Book Description

An economy that operates 24/7—as ours now does—imposes extraordinary burdens on workers. Two-fifths of all employed Americans work mostly during evenings, nights, weekends, or on rotating shifts outside the traditional 9-to-5 work day. The pervasiveness of nonstandard work schedules has become a significant social phenomenon, with important implications for the health and well-being of workers and their families. In Working in a 24/7 Economy, Harriet Presser looks at the effects of nonstandard work schedules on family functioning and shows how these schedules disrupt marriages and force families to cobble together complex child-care arrangements that should concern us all.

The number of hours Americans work has received ample attention, but the issue of which hours—or days—Americans work has received much less scrutiny.Working in a 24/7 Economy provides a comprehensive overview of who works nonstandard schedules and why. Presser argues that the growth in women’s employment, technological change, and other demographic changes over the past 30 years gave rise to the growing demand for late-shift and weekend employment. She also demonstrates that most people who work these hours do so primarily because it is a job requirement, rather than a choice based on personal considerations. Presser shows that the consequences of working nonstandard schedules often differ for men and women since housework and child-rearing remain primarily female preserves, even when both spouses are employed. As with many other social problems, the burden of these schedules disproportionately affects the working poor, reflecting their lack of options in the workplace and adding to their disadvantage. Presser also documents how such work arrangements have created a new rhythm of daily life within many American families, including those with two earners and absent fathers. With spouses often not at home together in the evenings or nights, and parents often not at home with their children at such times, the relatively new concept of "home-time" has emerged as primary concern for families across the nation.

Employing a wealth of empirical data, Working in a 24/7 Economy shows that nonstandard work schedules are both highly prevalent among American families and generate a level of complexity in family functioning that demands greater public attention.Presser makes a convincing case for expanded research and meaningful policy initiatives to address this growing social phenomenon. ... Read more

Book Description

Noted child psychologist Sylvia Rimm, along with her daughters, a research psychologist and a pediatric oncology researcher, conducted an extensive three-year survey among more than one thousand satisfied women who have achieved success in their careers. She explored in depth these women's childhoods, adolescences, and young adulthoods, noting what the women had in common and culling from her findings important advice on how parents can give their own daughters the same advantages.

Based on extensive original research, See Jane Win provides invaluable advice for helping girls deal with such issues as middle-school grade decline, math anxieties, eating disorders, social and academic insecurities, feelings of being different, self-esteem and competition, the career-family balance, and the glass ceiling. Included are profiles of seventeen women in disparate careers that illuminate the rewards and penalties of linear versus delayed career patterns and show us the typical pathways for women in specific fields, including medicine, science, law, business, education, politics, and the arts.

Despite the many victories of the women's movement, little girls are still given negative messages about their potential and prospects. Dr. Rimm shows parents how to combat those messages and give their daughters the confidence and skills they need to follow in the footsteps of the successful women surveyed. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

For fathers of daughters who want to see data
This book is to professional acheivement what the Hite report was to sexuality: A sampling (which the authors admit is not random) of how successful women managed to do well in today's world. The question: where were they yesterday? will not always give the whole story, but hearing a lot of stories and a smattering of statistics gives a real credence to the advice. Lots of practical points on raising girls. A unique book...I hope not only my daughter but her college admission boards and future employers read it well.

A Useful Guide for Fathers of Daughters
Having a 14 year old daughter, I am always looking for ways to be more helpful to her. As you can imagine, my helpful ideas are not always well received despite my best intentions. I was delighted to see this quantitative characterization of how successful, happy women arrived. I read with equal enthusiasm the parts for fathers and mothers, and intend to share this book with both my wife and daughter. As someone who believes in high standards, I was relieved to find that that was a good thing to do, and learned some new ways to provide those high standards in more supportive and comfortable ways for my daughter. Casual conversations usually do not keep my attention for long, but this book taught me that these are important to my daughter. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much our relationship improved when I put more effort and attention into these occasions. Perhaps the biggest surprise was to see how much longer my daughter works on her homework than these hard-working, successful women did when they were young. I felt much more relaxed about my daughter's prospects, as a result. On the negative side, I found two important weaknesses in the book. The authors kindly provide a nice summary in the beginning. However, the summary doesn't quite capture the lessons in the book in the same way that the advice and stories in the chapters do. Secondly, a better methodology for this study would have been to equally study women who had unhappy lives with successful careers and women with happy lives and unsuccessful careers to see what is truly different about those who are both happy and successful. Perhaps there will be a second book that will develop that point. In the meantime, I recommend this book to everyone who cares about young women's happiness, including the young women themselves. You are bound to pick up some self-confidence about what you are doing right, and some ideas for how to improve where you may not be.

Refreshing
This was an extraordinary book, very insightful. It let me know things are still possible and that dreams come true. This book tells you about other people that are very similar to yourself. The great thing about this book is that it displays all aspects of life. This book is definitely on my bookshelf.

A fascinating book --with one caveat
There are many great stories in this book and lots of advice for mothers. However, Rimm's definition of success is very much career-oriented, and what bothered me is that many women admitted they, looking back, didn't spend as much time with their children as they should have, some really not around at all. To me this means you are NOT successful. I would have liked to see more "success" for those with children as tied in with being a wonderful mother too

Interesting study
I enjoyed reading about the examples of resilience, tenacity and perserverance these women displayed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

So Near and Yet So Far...Even Today
The authors ask, "Can women reach the top of America's largest corporations?" They can and they have...but rarely. This book examines the results of a three-year study of women executives in "Fortune 100" companies. First published in 1987 and then in a revised edition in 1992, Breaking the Glass Ceiling is not wholly current with the situation in these same companies today. (Question: How many have lost their lofty rating they have under-utilized the capabilities of their female employees? Hmmm....) From my perspective, however, most of the book's assertions and conclusions are still valid. The so-called "glass ceiling" has been raised since 1992 but it is still there. Although no long legal, it remains a major barrier nonetheless.

Think about it: You can see where you want to go...you know what you must do to get there...and you are confident of your abilities. So your upward journey within the organization begins. Just as Dorothy saw the distant glow of Oz, you see just as clearly your own destination. It excites you, it inspires you, and you begin to think about how wonderful it will be to get there. As you carefully ascend, you encounter what seems to be a pane of glass. Your face is flush against it. You can still see your destination above you, so near and yet so far. You have hit the "glass ceiling." Now what?

The authors organize their material within eight chapters whose titles correctly indicate the sequence of their analysis:

The Ceiling and the Wall: The Double Barrier to the Top

Up or Out: How Women Succeed, How They Derail

Perception Is Reality: The Narrow Band of Acceptable Behavior

Lessons for Success I : It's Not Enough to Work Hard

Lessons for Success II: It's Not Enough to Work Smart

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Making It to General Management

Hitting the Wall: Facing Limits, Finding Alternatives

The Future: Can Women Make It to the Top?

Where Are They Now? According to the authors, they are encouraged by two trends: the development of a new "business imperative" which requires organizations to utilize fully all of its human assets, and, the renewal of "legal and legislative pressures." The former is best understood in terms of enlightened self-interest; the second is best understood in terms of the threat of litigation if prevailing laws against gender discrimination have been violated. Whatever it takes. The authors observe: "While there is still a long way to go, progress is being made. Some have broken, or at least cracked the glass ceiling, while others have found ways around it. All have treated the last several years as a learning experience and have applied their own advice in facing the challenges of pioneering women." The "business imperative" as well as "legal and legislative pressures" may have done much to eliminate the "glass ceiling" within organizations. Well and good. But a significant challenge remains: To remove it it, also, from within the minds of those who have been its victims.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling (bold face) helps us to measure what has been accomplished since 1987 when it was first published; 14 years later, it reminds us of what remains to be done. ... Read more

Book Description

Designed primarily for junior officers and non-commissioned officers, Move to the Front is a positive and constructive guide for inexperienced as well as veteran women who wish to succeed in the military and for men who wish to develop the potential of women in their organizations. For women in the corporate and industrial sections, the experience of military women can offer valuable insights. All women who aspire to leaddership on male dominated teams face the same challenges and the lessons are universal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must for Career Success
Move to the Front is a must read for not only women who wish to be successful in business (or military) today, but for men who want to learn how to interact effectively with the other half of the working force. Jo Rusin gives clear, concise, and valuable information on how to be a team player, how to develop the proper attitude for success, and how to handle situations which arise when playing by long established male rules of the game. A well written book filled with excellent examples, it is highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

A prescient investigation of the most dramatic power shift in American history. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Must-Have Book to Read and Share
This book chronicles,(illustrated with the stories of the well-known and the not-so-well-known), the impact of women in and on a variety of careers/professions over the past several decades. I believe it is trulythe most fascinating book to come along in awhile and it is a wonderfulbook to be able to discuss.

Wonderfully upbeat, women will findencouragement and reassurance. It all makes sense of what we've been living- and gives a pretty good road map of what works and what wastes careertime. Men - of all types and attitudes - will also find it fascinatingreading.Thankfully, most will smile and be encouraged that the rest ofthe world understands what they have all along. They'll be the ones saying- "Let me tell you about this Power Chick I work with."

Igave this book to my dad for Christmas. It led to many a greatconversation. My mom, a very happy and traditional homemaker, saw it as awindow into my life. And my younger sister read it while on a job huntingtrip. It proved a terrific guide and buildup for confronting job interviewsand head hunters. This book should be everyone's gift book of the year.You'll know they read it, because they'll want to talk with you about it.

An informative and interesting read on real power women.
Matt Towery has been able to compile a diversified group of real woman whohave risen to powerful positions in almost every industry. This book tellstheir story in an factual way from their own point of view of how they roseto power.

It is very evident to see that there is a pattern that most ofthe women followed that is different than what men in similar positionsseem to follow.

This book is a good guide for men to better understandwoman in business as well as showcasing some very powerful people.

As aproducer in television and film, I definately see Power Chicks has a futurein other forms of the media as well in bringing these stories to thepublic.

I'm happy that I had the chance to read an advance copy and lookforward to seeing this book rise to the top of the charts.

Randy PeskinExecutive Producer

No male point of view, just the facts!
I fortunately had an opportunity to see an advance galley copy of POWERCHICKS.

Matt Towery has taken actual statements from some of the topranking women in a variety of industries and in a clear, concise manner,organized their comments into an interesting account of their successes,featuring when, where, why and how they achieved their power.

This isnot a mans point of view, but an authors recap and analysis of some of thecommon factors shared by those that have achieved.

Towery has hit on asubject that is timely and lends itself to not only follow up features, butis a perfect subject for other forms of media as well.

To Matt Towery,congradulations on a job well done!

John Ratzenberger

Actor, Director,Producer

President, FIDDLERS BAY ENTERTAINMEMT ... Read more

Book Description

Your Personal Tool Kit for Power—at the Office and at Home

In her popular “Power Tools for Women” workshop, management consultant Joni Daniels teaches women how to be more effective and efficient at work and at home. The key is to tap into the metaphor of the tool kit. Too few women grow up wielding power tools and enjoying the sense of accomplishment and self-sufficiency they impart. With her new book, Daniels equips you with eleven power tools—invaluable skills you can transport between work and home. With conviction and a dose of humor, she explains how and when to use them to be more successful in every part of your life. Your new tool kit includes:

* The Demolition Hammer: to break the rules
* The Electrical Sensor: to follow your intuition
* The Power Drill: to get the right information
* Safety Goggles: to create your vision of success . . . and more

Whether you’re juggling worklife responsibilities, reentering the employment market, or striving to achieve your goals, this book will give you the right tools for the job. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Read and Keep this one on your nightstand
This is a must have book for you and all of your friends.Joni Daniels shows us clearly that we have the tools to get what we want from our work, families, relationships, and life we just need to "put on the safety goggles" (i.e. have a clear vision) first.The stories she tells have universal appeal -- you'll recognize yourself and your close girlfriends.Just spending 15 minutes at night reading this book was a great way to get a charge to my batteries, get me planning my next career move.This book is the kind that you don't want to lend.I find myself buying additional copies to give to friends.

A Book for all women of the 21st century
Power Tools for Women is one of those books you want all your friends and collegues to read, only you can not bear to lend your copy!. This book is a must for all women. We are in a position of transition, trying to balance home life and career, being wives, mothers, bosses, role models, and somewhere in there trying to maintain our sense of self. Joni Daniels has captured our issues and given us a wonderful resouce on how to work with them. Her wit and writing style coupled with her examples of real people situations make it such an easy read.
I am buying this book as gifts for all the women in my life,and I know they will love me for it!!

Power Tools for Women is a fantastic resource!
I just finished reading Joni Daniels new book- "Power Tools for Women" and I had to write this review.I have never done this before but I wanted to let other women know how essential this book is to help all of us understand how to change our lives and have more personal and professional satisfaction. We do have the power and the tools to be successful, to be who we want to be--deserve to be and not what our society, corporations, families,teachers, etc. peg us to be.

The methaphor of power tools makes it easy to understand and apply the advice in this book and I related to many of the examples Ms. Daniels used.I have worked in a "man's world" for over 30 years moving from secretary to vice president in a billion dollar company.You don't get there simply because you are good technically.The secret to how you get what you want is in this Power Toolbox.Read this book and level the field!!!

A great resource!
I liked Power Tools for Women because it really hit home.I could identify with many of the real-life examples the author wrote about.I kept thinking, "Yeah, that's me she's writing about!"Daniels' advice helps you figure out how to make things work whether it's on the job or at home.She shows that you probably already have the ability to tackle something tough, you just have to recognize it.She also gives suggestions on how to develop that ability.This book is packed with great ideas and is one that I'll keep referring to.It's smart, funny and right on target.

A great resource!
I liked Power Tools for Women because it really hit home. I could identify with many of the real-life examples the author wrote about. I kept thinking, "Yeah, that's me she's writing about!" Daniels' advice helps you figure out how to make things work whether it's on the job or at home. She shows that you probably already have the ability to tackle something tough, you just have to recognize it. She also gives suggestions on how to develop that ability. This book is packed with great ideas and is one that I'll keep referring to. It's smart, funny and right on target. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The first book to examine Southern farm women's confrontation with modern America.

***Winner of the Willie Lee Rose Prize given by the Southern Association for Women Historians

In the years after World War I, people of the upcountry South found their world rapidly changing.A postwar plunge in farm prices stretched into a twenty-year agricultural depression.New Deal agricultural programs eventually transformed the economy, pushing many families off the land to make way for larger commercial farms.These changes brought mixed results, but the years between the world wars marked a turning point in the struggle of upcountry women to shape their own lives.New industry and the intervening hand of big government, intruding on once insular communities, forced new choices and redefined the roles of women in this region.

In All We Knew Was to Farm, Melissa Walker carefully examines these critical developments, depicting the southern farm woman's confrontation with modern America.Drawing on personal interviews, archives, family papers, and contemporary government records, Walker reconstructs the stories of rural women dealing with bewildering and unsettling change.Some of them, Walker finds, were forced by the constraints of race and class to choose the best of a bad set of options.Others adapted to change by becoming partners in farm operations, adopting the roles of consumers and homemakers, taking off-farm jobs, or leaving the land.The material lives of rural upcountry women improved dramatically by midcentury; yet in becoming middle class, Walker concludes, they found their lives both broadened and circumscribed. ... Read more

Book Description

"It is critical that you figure out what will make you most happy. For me, that meant creating meaningful work for myself in addition to the meaningful work of raising my children."

...So begins Lisa Hammond's story of following her passion, founding her own company (Femail Creations--a woman-oriented catalog company that grew into a huge success), and in turn helping other women make their way in the world.

Dream Big shows women that the first step isn't writing a business plan--it's listening to yourself and taking your turn, it's managing your life from the heart. Dream Big is full of hilarious stories, heart-stopping inspiration, and roll-up-your sleeves tips. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An inspiring read for budding entrepreneurs
This book is not a "how to" for starting a business, but it is an open and frank account of how the author came up with a unique business idea and established a successful business which does not only focused on making a profit, but also lending a hand to those who are less financially fortunate. Lisa Hammond did a great job at "telling it as it is" and giving a balanced view of being her own boss. As someone who is keen to escape the rat race and start my own business doing what I love rather than what I have been trained for, I found this book to be an inspirational and engrossing read. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

EXCELENTE LIBRO!
Después de leer este libro no me queda mas que felicitar a su autora y recomendarlo 100%, ya que el libro nos lleva al fascinante y complejo mundo de las inversiones en una forma sorprendentemente profunda y con una increíble sencillez.; A pesar de su titulo, es recomendado para que lo lean hombres y mujeres que quieran iniciarse en el mundo bursátil.

obtenga su porcion
me gustaria saber acerca del tema para comprar el libro gracias ... Read more

Book Description

Even now, in the 21st century, women continue to be paid less than men, are still notably absent from the executive suites, and amongentrepreneurs, receive only a tiny fraction of venture capital. The struggle for equality is not yet over -- and it's up to women to take positive action forchange.

The Girls' Guide to Power and Success shows readers how. It's packed with frank advice and hard-won lessons including:

* It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Learn to strip out the hesitant "buts"; intimate details; and indirect phrasings -- and assert yourself effectively.

* Develop the confidence to ask for what you want. Learn how to create opportunities for yourself rather than waiting for them to be offered. * Look for companies that "get it." Learn to pinpoint companies that are committed to women's advancement.

With its frank advice, lively tone, and no-nonsense strategies, The Girls' Guide to Power and Successis a powerful ally for women who are just ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Must read for Girls of all Ages!
This real life look at corporate America is a must for every library. This is the kind of book we all wish we had when we were starting out in the corporate world. All the interviews and real life experiences can only help our corporate culture and we all must thank Susan Solovic for her excellent compilation of stories and facts!!!! A must read!!!!

Very Useful And Provocative Book
Susan Wilson Solovic has written a very useful and often provocative book for working women of all ages. Unlike some "career guides" that focus only on statistics and theory, Ms. Solovic interviewed successful women who have been "in the trenches" of the business world in addition to using great examples from her own varied and successful career. This approach not only makes the book a "good read" but it provides "nuts and bolts" practical advice on how women can be more effective in the business world today. This book was written from a unique point of view by a woman "who's done it all" and who now wants to make the road a bit smoother for other women in business.

You go girl!
Interesting and concise read. I enjoyed it but my only qualm is that there are various typos and grammatical errors in the book. Maybe I'm picky because I've done a lot of proofing in my profession but it was very annoying when I came across an error...

Highly Recommended!
Author and consultant Susan Wilson Solovic tells how working women can be more effective in top positions and move up the career ladder. She highlights the differences between male and female styles and cites ways that women often sabotage themselves by showing weakness and a lack of confidence in how they speak and act. Using examples and diverse quotes, she illustrates what women should do to express the power they have, which is the key to being taken seriously as a leader. Solovic challenges many overly optimistic beliefs about how things have changed for women in the U.S. workforce and backs up her assertions with recent statistics and research. We [...] highly recommend this book, which provides a welcome strategic reminder that is clearly directed toward businesswomen - though why call them girls? Oh, that's a little irony from the author or, at least we hope so.

It's up to us.
Susan Solovic's "The Girls' Guide to Power and Success" puts it right back in our laps. We have to make the changes in our expectations and behavior. She provides the motivation and the tools.

Little has changed in the last 50 years except that there are more women in titled positions. With these titles came no change in the lack of independence from male persuasion in decision making. We're still doing it their way.

Time for women to step up to the plate, read Solovic's book and march to our own drummers. ... Read more

Book Description

"Galvanizing." (Vanity Fair)

From one of the nation's leading legal scholars comes an urgent book about the power division between men and women. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Poor-mediocre moderate feminist pabulum
About half this book is a rambling rant about the lack of women on corporate boards, at the upper echelons of politics, and/or as CEO's of Fortune 500 companies. Another quarter is about how younger women don't seem to be interested in carrying on the cause of feminism; and the other quarter is basically political name-dropping, gossip, and reminiscing. But it's all mixed in in a somewhat chaotic manner which jumps back and forth among the various topics.

As far as the first topic goes: Estrich, like many (if not all) feminists, tends to think that men at the top of institutions rule like tyrants -- the way women in fact tend rule over their children. By focusing all her attention on success-object men, she's really no different in her basic outlook from a Monica Lewinsky -- she just has different objectives and uses for men. Men without formal power are invisible to her. And the vast amount of informal female power extant is barely at the edge of her radar screen. In other words, this book is not about the real topic of sex and power, namely female sexual power. Looking at all the men in business (and politics) and saying men have all the power is about as simple-minded as looking at all the slaves in the pre-Civil War South and saying blacks have all the cotton.

Estrich confuses the earning of money with its real power, which is in its spending -- which is female-dominated, and thus invisible to her. It never occurs to her that the American woman, as powerful consumer-in-chief, is actually the boss of the male corporate CEO. All those factories, strip-malls and shopping centers weren't built (often at the expense of male lives) so *men* could go shopping for fashion accessories and home furnishings. "Follow the money", as they say...

As far as her second topic is concerned, there's a fairly substantial body of decent work already out there on the feminist's recruiting problem. Not only doesn't Estrich mention it, but she appears to be unaware of its existence. In other words, she hasn't done even a minimal amount of research and therefore doesn't have anything to say of interest on the topic. This is fairly characteristic of the book's first topic also.

The war stories from her glory days may be of minor interest to hardcore CNN and C-SPAN types...

I give it one star above the minimum for its brief exposition on sexual harassment law and the reasonable person/woman concept, which isn't all that bad. The author is a lawyer, after all. But I don't think she fully grasps that this yet another arena in which women can't lose; only men can (and they can lose big), which is hardly equality. I still think Warren Farrell's phrase "if it works it's courtship, if it doesn't it's harassment" sums the basic situation up best.

Estrich's opinions seem about fifteen years out of date, so this book is basically a waste of good trees. She should have tried reading others' books before writing one of her own. This ... book's existence (and the hype it got) alone testifies to the power women have in this country.

Sex, power & "personal publicity" all play a role...
Estrich makes some very good points in this book, but leaves one critical factor out. Women who do make it to the top not only don't mentor other women - they forget to put a little "personal publicity" into their career plans! It's always the "first woman" here, and the "first woman" there. Being first only lasts as long as making the "first mistake" which also hits the business page headlines. Achieving corporate and community visibility needs a consistent and planned effort. To really take charge of your career, whether you are still climbing the so-called ladder, or have reached the top rungs - there is no substitute for creating a strategic 'personal' publicity plan. Your boss won't do it, and neither will your mentor (if you have one!). It is up to YOU. People have to know who you are, what you stand for, and why they should hire you, promote you, or do business with you. That's really taking charge of your career.

Realistic view?
I'm 21 and just about to start working toward a PhD in business and I had never realized that that so many women felt the desire to put their career on the back burner in order to have a family. I've always known I didn't want that left, but I never realized what implications the notion of being a potential "mommy" would have for me as I go forward.
This is a great book for anyone who wants to know about women and getting ahead in today's society.

an interesting look at an interesting life.
i thought this was a great book. but potential
customers should realize two possibly surprising details:

1. although the categoriztion on the back lists it as
"politics/women studies," it's a very autobiographical book.
this is not at all a bad thing. estrich has lead a very
interesting, very noteworthy life. but don't expect a
scholarly study on women and power in business.

2. estrich takes digs on "fat" people (which she defines
as size 14, hence the quotation marks). although in some
ways a brilliant and important feminist, she can
be just as catty and shallow in some respects as
old white men. be forewarned. it comes late in the book, after
she's endeared herself to you, and it is deeply disappointing.

Enlightened
Susan Estrich's book is informative, factual, and powerful. I have quoted from it several times for articles and am very happy to support this work. I recommend it to women who may be teaching (I teach in an MBA program) and who are helping to mentor women who WILL succeed in the world of business. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent book
I really enjoyed this book. It was wonderful reading about women who are no different then me being highly successful in the male dominated business world. Great reading

The Eleven Commandments of Wildly Successful Women
This book is highly recommended. It asks questions that you need to be able to answer for youself in order for you to be successful. It also gives a great source of references at the back of the book for other female organizations to help support you in your path to succeed.

"Thou shalt...."ÿ
I agree with Lillian Vernon: This is a "must-read for women of all ages, with positive and original ideas, giving a refreshing and personal perspective." I also think it is a must-read for men...at least those in management positions who (perhaps motivated by self-interest, if by nothing else) want to develop "wildly successful" people of both genders. Most of us have been "stone-walled" at some point in our careers. Or perhaps we have on occasion felt that we have hit a "brick wall." Encountering a "glass ceiling" is far worse because we can see through the glass to what lies beyond...to what we are denied. I am reminded of Tantalus who, according to Greek mythology, offended the gods. His punishment was to remain in Hades for eternity, thirsty and hungry, placed up to his neck in water he could not drink beneath clusters of fruit he could not eat: So near and yet so far.

It is Pamela Boucher Gilberd's assertion that "Women's economic creativity is one of the best-kept secrets in business today....It's time to acknowledge the truth -- that working women have the tools to create wild success for themselves and others and that we use those tools every day." Written in 1996, The Eleven Commandments of Wildly Successful Women is based on 125 interviews with a wide-range of women who have achieved "wild success." Their collective experiences suggest eleven "commandments" which Gilberd introduces and then illustrates by cross-referencing the experiences and insights of those she interviewed. The final chapter is perhaps the most valuable. In it, she shares Angi Ma Wong's 15 "Golden Rules for a Successful Life" and then her own 10 "Ways to Keep the Cycle of Success Going Strong."

Since 1996 when this book was first published, many organizations have raised the so-called "glass ceiling" and I guess that's progress. ASAP, however, every "glass ceiling" must be permanently eliminated if there is to be equal opportunity to achieve "wild success." Intangible assets are much more valuable than are tangible assets. I refer specifically to the talent (albeit under-utilized) and the experience (albeit under-appreciated) of those within any organization. The remarkable women whom Gilberd interviewed are to be commended for what they accomplished, especially given the obstacles they had to overcome. They are also to be commended for sharing so generously what they have learned. In this instance, they are following the Eleventh Commandment: Give Back to Keep the Cycle of Success Going. Those who read this book will be well-prepared to overcome all manner of obstacles at work to achieve their own "wild success"...and to help others to do so also. ... Read more

Book Description

From Ophelia DeVore in the 1940's and today's Tyra Banks, Grace Jones, and Naomi Campbell, Black and Beautiful highlights more than sixty years of the Black fashion model's triumphs and struggles. Barbara Summers, a Ford Model for seventeen years, interviewed dozens of models and selected more than 250 photos for this landmark publication.  Celebrating the strength and style of these fascinating women and their groundbreaking careers, this book is a gorgeous tribute to the beauty of Black women everywhere.

Book Description

Emphasizing what women bring to the table (such as listening skills and empathy) and teaching readers how to recognize and control traits that undermine their abilities (such as the tendency toward avoiding conflict or sending internal self-defeating messages), this unique guide instructs and inspires women to negotiate to their best advantage in any bargaining situation. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

You Can Find Better Negotiating Books
Exhibiting all the traits of a "good girl" and fuming from my last job review, I thought this book would be a perfect weekend read. By the end, I was bored and this book has been tossed into my pile of rejected paperbacks.

This book is more successful in listing personality traits of a "good girl" rather than giving effective strategies that are sure to lead to bargain table success. There are some negotiating tactics, but they aren't anything new (listen, know how to say no, get things in writing, shop around, think before you sign, etc). Once I finished the book, I knew what made me a "good girl," I knew there were a lot of women like me, and I knew in what situations "good girls" failed, but I still didn't have an applicable strategy for remedying these issues.

For instance, the authors recommend researching your expected salary before negotiating your next job contract. This isn't new advice, and I still didn't know where to turn for this information -- coworkers, online, library? There are a few cases where the authors give resources -- but they are ones I am already familiar with or are too obscure to be useful (what numbers to call when barganing for a casket, find out what your car is worth with the kelly blue book).

And be forewarned, the entire book consists of hundreds and hundreds of anecdotes. It is the reader's responsibility to figure out how to apply other women's successes and pitfalls to herself. While sometimes entertaining, this approach is not going to transform a "good girl" into a negotiating shark.

There are few good points in this book but most of it is just common good sense.

At Long Last a Useful Business Book!
Kudos and thanks to the talented and tough team of Elizabeth Austin and Leslie Whitaker for writing a superb, well-reported and well-written business book not filled with silly metaphors, juvenile imagery and psychobabble. "The Good Girls' Guide to Negotiating" is well-documented and practical with insight, advice and tips for use in many different arenas and life trials. There are success stories and lessons, all written with candor and aplumb, in a style that is readable and understandable.

Perhaps because both women are trained journalists, this book has substance and solid information for application on a variety of fronts, from home to work, volunteer office and even to the funeral parlor. I recommend this book as a graduation gift to any young woman from high school, college or graduate school. It's also perfect as an engagement gift, birthday, guide to someone newly divorced or someone swtiching careers or life paths. This is advice all women can heed, from how to approach a deal to how to feel confident about fees.

So many business books I have read over the years-- particuarly those aimed at women-- appear to be condescending or just plain foolish. They state the obvious in metaphors that may attempt to be mythical but come off as cartoonish. Not so with this welcome book. It is a proud addition to my bookshelf and I suggest the good old boys get a good look at it too.

Way to go, girls, you did good.

A Gift For All Reasons--And All Your Girlfriends!
I read this book upon the recommendation of a friend. At first, I was skeptical since I prefer fiction to non-fiction or self-help books. Still, I trust my friend and the concept sounded intriguing so I went for it. Boy, I wasn't disappointed. I had no IDEA how poor a negotiator I really was in the long run. Here, I thought as a freelance writer and entrepreneur I had mastered the art. Suffice to say, I couldn't put the book down. It grabbed me from page one, with it's candid prose, terrific humor, and dead-on descriptions of how "good girls" (okay, like me) aren't getting what they really deserve.

I saw myself in every case study and practical example of how other women are doing better than I am in this area. I really connected to their stories. In doing so, I learned a ton about myself--including when and where I can improve my negotiation skills. I am excited about applying this information to my own experiences (in fact, I've already started at both work and in my family relationships).

I highly recommend this book to anybody who thinks they deserve more from their interactions with other people but don't know how to go about getting it. I've already bought 15 copies to give as holiday gifts to my girlfriends. (Yes, I'm a planner!) Thanks and kudos to the authors!

Very Disappointing
The book tells you what women do wrong but it does not really teach you how to do it right. The authors interview a lot of people who may know something about the topic but they do not do so in depth. They then string together a lot of quotes without real analysis and practical how to. I should have known from the introduction that the authors were not experts in this area.

Not just for girls!
I plan to recommend this book to all my clients, especially those who feel trapped in the corporate world. I can see why the authors wanted to use the "good girl" theme as a hook, but both men and women get frustrated by negotiating. They know their stuff, from behind-the-scenes at funeral homes to scholarly research on negotiating.

Their tips are very straightforward and right on. They understand the world of home-buying, car-buying and more. They are absolutely right: don't accept what's offered first.
Get information. Find out what the going rate is and don't pay too much.

This is a good book to keep on the shelf. Besides the general perspective, the authors offer direct guidance for specific situations. You never know which one you'll need next. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether she is a corporate executive or a factory worker, an entrepreneur or a "mompreneur," today's woman is an integral part of the workforce and the American Dream. Women have made inroads in many professions that were once the domain of only men while juggling the many demands of work and family. From the woman who manages a staff of fifty, to the mother who choreographs the comings and goings of a family of five, women are the ultimate multitaskers. This collection celebrates the diversity and special contributions of women in the world of work-their hopes, their dreams and aspirations, and their accomplishments.

This very special book also acknowledges the important and often unappreciated women in the homeplace through stories of stay-at-home moms for whom raising children was their most important task. These tales recognize the vital contributions of women who find their reward in devoting their lives to their families instead of collecting a paycheck.

Chapters include: All in a Day's Work; Balancing Work and Family; Teamwork; Special Moments, and more, and each shares the trials of working women and the special joys that achieving career dreams can bring. Readers will laugh, cry and nod in agreement as they connect with women who are not just making a living, but making a life.

Reviews (2)

Take Care of Your Soul!
Every woman alive is a working woman, no matter whether she has a husband and/or children, or not. There are daily struggles with family, weekly struggles with work and ultimately, very emotional struggles with just living! Chicken Soup for the Working Woman's Soul is a moment of relaxation. It's a chance for a woman to sit down with a soothing drink, put her feet up and dive into the issues that we all face - as seen through the eyes of our peers. As a mom, it's a chance for me to see that my kids aren't as wild as I sometimes feel they are ... as a woman, it was the opportunity to see that work and balancing issues happen to everyone ... and as a wife, it gave me a firm appreciation for the amount of work that my husband and I accomplish as we take care of our family. The one point of this book that isn't mentioned enough is that our souls need to be in shape before we can contend with the world around us. Chicken Soup for the Working Woman's Soul gives a woman a chance to parlay her soul into the being that she wants it to be, while allowing us to view inside a slice of another's soul. It's thought provoking, entertaining and reassuring to see that other women are in the same places in their lives that we have been with various issues. It's a chit-chat, without the other person sitting in front of you. I believe this is one of those books that you read, set on your bookshelf, and read again when the world around you is pulling you in every direction. It's a safe haven in turmoil, and it's a chance for a woman to recharge after a rough one! It's, well, it's chicken soup for the working woman's soul!

Another amazing collection of stories in the Chicken Soup Se
Here is yet another amazing collection of stories that will make you laugh and cry and everything in between. This is an ideal gift for the workplace and for anyone who is in the workforce. ... Read more

Book Description

Until recently, working in corporate America was like swimming in a pool of sharks. Command-and-control was the watchword of the day, and circling near the top of most hierarchies were cold-blooded sharks. You know the type. Tough. Arrogant. Ruthless. Maybe you even tried to mimic them - and if so, you weren't alone. Many women, in their efforts to climb the corporate ladder, attempted to emulate the sharks. But for most, it wasn't a comfortable fit. And no wonder. Women aren't like sharp-toothed predators. They're more like dolphins. Unlike sharks, who prefer working in rigid traditional hierarchies, dolphins thrive in teams organized around networks. Comfortable with power, they rarely abuse it, viewing themselves as leaders rather than bosses. And although they value the bottom line as much as any shark, they know that the bottom line grows fastest in a flexible workplace where people are satisfied and motivated to do their best. With their tough but caring ways, women have the very characteristics America's forward-thinking corporations are looking for in today's fiercely competitive and ever-changing business environment. Now, there's a navigational map to guide you through the new corporate waters. Swim with the Dolphins is loaded with specific strategies and hands-on advice that will help make you, as a woman, a better manager, both for yourself and for your company. Based on interviews with more than 200 successful female managers, it will show you how to attract, hire, and keep good employees; build and coach effective teams; share the workload; motivate and inspire your staff; manage conflict and difficult employees; set the stage for win-win negotiations; bounce back fromadversity; work smarter, not harder; get noticed and promoted; avoid the fear of failure, and prevent stress from managing you; overcome obstacles that female managers still encounter in corporate America...and much more. Whether you're a trainee or an executive, learn to s ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A modern-day classic
The shark attack is finally over! This book, a step-by-step manual for all women trying to make it in the business world, has withstood the test of time. Practical hands-on advice, inspiring profiles of successful women, and the knowledge that we can make it on our own terms - without having to sacrifice our own values or principles. Essential reading for every women who aspires to success - as a dolphin and not a shark.

Insightful!
Connie Brown Glaser and Barbara Steinberg Smalley argue that female managers no longer need to act like men to be successful. Instead, women managers should depend on their natural attributes - intuition, nurturing, having respect for individuals - to create webs rather than hierarchies. This bold, timely book is packed with profiles of women who have succeeded on their own terms. The writing is lean and cuts to the chase. We [...] recommend this book as a likely inspiration and a helpful guide to most women (particularly managers) trying to cope with the old folkways of corporate America. The male manager will also find that it offers him a new perspective at work and a wake-up call at home. [Note: This book is not linked to Harvey MacKay's Swim With the Sharks, which focuses on selling, negotiating, and marketing.]

An uplifting book about management!
This book, i.e., Swim With The Doplhins is an excellent book for both women and men. Being a man, I found myself wanting to grow into a person with a "dolphin" personality.

Swimming Together in the Corporate Blender
Swim with the Dolphins is one of the most valuable books executives can read as they attempt to understand which strategies for interpersonal relations will be most effective during the new century. Co-authored by Connie Glaser and Barbara Steinberg Smalley (and published by Warner Books), Dolphins explains "how women can succeed in corporate America on their own terms."There are dozens of checklists throughout Dolphins which are of practical and immediate value. Also insightful profiles of women who have succeeded in business. No two are the same, of course, but they tended to face (and overcome) the same barriers. I suggest that Dolphins be read in combination with Peter Drucker on the Profession of Management (published by Harvard Business School Press) because Drucker's various essays provide a rock-solid framework within which to apply the wealth of information and wisdom which Glaser and Smalley so generously provide in Dolphins. To a significant extent, this is a "what to do...what not to do" guide for women who are determined to succeed in corporate America. For that reason alone, it is a stunning achievement. But I think the book's importance transcends narrowly-defined (albeit legitimate) gender issues. There is much that all of us, male or female, can learn from Dolphins. And there is much for all of us, male or female, to do. For example, eliminating all of the barriers to success for women in corporate America. Most of them are illegal and all of them are unconscionable.

I just keep telling myself - go ahead and be a dolphin!
This book really helped me to validate my personality and management style. I really am a dolphin (intelligent, but warm and personable), rather than a shark, and I am striving to succeed (as a woman executive in a large corporation) without compromising those qualities. I have always wondered if I should try to be more of a shark; now I am content to remain a dolphin.

My only criticism is that the book was somewhat wordy and bogged down in places. But the messages were good and case stories interesting. This book can easily be read in a weekend, then passed on to others. ... Read more

Book Description

In the 1990s, women in record numbers looked to Wall Street as a great place to build successful and lucrative careers.What many of them found there was not meritocracy, but a boy’s club of misbehaving stockbrokers, and a workplace culture that knew no bounds in its harassment and discriminating behavior toward women. Sometimes it was threatening language; other times it was physical intimidation; but often, it was much worse. Eventually, women who were subjected to this behavior exploited a loophole in stock-exchange rules and opened the door to unprecedented lawsuits that shook Wall Street to its very core.

Taking its title from the notorious party room at Smith Barney's Garden City, New York branch, Tales from the Boom-Boom Room is the detailed and riveting insider account of the lewd and obscene behavior that has run rampant on Wall Street. In this edition, author Susan Antilla provides a new afterword maintaining that despite some improvements in workplace conditions, women continue to face an uphill battle on Wall Street. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Read
This book should be made into a movie, and I'll be the first in line. It is certain that the movie would be highly "pc" and portray the brokers as heathen cavemen devoid of humanity. The ironic result would be that there would be greater cheers and laughs in the aisles. These brokers were rock stars back in the day with all of their ridiculous antics and pomp. Fans follow rock bands and rap acts around from show to show to try and live vicariously like this.

I was expecting this book to be gossipy along the lines of _Liars_Poker_ or a total harangue like _Predator's_Ball_. This book is neither. It is a very well researched presentation of the brokerage industry in the 80's and early 90's- when it isn't drown in far- out worst case accusations (something has to push the books). Antilla goes over all of the major developments of financial services during the 80's. It was informative to see how some of the particulars of the industry's business and culture have changed.

Especially twisted moments in this book were when the branch manager throws a party on Black Monday, 1987 to celebrate all the commissions generated from nervous customers panic selling. The branch manager then called the local news station to have it televised for posterity. Also, the whole idea of the boom boom room- basically a frat basement with kegs, lined trash cans with bloody mary mix, graffiti, etc.- in an industry that tries to promote a slick professional image is just ridiculous to think of happening in this hyper- sensitive time.

Some will say the behavior was shocking, but let's look at in its context. It was the Reagan 80's, an era with different norms, and it happened close to NYC which has always had raunchier norms. What is shocking in one era, and in one place, is not always shocking in another. That is not to say that the outrageous sexism, racism and raucous behaviour was ok. That is also not to say that some of these events weren't isolated to bad apples and that this kind of thing did not also happen in other industries.

What is SHOCKING is that the sexual predation and untoward behavior still goes on discretely at the top wire houses. It will probably always continue as long as the retail business profits are reliant on the relationship building skills of sales people. Sorry, but sedate school teachers tend to not make it in the business. Mix a lot of ambitious, frequently attractive, overly aggressive and competetive sales people (male and female) that are trying to one- up each other with sexy administrative subordinates and you are certain to have some problems in any era.

Go to virtually any major market branch office of a top wire house and you will see some of the most beautiful young women to be found anywhere on earth (some of the males are model good looking also). These women are mostly administrative personnel (the female brokers are less frequently beautiful) who tend to be looking to latch onto a meal ticket. Search for the summer interns and most of the female ones will be very sexy, outgoing and be paired with an older broker with dubious needs. What is not told in this book is that there are lots of female brokerage employees who are at least as aggressive as the men in pursuing sexual targets (at least in NYC). The female's innuendos and overt flirtations would never be tolerated in this day and age if they came from a guy. What's the big deal; people of both sexes have been attracted to money and the semblance of prestige throughout the ages. Thin skinned people should stay away.

Kind of Relieving but sad
I read this book as I'm very familiar with the Brokerage Industry. I must say, while some of this is appalling, and people should never be treated poorly, it's relieving to know that there is a place where men are (were) still men. Men call each other disparaging remarks, call each other names, basically joke around and take it one step further. Unfortunately, women always want in, and it ends up ruining it for everyone. Any fun or solace we had is gone. It's a shame too, because those same women could have fun too and be "One of the guys" though fear of their lawsuits has now caused even the last bastion of men to fall. Why couldn't you just stick with Dr. Phil and leave us alone. Where can we hide from women and still be ourselves? Is there no place to go?? Even better, why can't those women just join us, rather than fight us! It would seem the last place men can work and have fun, and at the same time have women having fun with them is the Man Show, or the Howard Stern show. I'm sorry that sounds so sad, but it's our truth. Time's have changed, and while our son's will never know it, it's our own fault for caving to their whims, little by little by little. It's a women's world! ... Read more

Book Description

Cold Calling is a powerful, inexpensive and easy way to develop new contacts and expand resources. In today's market, generating new business requires planning and skill. For over 10 years, Wendy Weiss has been a marketing consultant specializing in cold calling and appointment setting. In the book - based on real-life, hands-on-cold-calling experience - you will discover how to:

-->Develop a can't miss marketing plan for cold calling (chapters 3,4,5)

-->Identify hot leads so you don't waste your precious time (chapter 4)

-->Warm up to project confidence and authority for successful cold calling (chapters 2,3 and 14)

-->Eliminate telephone terror and call reluctance (chapter 8)

-->Create appointment-setting scripts that make your prospects want to see you (chapter 6)

-->Breeze past the screens and gatekeepers (chapter 10)

-->Easily handle the voice-mail barrier and reach your prospects (chapter 13)

-->Convert any and all objections into profitable sales (chapter 12)

-->Double the number of face-to-face appointments you set (chapter 6)

-->Have fun (yes, fun!) with cold calling (chapter 18) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

She's Got the Process Down Cold!
Cold Calling for Women is one of the most helpful books I've ever read. It starts well before the tactics of picking up the phone to include the important strategies of identifying your market, targeting the right prospects, and positioning your product or service for maximum appeal.

That said, it is also extremely specific in terms of tips and techniques for handling each stage of the cold calling process - something I was formerly terrified of. By the time I finished this book, I thought "Hey - I can do this!" Let me tell you - that's saying a lot!

The book is also wonderfully readable and blessedly concise. Wendy Weiss' energetic writing style makes it a fast read, and the exercises she includes motivate you to take action NOW. I read it cover to cover in one sitting - including all the exercises and note-taking - and by the time I was done, I was ready to pick up the phone and get started!

A compendium of practical, real-world advice.
In Cold Calling For Women: Opening Doors & Closing Sales, Wendy Weiss clearly and succinctly outlines the what, why, and how of cold calling, dealing step by step and specifically with issues faced by women in sales. These gender specific issues include how women perceive themselves, how others perceive them, and the social norms of what is considered "