneur industry!

They've really outdone themselves with this one!
Mompreneurs is a MUST HAVE resource for anyone wanting a home-based business. Everyone from start-ups to savvy entrepreneurs will benefit from their practical advice on working from home. It covers everything from discovering your passion, finding the right business, telecommuting, marketing, and work-from-home survival tips. Their "slice of life" interviews with real work at home moms offer valuable insight into conquering the challenges of working from home. Keep this one on your desktop for handy reference - you'll use it often!

Moms On The Go...
Moms on the go need this book. As a syndicated family/parentng columnist and author of Mommy-CEO, Revised Edition, I am always online. I spend between 4 to 5 hours a day writing and submitting articles and columns online to various websites, newspapers and magazines. Needless to say, I needed valuable tips to help me plug into my daily plans. I get many copies of books and this one is a keeper.

I'd like to also recommend another new book called, The Entrepreneurial Parent, which similar to Mompreneurs, has doable and practical tips on making the most of working from home. Together, they make a great backup system to many unanswered questions.

Mompreneurs Online: Using the Internet to Build Work at Home
Pat and Ellen have done a great job bringing valuable resources and tips to Work from home business owners.

This book has something for everyone. Those thinking of starting a business, those just starting out and those who have been in business for a time will be able to find tips and ideas that can only help make their business better.

I know that even though my business is now almost a year old I found several things I will be implementing to my site to make it even better. Many Thanks from By Our ShoeStrings and Networking Direct.

Congratulation Pat and Ellen keep up the good work.

Best Wishes,

A serious tool for online success.
If you are looking for a serious tool to assist you with online success this second Mompreneurs book is for you. Whether you are a newbie (there is a wonderful glossary for those of us who need help with our computer terms), have an existing web business, or are hoping to find at home work you will be turning to this book time and again. Ms. Cobe and Ms. Parlapiano have a personal and easy style that makes the book a joy to read.
I was very impressed with how complete this book is. They have covered every angle.
If working from home is your dream they show you credible online resources, as well as how to spot scams. If you dream of a web business they step you through selecting an idea, to building a site and marketing it to the world. Another area I have found unique to this book is the in-depth information on how to protect your ideas, product and site. Also, I have spent hours going through their Dot.Com Directory: Resource Guide and still haven't visited all of the sites listed!
The one last feature that can't go without mention is that through the entire book are examples of women that are making it work. They share their advice and experience freely. It's such an inspiration to go out and visit them all on the web! ... Read more

Book Description

Ordinary? Hardly. The 18 authors featured in this extraordinary book can hardly be called ordinary-neither can their advice. New York Times best-selling author Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott (If Life is a Game, These Are the Rules), acclaimed songwriter Jana Stanfield (her song "If I Had Only Known" was a quadruple platinum hit for Reba McEntire), and 16 of America's top motivational speakers have created a book by women for women. Each contributor brings not only her unique talents to bear on a powerful topic, but also her own experience and life stories. Readers will receive practical, empowering, and inspiring advice on: Dealing with difficult people; Attitude, balance, and faith; Becoming the person you choose to be; Making a difference and overcoming obstacles; Mothers and daughters;Celebrating, laughing, and letting go; Working, praying, and letting your light shine; And much more. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

You ladies out did yourselves!!!
The title says it all. These are some dynamic women who have been gracious enough to give us all real, practical and solid approaches for excelling. No matter who you are and where you are in life, there is something here for every women. Get a copy, and see for yourself! Then buy a copy for a friend who you know can use a boost.

Very Inspirational and Educational
I have shared this book with all my friends and family. This book covers it all! Heart, Mind and Soul!

Extraordinarily Written!
This book has become my new bible! The wonderful women in this book share their insights into how to become successful in life and do a great job at it! There are many practical tips to help you get started moving in the right direction whatever direction that may be. The stories are personal and you feel as if you've made a new friend in all of these women. They are truly an inspiration to womankind. I can't recommend the book enough! Great job ladies!! ... Read more

Book Description

A blueprint for women at all stages of their careers--and entrepreneurs--who want to take control of their careers by gaining more visibility in the professional marketplace and in their communities. Whether you are trying to increase your visibility on the job, or looking for a new job, trying to establish yourself as an expert in your field, or seeing a product or service, people have to feel good about you. This book will tell you what to do, and how to do it!

The Personal Publicity Planner is also a decidedly feminist book loaded with solid tips and illuminated by personal anecdotes from a woman who beat the odds and climbed the corporate ladder at one of the most powerful communications companies in the world--and then had the guts to walk away to start her own business, and gain notoriety as a working woman's advocate. According to President Bill Clinton: she deserves to be very proud of all she has accomplished on behalf of working women in this country. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good primer for beginners
The cover states "a blueprint for women who are serious about their careers - and want to develop an image for success". In its mere 80 pages, many of which are actually blank or have fewer than 100 words, the book is a good primer for people TOTALLY unfamiliar with the subject of public relations. It provides a relatively complete OUTLINE of the issues and questions that must be answered. Unfortunately, it falls short of providing a "blueprint" which would be detailed discussions, pointers, and tips for accomplishing the tasks in the outline. I would tend to describe the content as that of a "white paper", a high-level overview of the topic with no how-to's or details. If you are just starting out and want a brief overview of the subject, this book is good for you. I think $15.00 is a stretch for a mere outline.

Personal Publicity Success Story
The Pesonal Publicity Planner is a must-read for women. Gold tells it like it is in today's workplace and demonstrates how important it is for women to market themselves. Her suggestions proved successful in helping me attain a higher profile and motivated me to make things happen.

Promote Yourself
This book ties PR with personal image, and offers advice to women that are working to position themselves on the career market. Read along with Michael Levine's "Guerrilla PR" in order to fill any gaps that Gold may gloss over. Overall, this is not any ordinary PR book, and a must-read for business women.

Inspiring Personal Marketing Guide
I found this book very inspiring. Marion Gold's book has helped me to focus on the next steps for my career. I have spent my entire career becoming the best at what I do and I was stuck as to "what's next". Gold's book has provided me the insight, detail and how-to for what I need to do next: I have to effectively market my skills. As stated in this book, "If you are at least good at what you do, and have the heart to compete aggressively, you have a real shot at success-as long as you get the word out." I feel that this book is an inspiration to all people, especially women. Gold's book is a quick reference guide for goal setting, personal image development and personal publicity suggestions. I specifically enjoyed her honesty and candor in speaking to some of the key business issues facing women who wish to advance in their careers and with that she also offers potential solutions. Gold states in her book, "Recognizing an opportunity brings you one step closer to achieving it. Knowing how to take advantage of that opportunity puts you even closer to success." This book helps guide the reader to knowing how to take advantage of opportunities.

A useful book of tips and insights into public relations
Having just left my own job to start a new home-based business, I really appreciated the candor of this book, and the personal vignettes Gold included. This was not just another gimmick for women on how to do your own PR. It turned out to be a real cookbook of tips. The planning pages at the end of each section, and the list of "hints," really helped me put my own personal publicity plan on paper, and into action. Unfortunately, every time I want to go back to the book as a reference, my husband is using it to show his employees how easy it is for everyone to help market his small electronics company! ... Read more

Book Description

Erma Bombeck's humor meets Jean Chatzky's business sense in this practical guide to juggling a home-based business and a family. Who better than the founder of WAHM.com, the highly popular Web site for work-at-home moms, and author of a widely-read column and cartoon about home office life to give effective advice about balancing a career and a family? In IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE AND A ZOO IN HERE, Cheryl Demas relays helpful and hilarious anecdotes about her own experiences leaving the Jungle (workplace) and entering the Zoo (home office). Readers will discover how to plan based on personal circumstances; avoid scams; set up a workable home office and promote a business; juggle children and work demands; and more.Filled with Cheryl's popular cartoons, this book is every working mother's best friend. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A wonderful, humorous book for WAHM's
I thoroughly enjoyed Cheryl's book and highly recommend it to any mom working from home or wishing to. She tells us of her personal experiences dealing with working from home and raising a family at the same time. A great weekend read!

Wahmmy!
Cheryl Demas has written a great book for work at home parents. As a work at home mom myself and the webmaster of a site for work at home parents, I found the book an interesting and light-hearted take on the ups and downs of working at home. If you're a WAH parent or you're thinking of becoming one, this is a must-read. Veteran WAHPs will see the truth on nearly every page, and potential WAHPs will have realistic expectations of the WAH lifestyle.

Good Laugh
I must admit, Cheryl is certainly funny. There is plenty to learn and think about while reading her book. I am almost for sure it will be a huge hit once the word gets out and am frankly surprised by it not going huge sooner. Her wit is quick and slightly off at times but makes me feel good and hopeful for the future. There are so many work at home books on the market today that it is hard to find one moms - or even females - can connect to. This one is a winner. It does not have all of the answers but it sure has impacted my way of thinking. The one thing that is often overlooked in these types of books is exactly what is one supposed to do with children - really practical doable suggestions that work for more than an hour at a time. I find myself feeling gulity and drained when trying to juggle home duties and "home work" with kids underfoot. The Pros and Cons in the book are even light hearted but as she says, a con is "Your children may see the bad side of business too - the stress and the headaches. When you work at home, you can't use your commute time to decompress." This is so true and then I find the questions overwhelming as whether or not I am trying to do the best thing for my family - and my own sanity. Every summer I try to work at home and end up giving up. Maybe there is a better time than others to try? It's worth the money just for the humor. My other recommendation for a little more serious book and specific information for success - but certainly not dull - is: Why Aren't You Your Own Boss," by Paul and Sarah Edwards.

A Must Get!!
This book, "It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here" by Cheryl Demas is a must have for anyone making the decision to work at home. There are quite a few books out there that tell you how to work at home but I found most of them dry and quite dull. Cheryl finds a way to give tons of information, humor, and ispiration all rolled into one.
Cheryl takes the questions and worries we all have and gives advice and suggestions on how to conquer them in an intelligent manner. Her stories are great and really help to put things in perspective. I would highly reccommend this book to anyone who is working at home or thinking about doing so.

A Jungle Full Of Zookeepers
"It's a Jungle Out There and a Zoo in Here"
by Cheryl Demas

Found your Reno? Experienced your ice-cream man
relativity syndrome? What's your sausage?

Cheryl Demas makes even life working at home make
sense in her latest book, "It's a Jungle Out There and
a Zoo in Here" by Warner Books, available from
Amazon.com. Epitomized as "Dave Barry on estrogen",
Cheryl is the most likely heir to the great Erma
Bombeck as the work-at-home mom who has it all (or
enough for her tastes!) without missing it all.

"Jungle" (sorry...my fingers are getting sore typing
that title) is a perfectly practical how-to guide
hidden within several warm, casual and very revealing
conversations with a good friend. Ms. Demas has a
magical talent for enfolding an important point inside
an ordinary story of everyday life. Afterward, you
smile, chuckle and say "Oh yeah..."

Ready for a welcome laugh?

Enjoy your coffee (or other appropriate beverage of
choice) while sitting and laughing with Cheryl as she
tells of her metamorphosis from confident career
professional to whirlwind work-at-home mom. (Note:
This stuff works for work-at-home dads, too - Signed,
A Reliable Source) Well, maybe more strong breeze than
whirlwind. This is not Supermom Stays Home. Working at
home while raising a family can be a tough decision
requiring a lot of thought, and Cheryl presents the
battle it can really be with focused insight and an
extra helping of grace (with no added calories).

"Jungle" displays all the funny, chaotic, challenging,
stressful, touching and ultimately rewarding facets of
working at home and how she's made it work as more
than just business, but an integral part of her whole
life.

Because if you work at home (or just think about it
right now), you deserve a laugh.

Dan Reinhold knows that those who work at home deserve a laugh. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

This book has great information.
This book has great information in areas of how to manage the kids, the job, and keep your sanity. What I enjoyed about this book was that it mixed research as well as prepares you with a bit of real life situations you might stumble across.

"The Girlfriends Guide to Working at Home"
As a newbie to the WAHM world, I really enjoyed this book and found it helpful and encouraging. Cheryl has such a great sense of humor - I loved all of the analogies she uses throughout the book and the stories she shares about her kids, who are pretty funny, too. She reassures you that being home with your kids really is worth it - whether you are stressed out or haven't seen the light of day in weeks. After reading this book I finally felt excited and motivated about being a WAHM instead of nervous and scared. Thanks, Cheryl, for the inspiration!

Informative and funny
As a non-US citizen there was information which didn't apply to me, but still Cheryl Demas book has been a great inspiration for me in trying to figure out how to start a home based business for myself. It's fun, personal and covers a large number of areas. Reading this + other books on the same subject such as "Mompreneurs" has given me a good understanding of what it will take to "set up shop".

"The work-at-home mom's guide to home business"
A completely enjoyable read, with a well-researched compilation of tips and insights into the growing prospects of working from home. Each chapter offers motivation, suggestions and "real world" information on making the move from the corporate office to the home office. I especially enjoyed the illustrations and the heartwarming anecdotes about the many ways Moms can profit (both financially and emotionally) from a work at home situation.

A comprehensive "real world" book
I've read a lot of books on being a work at home mother, starting up a business, and how to be successful as a teleworker. Every book has at some good information.
This book has great information in all areas: how to manage the kids, the job, and keep your sanity. What I enjoyed about this book was that it mixed Cheryl Demas' research with comments from real life people who posted on (...)
Like most teleworking books, it starts with the analysis if staying at home and being an entrepreneur is for you, and why it is such a groovy idea.
Then it moves into choosing a business that works best with your goals and desires, and how to make that transition with the support of the whole family.
I giggled throughout chapter 7 as to whether your husband truly supports your business. I find her conclusion (that the husband becomes very supportive once the wife starts bringing in money) to be right on the mark.
Technically, it's an easy book to read. It's a nice size for reading in bed, the font is a nice serif with amusing cartoons throughout. And the language is good English with no confusing jargon.
Even though I've been in business for 18 months, I found a wealth of useful information that I'm going to incorporate to help my business run better to free me up to do the actual fun stuff. ... Read more

Book Description

This is a book about getting real. It tells the truth about busyness and peace in a way that can help us women change our lives. Until quite recently, it was politically incorrect to mention that balancing work and family, while having any time left to nurture our spirit, was a tall order. Only now, when a second generation of women is entering the ranks of the family-work-spirituality jugglers, do we feel secure enough to stop for a minute and say, "Wow, this is a hard act to pull off. Sometimes we’re tired, stressed out, and in danger of shutting down and losing our hearts. But if we share the truth of our lives, we can find a better way. Here’s what we learned that can make it easier for you."

This book gets to the heart of how we busy women can find a center of inner peace even when life is swirling around us like a cyclone. The actual problem isn’t that we women are overwhelmingly busy, or that working women with children are the busiest people on the face of the earth—the problem is that we’ve been taught to think that our external lives should be balanced in a prescribed way. Since they generally aren’t, and the likelihood is that they never will be since life is always changing, we create suffering by resisting what is.

Inner Peace for Busy Women will show you how to stop resisting your life and start living in the center of the cyclone, where it’s always peaceful. Among other things, in this book you’ll learn how to say no without feeling guilty; make peace with the past; be peaceful even in circumstances where happiness is not an option; follow your inner guidance; and be a beautiful mother, sister, aunt, daughter, lover, spouse, and friend—all by being your best, authentic self.

Women are systems of energy. Understanding what feeds us and what feeds off of us is integral to establishing balance and inner peace. Busyness is not the major issue for most of us—it’s our thoughts about our lives that can create symptoms of disharmony, including money and health problems, loss of empowerment, relationship and parenting difficulties, meltdowns at work, and depression. And although a long bath or a spa getaway can help, finding authentic balance means learning to take back the power we’ve given away and becoming wise—one satisfying step at a time. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Joan keeps getting better . . .
"Inner Peace for Busy Women" is a delicious read - nectar for the soul. It's touching, funny, practical and comforting. Full of passages to recall and apply as needed.

I've attended many of Joan's seminars and read many of her books. I also wondered what could she could offer that I had not heard or read before. What I found was new insights and knowledge which is lovingly shared. It's a book I will re-read, highlight, recommend, gift and re-read again. It's a treasure.

Chat with a Friend
This book is just like sitting down with a close and trusted friend to have one of those woman-to-woman, soul searching chats. In fact, at the end of her book Joan writes that she hopes that this is what reading it will be like. Well, Joan, it is! Thanks for the "chat."

In the course of writing this book Joan looks closely at some of the problems that are very particular to women: combining work with child care; working in a man's world; and the problems inherent in the majority of marriages as experienced by women. Once again, when tackling all these issues Joan has her own particular slant. I love the vision of life in the future that she weaves through her analysis of contemporary women's problems, a vision of a public sphere that will include the feminine dimension with its qualities of "intuition, partnership, team-building, compassion, and the dream of a future when all people will have dignity, respect, and the means to live in peace." But in the end, what makes this book stand out like all of Joan's books are all those sparkling little gems sprinkled liberally throughout the pages of her book, the heartfelt stories of real people that always bring either a smile to your face or a tear to your eye.

Essential Reading
Joan Borysenko's new book is essential reading for all women; it is definately an Inner Guide's guide. It is a vast offering of intuitive guidance for the busy woman to create a balance between "no longer and not yet." Joan provides a path for keeping our connection to Spirit, following our intuitive inner guidance and being gentle with ourselves even when we are not gentile. This directive keeps bringing us back to our Center/our Now, throughout our busy lives, while facing the demands of work, care-giving, family, relationships and the downsides of divorce, burnout and overload. Busyness, sometimes a form of self-denial, keeps unpleasant emotions at bay, but when we take steps, as offered, toward the stillness of Being, this emotional energy works as an emissary of inner wisdom. Through all these aspects of our very busy lives, Joan brings us to the truism "The present Center is where the Self best shines."

Joan provides us with the Key Element for Center/Now, "When we have sovereignty over ourselves, we are free to follow the guidance from within and create a life that breaks the mold."

Getting Real
Joan Borysenko is a legend in the field of mind-body medicine. In 1987, her first book, the classic: "Minding the Body, Mending the Mind," became a NY Times bestseller. In 2001, book number ten was released: "Inner Peace for Busy People." And now we are blessed with another Borysenko offering.

I wondered what she could say that was new. I didn't wonder long. Borysenko had me captivated right from the start, with her discourse on "Champagne Suffering" (Chapter 1), something you don't hear a lot about. But here she was weighing in on both sides: how good women have it these days, AND how tough are their challenges.

Chapter after chapter, Borysenko's writing is a treasure trove of insight, wisdom, and humor blessed by plenty of new twists on traditional ways of thinking. With refreshing candor, Borysenko writes with a realistic knowing of what life is like for today's woman, sharing plenty of personal stories from the trenches. Further, she provides innovative and practical strategies for handling whatever lands in your path.

Borysenko analyzes issues from all sides, in simple, straightforward fashion. Translating scientific principles of mind-body medicine into heartfelt, commonsense directives for women, she always cuts through the complexities to deliver simple, thoughtful solutions. Her words penetrate to your heart, resonate with inner truth, and move you with their sheer poetry.

One by one, Borysenko tackles each of life's challenges for busy women, laying the groundwork for peace no matter the circumstance and offering hope. Her words are passionate and energized. She imparts an excitement about the possibilities available for each woman in their most authentic self.

This is Borysenko at her best, brightest and most witty. Truth is, her work just keeps getting better and better. Thankfully, she is at peace with it all.

What We're Searching For
"Inner Peace for Busy Women"...Just reading the title of this book makes a person want to read it! Isn't this what we are all searching for in our busy lives?

As the Program Coordinator for a large retreat house, I meet many, many women who are looking for exactly that: inner peace. The number of private retreats and women's retreats that we offer here has dramatically increased over the past few years. Everyone is searching for balance, light, a sense of equilibrium -- and most are frustrated in that quest. Joan expresses, through this book, a deep understanding of the "busy-ness" of women's lives in the second millenium. There is a whole new set of challenges associated with being a woman in these times, and it is obvious that Joan has a great respect for, and desire to help, those who are living those challenges.

As a single woman, I read the beautiful poem at the beginning of the book and wondered if the rest of the book would have anything to say to me. This book brought home to me that all women -- no matter their place in this world, their social standing, their marital status -- have to deal with finding balance in their lives. Taking care of ourselves has to be a top priority if we want to be able to "nuture and bond with" others in a meaningful way.

As one who tends to ignore the "little things," the chapters in "Part IV -- Getting Real: Necessary Practicalities" were a true gift. Something as simple as "how much sleep do I need" often escapes my attention. Joan brings these things into focus gently, yet asks us to take a good look at our lives and what our priorities are. Again, taking care of ourselves is a prerequisite for achieving that dream of inner peace within our outer reality. Joan's practical suggestions -- from meditation to financial planning -- are valuable ideas that all women would benefit from attennding to. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A business book that is truly inspirational, real and funny!
You can do it is the attitude of this book! Rebecca Matthias writes of her experiences starting a business out of her home with the depth and flow of a favorite river. It is always flowing and never too deep that you loose interest or have to stop to figure out what she is saying. The author tells of her own experiences in colorful situations that make you laugh and at times feel the frustation and stress she went through while starting a family and building Mothers Work, Inc. into the biggest maternity apparel company in the world. I highly recommend this book to any woman looking to start her own business and could use the inspiration and/or blue prints. Each chapter recaps like a business book but it by far more enjoyable to read than any business book I can think of. I passed it on to a friend who enjoyed reading it too!

A very inspiring book
The book is very inspiring and describes a real case study of a woman who done pretty well for herself and her business. For any woman that thinks about getting into business, it should be highly encouraging. I found it to be a great source of help and fun to read. In order to actually start establishing your own business, you might want to read additional books with more detailed explanation on the steps required to open the specific business you are thinking about. I must admit, I couldn't resist and read it twice.

Interesting story of success
I found this book to be an enjoyable read, it was told from a personal perspective and was quite informative. It is very amazing how a little idea thought up by a new mom to be looking for a home based business blossomed into a giant public company with hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. This book really isn't a "how-to" book, although it would certainly qualify as a "how-to" primer, enough information to get the reader thinking about how things work and developed.
The author was very open about some of the hardships and mistakes that were made along the way, and I found it interesting to hear someone that was ultimately very successful talk about the numerous time she almost quit or at least really wanted to quit, but some how found the courage to go on.
What I didn't like about the book was that she didn't give much of a voice to her husband. The fact of the matter is that her business, by her own admission, never would have made it to where it is today if it hadn't been for his support and contribution. This isn't something to be looked at as a negative, or anti-woman in any sense, but the truth is that in reality there was a partnership that made the business what it became, yet the book's cover and the over-all premise is that it was a "self made" woman story. I think the story would have been much better told if it had alternated between both the voices. In fact, the bottom line is that the business was a success because of the support and work of the entire family unit. This was talked about in the book, but seemingly down played in the cover, jacket and over all scope.
I recommend this book to any that are interested in business success stories, men or women, it is very inspirational and it was fun to read too.

A very good read!
I checked this book out of the library. I found it in the section on starting businesses and it looked interesting. I started reading it last night and finished it this morning. I really enjoyed reading it.

The author is very open about her mistakes and how she learned from them. I think the book has valuable information for those who are considering starting their own businesses. I did not agree with everything she said, and I would not choose her lifestyle. But she provided me with a picture of what life is like for a woman trying to build a large, profitable business. I have more modest goals and different priorities. I highly recommend this book.

The personal journey of a business woman
I took this book with me on a recent business trip to Chicago and had to force myself to stop reading it at a reasonable hour the first night so I could get some sleep. This book is not a how-to start a business and take it public kind of book, but rather a look at the woman who ended up doing precisely that and what it meant to her personally.
It's interesting to read the other reviews, because obviously some readers wanted Rebecca to say that she had done it all on her own without any support from her family, or that she managed to create a multi-million dollar business, have a family, AND have time for hobbies, friends, and handicrafts. But the fact that Rebecca's husband and parents worked beside her doesn't detract from her achievement in my eyes. Nor was I surprised that she only has room in her life for immediate family and her business. As I consider whether and how much I want to grow my company, I look at her life and realize that I'm not as ambitious as she is. Yet I admire what she has done, and really admire her bravery as she bares herself in this revealing autobiography of her working years.
Anyone who wants an honest inside look at what it takes in terms of commitment, hard work, and the ability to recover from mistakes and the inevitable setbacks along the way will enjoy reading Motherswork. Bravo to Rebecca for sharing her story with the rest of us. ... Read more

Book Description

The woman Mediaweek says "could very well be the next generation's Anna Quindlen" steps out from behind her celebrated New York Times column in a book about the intersection -- or more accurately collision -- of life and work.

A few years ago, award-winning reporter Lisa Belkin left the office to work from home, amid the chaos of two young children, writing deadlines, and everyday domestic details. She began writing a very personal column for and about people trying to "balance" their lives, but hundreds of columns later, she noticed that she had not heard from a single person who had everything under control. Then she realized: Nobody can do it because it simply can't be done.

Life's Work is the story of modern motherhood, where true happiness is often reached when you finally give up and give in. Belkin's is the funny, poignant, and always dead-on story of trying to do it all...and learning that doing just some of it is enough. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Humorous and comforting
I saw the author on the Today Show and I'm so glad I did. What a delightful book! Belkin understands what it really means to be a modern parent: How you feel tugged in all directions and sure that you are screwing it all up. I loved her message -- that you should do the best you can and it will turn out okay. And I also loved the way she wrote about that. I laughed a lot, and cried a little, and I nodded in recognition all the way through. I'm also the mother of two young children and most of all I was grateful for the short, snappy chapters, which is all I have time to read in my life. I'm getting this for my mother, and my sister and even my mother-in-law for mother's day.

Charming and Delightful
Anyone who has ever struggled with the complexities of having a career and being a devoted parent at the same time will be able to identify with the many anecdotes that Lisa Belkin relates. She covers a myriad of situations that career mothers face in the everlasting struggle to balance "life's work." The book is a fast and relaxing read that makes one realize that as hard as you may try, you "can't do it all."

Now I can Say So What
I received a copy of this book to review for my website. And the book changed my life.

When I first picked up the book Life's Work I put it down, deeming it not appropriate for BlueSuitMom's working mother audience. How wrong I was. Initially in the introduction I was put off by this sentence "Not a one of us seems to be able to give 100 percent of themselves to their job and 100 percent of themselves to their family and 100 percent of themselves to taking care of themselves." I read the line and decided she was wrong ... there are so many of us that can and do have it all. However, I didn't get the point ... the point she was making is that inevitably there are times when our balancing act glitches. When sometimes "life and work collide."

Had I finished reading the introduction I would have read that the point is that we can work, have a family and take care of ourselves but sometimes they all can't happen at the same moment in time. Sometimes one has to come first. Sometimes there are dare I say "sacrifices."

However, when I finally picked it up again I read that "No one can do it, because it cannot be done ... So let's start forgiving ourselves when we can't do it ... So what if the house isn't as clean as it should be? So what if that last business report was not the best you've ever written? So what if you're eating takeout for the second night in a row, or haven't been to the gym in weeks, or sent your children to school in crumpled shirts on school picture day? ... I'm not saying that none of these things matter. They all matter, but not all the time ... even I know that 100 percent plus 100 percent plus 100 percent equals more than any one person can do in a day. So what?"

This might have been the most powerful message I've read in a book -- ever. Because today I vow that this will change my life. From now on, I'm not going to stay awake until 3 a.m. stressing out about why I'm not good enough. Why do I have to spend countless hours worrying that it isn't good enough. Some days I send out newsletters to BlueSuitMom readers with typos. And probably no one notices (okay maybe some of you do since you write to say hey this link is wrong or this tease didn't actually exist in the newsletter). And today I am saying "So what if it wasn't the best." This is a radical thought since normally I will agonize for hours that heaven forbid Rachael made a typo or put the wrong link in. In fact, I profusely apologize to those who write in ... but from now on I will give you the right link and repeat to myself "So what." I've learned that sometimes our best work can't be perfect.

It isn't that I don't care about producing the best source for working mothers on the Internet; it is just that sometimes I will remember that no one can be perfect. And for years I've always strived to be that exception. I'll work until the middle of the night and then wonder why I don't have as many friends as I want or have the time to religiously stick to the gym.

But from reading "Life's Work: Confessions of an Unbalanced Mom" I've now decided that I can't have it all 100% of the time. I can maybe only have 95% of it all. And for today ... that will have to do.
And I hope that Belkin's message will get through to all of you as well. Sometimes we can't do it all. Sometimes we have to skip out of a meeting to attend a child's play ... sometimes we have to fake being sick ... sometimes we just need to give ourselves a break.

I'm sure that all our readers will enough reading Life's Work ... the best part is that the chapters are only a few pages long. It's the type of book to keep on your desk and read when you actually find that five minutes of time for yourself. And if you are saying you don't have that five minutes I encourage you to read the chapter entitled "September 11, 2001." I certainly needed the reminder that there are some things in the world that we can not control ... but what we can control is our reaction to things like guilt.

I want to hear what you have to say. How do you deal with guilt? Am I the only one awake at 4:30 in the morning because I've only slept for 4 hours tonight? Feel free to write me at .... Let me know if I can publish your response in one BlueSuitMom or better yet share your "So What" moments on BlueSuitMom's message boards ... and don't tell yourself you don't have the time ... since we all have the same amount of time. It is up to us to decide how to use it. And if you don't want to start the dialogue ... that's okay my response is now "SO WHAT?"

Nobody's Perfect
Lisa Belkin's reflections on life and work are a joy to read for any veteran of the family/work balancing act. Her strong message resonates equally well for those in the corporate world to those working at home or the full-time stay at home parent -- trying to balance the demands of our lives can trap us in the unreasonable expectation we can please everybody all the time.

Life's Work is about the emotional conflict we all feel whether we have to work at a despised job for the paycheck or need to work in a beloved field for personal fulfillment. We know that family and friends matter most in life but the devil is in the details -- juggling the mechanics of getting through each day when there is more than one person (or even two) can reasonably accomplish, coping when the unexpected overwhelms the system, deciding how best to care and provide for those we love who depend on us.

The essays are short enough to read in five-minute bites (great to tuck in your bag for that wait in the doctor's office or the long line at the bank) and is also fun to read straight through. It's an especially great book for any parent (Mom or Dad) trying to write professionally at home. Lisa Belkin's take on combining a writing life with a family life had me laughing out loud.

Not Just for Working Moms
I read this book after it was the closing feature on Oprah and thought I would give it a try. I am a working woman, married, no children, and I thought this book might be too much about getting the balance as a parent. I was pleasantly surprised that much of what was written applies to ANYONE who is working, especially working women. And her message - that 100% balance is impossible and you need to figure out what works for you - is an important one. The stories were funny, short (which is her concession to people with no time) and relevant. I would recommned this as a good, quick read to anyone who is trying to figure out how to "make it work". ... Read more

Book Description

This study of female design engineers has profound implications for attempts to change organizational culture. Joyce Fletcher's research shows that emotional intelligence and relational behavior are often viewed as inappropriate because they collide with powerful, gender-linked images. Fletcher describes how organizations say they need such behavior and yet ignore it, thus undermining the possibility of radical change. She shows why the "female advantage" does not seem to be benefit women employees or organizations. She offers ways that individuals and organizations can make visible the invisible work.


Endorsements:

"Joyce Fletcher delineates the emotionally supportive, sometimes selfless behaviors that create the social glue that gets tasks done and holds teams, even whole organizations, together. She then shows, with devastating clarity, how organizations ignore and devalue these same behaviors in those crucial moments when rewards and promotions are handed out. This book will open the eyes of those who did not understand these disappearing acts, and it will make those whose contributions have been disappeared, feel--at long last--recognized and appreciated."
-- Joanne Martin, Fred H. Merrill Professor of Organizational Behavior, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Recommended
I recommend this often. Fletcher opens our eyes (those of us that had them closed anyway) to deeply ingrained biases that unfortunately go untested in the corporate world vis-a-vis gender equality. I was only dissappointed that she implicitly seems to argue that the old male-oriented structures in the workplace be revamped to allow room for women at work, rather than offering a completely "new" model of workplace democracy more in tune with our times.

Understanding knowledge-intensive work
This book contributes to our understanding of gender and work, and this is important.But I want to draw attention to this book's more general value for anyonet concerned to understand the changing nature of work in ourtimes.

Today, as more and more work situations involveknowledge-intensive, fluid environments where the old principles ofcommand-and-control are ineffective, those of us connected to suchenvironments are scrambling to understand how to achieve effectiveperformance in a game where the only thing we know about the rules is thatthe old rules don't apply.In this scramble, we are continually broughtback to the most fundamental question of organizing:what actions producevalue; what actions are irerelevant to or destructive of value?Dr.Fletcher's book has the potential be important in helping us to actpurposefully and successfully to create effective systems in this turbulantenvironment.

What we see as `real work' reflects only a portion of thework-related activity in organizations.For the most part, it reflects theportion that was of interest to the employers who created the industrialsystem of the early part of this century.As we face the challenges ofknowledge-intensive work in fluid, underdetermined and rapidly changingenvironments, we are being forced to create another reality of work.Thecritical factors for working successfully simply do not lie within the arealit by the spotlight of industrial reality.But how do we take offblinders we have worn for a century to see things differently?

I canthink of no better way than to challenge our thinking with explorations ofwhat, for lack of a better term, I might call alternate realities.Dr.Fletcher's book is such an example.While it is highly informed by theory,it is a case study and illustrates its points with dozens of concreteexamples.For the reader with an open mind who is prepared to bechallenged, this book should stimulate a better understanding of how wemight come to see the critical-but-hidden qualities that determine thesuccess or failure of knowledge-intensive work.

More importantly, Dr.Fletcher demonstrates that what is invisible is not merely overlooked.Itcomes to be invisible as the result of systematic processes that`disappear' it.The lesson for us -- whether we understand it specificallyin regard to gender or with reference to other factors shaping work in ourtime -- is that we cannot merely change organizations by `thinking outsidethe box' (to use a particularly unoriginal cliche for original thinking). We must first learn to SEE the box, to see the forces that sustain the box,to resist and change those forces.

At the turn of the last century, workwas re-invented by employers, workers and experts on organizing, whoproduced a new reality of work.At the turn of the present century, thisprocess is happening again.In this book, Dr. Fletcher makes a potentiallyimportant contribution to this immense, but necessary, task.

Roy Jacques,author `Manufacturing the Employee: Management Knowledge From the 19th to21st Centuries' ... Read more

Book Description

Book which lists over 5,000 Government Sources of Grants, Loans, Venture Capital, Management, Technical Assistance and Marketing Help especially for women. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not much substance!
I found this book completely useless except for a paperweight or doorstop! What I did find interesting is that Vickie Adkins-Marcum seems to review all of Matthew Lesko's books. Of course Vickie highly exalts him using such phrases as "KUDOS to Matthew Lesko! He's making this a better place!" For those of you who are a little slow, let me inform you that Vickie Adkins-Marcum is really Matthew Lesko, or someone Matthew gave this review to and paid Vickie to post it. It's strange that Vickie's reviews all start out with the same first paragraph and have many of the same phrases throughout. It is also strange that Vickie only reviews Matthew's books. Shame on you Matthew Lesko for writing your own review!

Very Disappointed
The main problem with this book is that the references it sites are no longer valid. The addresses, web sites, phone numbers, etc. are not current. They may never have been from what I can tell. The second problem with this book is that it spends way too much time on "motivational" nonsense like "you can do it!", etc. The hard information is very scarce, and as I said before, is out of date and almost useless.

Save the money you have!
This book is totally useless. I've contacted several places listed in the book to no avail. This will NOT help you make money and does not lead to any "free" money anywhere. Keep the money you have!

I want to make money --- lots and lost of money!!!!
As usual, Matthew Lesko finds a way to tell us about more freebies than we ever dreamed possible! His book is well organized and includes GREAT details on each page.

I work in a health department/WIC office. By utilizing this book on MANY different occasions, I am proud to say I've seen the info in this book literally change the lives of many of our Morrow County Residents. Many of our parents found money to start a business and now have goals of doing better... and the children see their parents pursuing their dreams. These kids learn that it's a good thing to set goals and strive to achieve them. It really does add to the success of our families here.

I'm very thankful Matthew Lesko found something he loves to do and does it so well! Many of us have used his books and feel they are a BLESSING to us and our families. I know I would not be where I am today without the seeds of ambition Matthew Lesko planted into me many years ago with all of his zany commercials and his "you can do this" attitude. So, KUDOS to Matthew Lesko! He's making this a better place!

Totally Useless Book...
I found this book to be totally useless. I had hoped to find resources for women starting a new business. No such luck. I also bought another book by Lesko at the same time -- it was also a waste of money in my opinion. ... Read more

Book Description

Why are women so dramatically underrepresented in formal leadership positions—and what can be done to improve the situation? This unique collection takes up these questions in the crucial practical concepts of law, politics, and business—the arenas in which women’s leadership has the most public influence. Bridging the worlds of theory and practice, the essays in this collection bring new insights to long-standing questions about the difference gender difference makes, both in access to leadership and in its exercise.

The contributors to this collection represent some of the nation’s most distinguished women leaders and most respected scholars on women and leadership, and reflect a distinctive array of perspectives and backgrounds. Among others, they include former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder; former NOW president Patricia Ireland; the Right Honorable Kim Campbell, former prime minister of Canada; and Judith Resnik, the Arthur Liman Professor of Law, Yale Law School. Written in accessible, lively prose, and informed by a wealth of scholarship and personal experience, this collection should appeal to a broad audience. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A book that makes a Difference
As a female college student approaching graduation and faced with the prospect of beginning my career, this book offered insightful information and suggestions concerning women and leadership. This book includes a compilation of several essays written by successful and powerful women and men in response to discussions that took place during a Women's Leadership Summit. According to the foreword by Martha Barnett the women and men contributing to this piece are leaders "in government, law firms, bar associations, corporations, and academia." The editor, Deborah Rhode, introduces the book with an essay that explores 'the difference difference makes'. She describes several of the obstacles still facing women in obtaining leadership positions today. She begins with overwhelming statistics that prove just how underrepresented women are in leadership positions. She identifies gender stereotypes, the lack of mentoring and networking available to women, and inflexible workplace structures that do not accommodate families as the major sources that contribute to the lack of women in leadership roles. She proposes solutions to the problem that include creating equal opportunities for women by developing mentoring programs and creating flexible and family friendly workplace schedules. She also adds that once one woman has obtained a leadership position there should be a sense of social responsibility to keep the doors open for those that follow. The rest of the book includes great essays written by prominent male and female leaders in the legal profession and government. The essays include historical facts concerning women's rights, offer suggestions for how to level the playing field, personal success stories, and the issue of racial discrimination in leadership positions. I found this book to be extremely helpful in offering several perspectives on the problem of gender and racial discrimination in the workplace. The essays provided excellent, practical knowledge that I can one day utilize to help advance my career. The reality of discrimination in the workplace was definitely a wake up call to what I will soon face, yet the advice and personal experiences of success offered encouragement that progress is possible. ... Read more

Book Description

Sylvia Ann Hewlett, the acclaimed author of When the Bough Breaks: The Cost of Neglecting Our Children, tackles one of the most wrenching challenges for women today -- creating rich multidimensional lives that contain both career and children.

Almost half of all professional women are childless at age forty. The more a woman succeeds in her career, the less likely it is that she will have a partner or a baby. For men the opposite is true: the more successful a man is professionally, the more likely it is that he will be married with children.

By and large professional women have not chosen to be childless. Indeed, most of them yearn for a child and are prepared to go to the ends of the earth to find a baby, often expending huge amounts of time, money, and energy. But in the end, the age-old business of having babies eludes many. Modern women can be playwrights, politicians, and chief executives, but increasingly, they cannot be mothers.

Hewlett brings to the book her substantial expertise as a policy analyst and her own difficult experiences of pregnancy and motherhood. Combining poignant and compelling portraits of women's lives with a groundbreaking survey commissioned specifically for this book, she gives voice to women's hopes and anguish and unearths stunning new information. For example, 42 percent of women on corporate America are childless at age forty (compared to 25 percent of men), but only 14 percent planned to be. Hewlett's exhaustive research reveals a host of circumstances that have conspired to produce brutal trade-offs in the lives of professional women: America's long-hours corporate culture, a stubbornly traditional division of labor at home, and a fertility industry that lulls women into a false sense that they can get pregnant deep into middle age.

The voices Hewlett captures are searingly honest and the information contained in her new survey is devastating. But these facts and these stories can both liberate and empower young women. Creating a Life is vital reading for any woman contemplating a future that includes both career and children. ... Read more

Reviews (62)

If you want baby, easy!
The world is over-populated. Please be open and learn from the Europeans: adopt desserted babies in South America, Asia, Africa and now one more source (caused by the American government): Iraq. Empty middle-age? So much to busy with! Be a loving person.

Influential but flawed
This book has many biases and flaws. Other reviewers have already gone into detail on these points, so I won't belabor them. I gave this book 2 stars because it created huge waves when released: was the subject of many magazine articles and television shows in the following months. So, if you are like me and enjoy keeping on top of books that have helped shape the news, note that this was one of the most most talked-about books of 2002. That being said, my other point is this: there is a business in making people scared and prophesizing doom and gloom. Does a woman's fertility decline as she ages? Sure. But it varies wildly from person to person. Do you really want to put your money towards trying to scare the wits out of high acheiving North American women, making them feel even more pressured than they already do? I, for one, would rather not.

LADIES!! DON'T LISTEN TO THIS [person]
I asked my OBGYN about this book. He laughed and told me that one third of his practice is first time mothers over 40, and two thirds are first time mothers over 35. I got pregnant (unplanned) at 35. I guess that "fertility falling off a cliff" jazz is a little untrue. (didn't Ms. Hewlett have a child at 51? HMMMM) This woman is NOT a doctor and has no idea what she is talking about. ...

Recommended to all women and their male counterparts
The modern views of Sylvia Hewlett's are obviously presented throughout her novel "Creating a Life: Professional Women and the Quest for Children." This novel illustrates and accurately captivates the struggles of a woman in the 21st century by exploring and the heartbreak that accompanies it.
As a young female, growing up in a single parent household, I am able to get a first hand look at the sacrifices my mother had to endure to pursue her professional career while raising a child. Wanting to pursue a professional career myself, the issues of having children arose while reading this novel.
I am able to say that this novel is useful to me, and to any young woman wanting more out of life. This is an excellent read, portraying real issues that are to come in the near future. This book is recommended to women who illustrate a need for a professional life, and their counterparts who support them.

We need to overthrow patriarchy: change job schedules
This is a good survey that show us the problems we are facing because of patriarchy. The problems we, professional women, face is how to manage work and family, which as a consequence also affect men. And Why is this? well in part because under patriarchy these job schedules were designed for men to work outside home and women to stay at home taking care of the family, and since women earned participation in men's world, society allowed them this under the male rule. This means that this survey invites us to see that we need reforms in our workplace, and need as some authors suggest to work to overthrow patirarchy, the ancient system where everything was made to serve males. So the problem is that women have gained participation in men's world but under male rule. We need to change this, and one thing to start is by changing job schedules, so both men and women can enjoy work and family. Recent statistics show the trend of women going to work outside home, and an increasing number of stay-at home dads. Why is this? Because of patriarchy, and because someone has to take care of our family. That is a reality of life, we grow and want to have a husband/wife and children, and this requires to take care of them which requires to have time to do it. ... Read more

Book Description

Financial planner and broker Julie Stav first took the American and Spanish markets by storm with the bestseller and PBS Series Get Your Share. She spoke specifically to women, showing them how to strike it rich in the stock market. Now she speaks to everyone-men and women, young and old, new and seasoned investor alike-sharing her wisdom on how to make long-term financial dreams come true.

One of the keys to achieving successful financial goals is in mutual funds and 401(k)s. And while most people do participate in such investment plans, they may not be participating profitably. In this smart, sensible and down-to-earth guide, Julie Stav shows investors and prospective investors how to get the most out of their mutual funds and 401(k) plans. She explains how to set financial goals-whether they are to retire with financial dignity, send the kids to college, or purchase a new home-and achieve them.

But most of all, Julie Stav's fun, conversational, and easy-to-understand approach takes the fear out of investing and puts the roadmap to riches within reach. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Outstanding book!
This is an amazing book - it clearly explains how you can plan for your retirement and help you to actually calculate the numbers yourself without depending on a planner. The book made me feel very empowered with my own finances. Thanks for writing this book - its awesome.

No Index
I found the book clearly written but was surprised to find no index.

get your share: the everyday woman's guide to stocks
I too am a hispanic woman. I was quite intimidated by stocks and expecially that scary stock page in the newspaper. I could not believe it. I am a college graduate and a bank employee and here I am completely baffled by investments. I work in a bank. But I caught the last 15 minutes of her PBS special and was captivated as to how simply she explained it without being condisending. I needed someone to explain how to take control of my own finances and all of those dummy books were not as helpful as I had hoped. I truly felt like a dummy!! I especially liked the road lane analogy. Because now I know in what lane and what speed to go. Even though I am 27 and the recommended/investing age starts at 25. I am confident that my retirement will be smoother than most of today's retirees. I thank you very much Julie, you improved my life by allowing me to understand it more clearly. Thanks again. If you are ever in Chicago, look me up. I owe you a cup of Starbucks mochaccino or something!!

BEST FINANCIAL PLANNING BOOK OUT THERE!
Wow! Julie Stav is really a financial writer for our times. She speaks in clear language and provides a special (and easy!) system for you to figure out how to plan for retirement, save for a college fund, or even just get the most out of your 401(k). My favorite part was the exercise she had us go through to find "hidden assets" that I didn't even know I had! I would recommend this to anyone who is numbers shy but who knows that it is time to take their financial future into their own hands! ... Read more

Book Description

How to capitalize on the biggest trend in business! Building a small business can be a major challenge for anyone.In today's modern workplace, women continue to have a unique set of obstacles to overcome as small business owners: skepticism from friends and family, difficulties obtaining credit and financing, and, generally, more scrutiny than male competitors.

Whether you're about to build a business from the ground up - or buy an existing one - Small Business Savvy shows you how to succeed.Authors Normal J. Rist and Katina Z. Jones are entrepreneurial pioneers who have successfully launched their own small businesses, as well as worked as consultants to more than 500 women-owned businesses across the country.These two incredible mentors are your guides through the process of creating, launching, and expanding your business. They've seen it all, and understand the issues you face every day as a female small business owner.

The authors show you all the ropes of small business ownership, including:
How to thrive in even the worst economic times
When it's worth taking a risk - and when to sit tight and await the "right" moment
How women can crack any market
Whom to turn to for advice in making pivotal decisions
How to build a business that makes money while you sleep
How to know when it's time to change your business

Whether you're opening a small boutique or running your own public relations firm, Small Business Savvy has the facts, figures, and, best of all, the advice you need.Take it from your mentors, Norma and Katina, who've already "been there and done that" - if you believe in yourself, you, too, can succeed as a small business owner. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Practical and Humorous Biz
The authors present all kinds of useful ideas that I can implement right now, from bartering for services to collecting money due, i.e.,the nuts and bolts of a business. Tact and sensitivity are strong characteristics of dealing with prople, and I can tell that the authors have had much experience and success in this area. "Common entrepreneurial mistakes" such as charging too little is easy for business women to fall into, since we are used to giving our all to our families; therefore we tend not to value our efforts as much as we should.

I really like this book and plan to give copies to friends as Christmas gifts.

Norma Rist's and Katina Jones' book helped me succeed!
Small Business Savvy is the most comprehensive book I've ever read on building a business, and the best book I've ever seen on clearing the distinct hurdles a woman-owned business presents.

Rist and Jones take turns exploring the start-up, marketing, pricing, and myriad in-between issues women owners face. Their ability to draw from those who've gone before is key. Not only do you soak up their considerable insights, but you get practical, illuminating anecdotal illustrations of hundreds of women whose successes and struggles are descr