Book Description

When Barbara Waugh took a job in the mid 1980s with the venerable blue-chip, high-tech corporation Hewlett-Packard, she was a longtime radical activist--with a history of institutional confrontation--searching for a way to make a bigger impact on the world. It seemed an unlikely match. This galvanizing memoir follows her from day one of her seventeen undaunted years at Hewlett-Packard. She used her positions as company recruiting manager, then personnel director and worldwide change manager at the renowned HP Labs, to energize the latent creativity and altruism of employees at all levels, and to further open up the company to women and minorities. "Flying under the radar," maneuvering intuitively around the formal corporate hierarchy, Barbara Waugh discovered and created with her colleagues a set of "radical tools." The result was nothing less than the transformation of Hewlett-Packard's corporate culture. She is now co-founder of HP's World e-Inclusion, a program to enable the four billion people at the bottom of the economic pyramid to have easy access to the opportunities of the Internet. Fast-moving, filled with stirring and often funny anecdotes, The Soul in the Computer is a visionary's handbook for practical change, in any company or organization. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

formlas for a better world
Recently a doctor friend who is contemplating a career change as a researcher for a drug company was discussing his dilemma with me. The reason for the change is that he's bored with the repetitive nature of his work and wants to be on the leading edge in socially active work. How could he do this in a corporation? he was asking me. "Boy have I got the book for you!" I said, and told him about Barbara Waugh.
This book is one of the top ten on my list of tools for building a new and better civilization. Corporations run the world today, but in the light of the Enron fiasco, many of us are asking, "Are they leading us all towards Doomsday like a bunch of lemmings?"
No one has a more reassuring answer for that question than Barbara Waugh. Yes, corporations would be able to save the world, not destroy it, if they were in the hands of people like her. Adapting the ideology of capitalism to the demands of a world struggling for survival may seem like a daunting task, but the tools are all there. Combine this book with Jack Stack's The Great Game of Business, David McClelland's Achievement Motivation and The Achieving Society, D. O. Hebb's The Organization of Behavior, Buckminster Fuller's Critical Path, a few wise words of advice from the Grameen Bank (and perhaps one or two other choice items) and you've got a sure fire formula not just for saving the world, but for building a world wide Utopia in the next twenty years. And I don't think I could assert all this so positively if Barbara Waugh's book hadn't been published, because it takes its place alongside Bernard Shaw's The Revolutionist's Handbook in a list of highly readable books for revolutionaries. The difference is that Shaw's ideas have had their day, whereas Barbara Waugh can take you where we all need to be going right now. Thanks to her, the train is leaving on track 5 for.....
Chock full of good ideas, spine-tingling anecdotes and the creative adventure of Jack the Giant Killer, Barbara Waugh's odyssey (that may well be the first major new idea about world conquest since Caesar's Gallic Wars) will keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what false god the next dropped ball will smash into on its rebound.
I loved the book, and, unless you're deep-down happy and satisfied with things in the corporate world being just the way they are right this minute, you will too.

The art of possibility
Barbara Waugh is a remarkable woman and I am delighted that she took the time to write her story as a visionary, change management expert, and woman with heart, so we can all learn from her journey. Her tale is unforgettable and reminds us all to dare to dream and commit to making that idea a reality. As an activist, Barbara has leveraged her creativity in her career at HP in innovative ways and learned the art of gathering partcipation and the support from her colleagues and the entire organization. This book should be required reading in every business and social work graduate program. Bravo!

Barbara is the real thing, and her spirit is in this book!
Barbara is an amazing person--a "connector" in the sense of the Tipping Point--and someone who has made remarkable things happen in the world of very large corporations. This book is well written, direct, inspiring, and challenging. And the stories are believable.
Joel Birnbaum is a scientist's scientist, head of IBM research, head of HP research, something of a rennaissance man--and a very nice, approachable, supportive person. This book is a testiment to the humanity with which some technologists approach their work. HP Labs did not set out to be only the best corporate lab in the world--but to be "the best lab FOR the world." That is a higher standard than most aim for.

One step at a time, you CAN change the world
I first read this book in its earlier form, Garage for the World, and I was totally taken with it. At the end, the author did one of the most amazing feats of leadership I'd ever seen. She described her personal goal for HP: that it move to truly being in service to the world. Six months later, when I saw a tiny announcement in the Washington Post business section that HP had decided to focus on the poorest 4B people on the planet for future market development, tears came to my eyes and I cheered for Barbara Waugh. This is an amazing story of what commitment over the long haul can do, and well-written and moving to boot! Now I'm handing out Soul in the Computer to all my strongest women clients, for those days when they get discouraged and start to lose faith in themselves. We can do it!

Best business book of the year
The author explains not only what one individual can do from within a huge global organization, but also points out many of the reasons why organizations are not able to make effective changes. It's written in straightforward language and illustrated with many heartfelt examples and ancedotes. This is not a step-by-step how-to book, but describes tools that can be mixed and matched for individual styles and situations. Everyone who is part of any organization can benefit from this inspiring book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Some good lessons for home-based entrepreneurs...
This is an important book for women who choose to work from home or who decide to start a home-based business. A big, big minus to working from home is the sense of isolation and lack of daily networking opportunities. It is critically important to maintain visibility, and that takes a concerted effort! Publicity must be part of the strategy for success - and it especially important for home-based businesses. I'm not talking about advertising; I'm talking about community visibility - personal publicity that lets potential customers and clients know who you are, what you do, and why they should buy from you or work with you. The women in this book are a good example of how even a small amount of the right publicity can produce a big, big payoff. Certainly all home-based operations will not hit the one million mark. But that's not a bad goal to keep in mind! (Reviewed by Marion E. Gold - author of the "Personal Publicity Planner: A Guide to Marketing YOU" and "TOP COPS: Profiles of Women in Command)

Packed from cover to cover with examples and advice
In Millionaire Women: Success Secrets Of Sixteen Who Made It From Home, marketing professional and lecturer Jeanne Torrence Hauer draws upon her more than twenty years of experience to create a primer for financial success, enhanced with the careers of women who achieved millionaire status in the male-dominated business world. Written specifically for women who aspire to become millionaires in their own right, Millionaire Women combines brief biographies with savvy strategies and sound advice for making a business grow into a major operation. Millionaire Women is enthusiastically recommended as an upbeat, go-getter guide which is packed from cover to cover with examples and advice applicable to women seeking to make their mark in the highly competitive marketplace, be it local, regional, national, or international.

What an Inspiration!
Jeanne Torrence Hauer really put together quite an inspirational book. Each of her sixteen subjects were unique in their own experiences. She presents them in such a way that I did not want to put the book down. This is a must read for anyone who is looking to change the path their life is taking or would just like to be entertained by the successes of others. This book would make a good gift.

Become a Millionaire - Don't Marry One!
Jeanne Torrence Hauer's new, provoking read - "Millionaire Women: Success Secrets of Sixteen Who Made It from Home" - is a tale that not only documents the journeys of 16 women who reached financial independence through their own personal passion - it outlines the characteristics and strategies to do it yourself!

Even men (and I should know) will get it...these stories harness the creativity, the struggle and the exuberance of making it on your own - and the possibility of bringing those you love and admire along with you for the ride.

If anyone's out there listening - "Millionaire Women" should have Oprah's Stamp of Approval pasted smack across the cover! ... Read more

Book Description

Rise to the top and stay there without becoming a B@#%!

In this groundbreaking book, top executive coach and bestselling author Jean Hollands focuses on a dangerous obstacle that continues to thwart many a talented woman's ambition­­the "Bully Broad" factor. Tough, assertive, authoritative, often intimidating, Bully Broads have been the driving forces behind some of today's most successful companies.

Unfortunately, Holland explains, many successful women are discovering, too late, that those same qualities that propelled them up the corporate ladder can just as easily ruin them in today's relationship-building, teamwork-oriented corporate culture.

Drawing upon her 20 years of experience coaching thousands of executives at many of today's top companies­­including Cisco, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Sun, and Netscape­­Hollands develops a set of 25 rules that help women pass through, or completely avoid, the Bully Broad stage, without compromising their goals or sacrificing their hard-won power and success.

Reviews (3)

Stop bowing to the stereotypes - and CHANGE THE RULES!
Although Hollands book may move some women's careers forward, she is also setting back most women in all fields a few dozen years! Equal opportunity for women is still a long way off. Each time a woman succumbs to theories like Hollands' ''bully broads,'' she not only halts progress, she takes a giant step into the past. The challenge is to speak out about gender discrimination, not bow to it. The challenge is to rid the workplace of stereotypes -- not pay homage to them. Until we do, executive women will still be called "bully broads," while men are applauded for their aggressive, take-charge business style! (Marion E. Gold is author of"Personal Publicity Planner: A Guide to Marketing YOU," and "TOP COPS: Profiles of Women in Command."

Stop bowing to the stereotypes - and CHANGE THE RULES!
Although Hollands book may move some women's careers forward, she is also setting back most women in all fields a few dozen years! Equal opportunity for women is still a long way off. Each time a woman succumbs to theories like Hollands' ''bully broads,'' she not only halts progress, she takes a giant step into the past. The challenge is to speak out about gender discrimination, not bow to it. The challenge is to rid the workplace of stereotypes -- not pay homage to them. Until we do, executive women will still be called "bully broads," while men are applauded for their aggressive, take-charge business style! (Marion E. Gold is author of"Personal Publicity Planner: A Guide to Marketing YOU," and "TOP COPS: Profiles of Women in Command."

Less Iron Fist, Stiletto Tongue, Sneering Glare, and Iciness
Imagine a woman who is no nonsense, aggressive, bright, extremely capable, hard-working, very focused, and willing to take charge who is the top performer in her organization.Sounds like a future CEO, doesn't she?Jean Hollands predicts that this is a woman who will rise near the top of her organization, but will then hit the glass ceiling so hard she may be shattered.Such women are usually referred for coaching (if they haven't already been fired) to make them less like bullies."No one likes a bully.Even so, in today's business climate, many men can get away with it.Women almost never can."

Ms. Hollands reports that she knows the type well."I'm from a long line of Bully Broads."Although that term may sound pejorative, Ms. Hollands reports that everyone knows what it means and it avoids using other "B" words that are more pejorative.

While the men that she coaches are sent for a variety of weaknesses, 95 percent of the women are there to get rid of Bully Broad characteristics.

There are a number of different types of Bully Broads, including Sounding-Off Tyrants (who verbally blow up a lot), Sarcastic Aggressives (who use words to cut others down to the floor), Selectively Quiet but with High Expectations (perfectionists who let their disapproval of others' performance show), and Silent, But Judging (Ms. Understood, and whose reserve and mental point-scoring is seen as disdain or worse).The book has a quiz to help identify if you have any of these problems.Bully Broads seem to be immune to realizing they have a problem until it is too late because they don't measure themselves very much by what others think of them.Basically, these are people with low emotional intelligence, the attribute that most equates to success in typical business situations.

The heart of the book can be found in the cases (usually two per rule) that show how a variety of women in many different kinds of jobs and organizations walked the plank without realizing they had a problem.Each rule then goes on to suggest ways to change (even if you only have the problem slightly), how to deal with a colleague or boss who has these characteristics, and specific suggestions for how to communicate better.Many of the 25 rules will seem obvious, but apparently they aren't to some successful women, such as "Don't Tick Off the President, the CEO, or the Human Resources Person."

I won't list all of the rules (space doesn't permit, and that wouldn't be fair to the author), but let me give you a few examples to help provide a flavor for the book:

"`Listen Up' Until You Are About to Throw Up"

"People Will Sabotage You If They Can't Confront You"

"Beware of Jealousy"

"Don't Burn Bridges -- Ever"

"Soft Sell Is the Best Sell"

"Remember:It's Not Your Money"

"Avoid All or Nothing Thinking"

"You Are Not Joan of Arc."

The messages are strong, because many women who need them apparently are in denial.For example, I was fascinated by one story about a woman who was fired and didn't emotionally realize it until about two years later since she continued to work out of her old office as a "consultant" to the company, and kept up her old ways.

The irony of many of these stories is that the woman involved often has a CEO or boss who sets a bad example as a bully or polishes his image by letting the Bully Broad do the dirty work of carving people up for his benefit (the old "good cop, bad cop" routine).

The main weakness of the book is that it's aimed at helping a small percentage of women improve their career prospects.The bulk of the potential readers will be victims of Bully Broads who need protection.If you are either a Bully Broad or a Bully Broad victim, this book can really help.

On the other hand, I hope that many human resources people will read this book as well so that their company can help head off bullying situations, whether they are caused by women or (more frequently) by men.

How many things can be accomplished faster and better by having more than one person cooperate with one another?Almost everything.Find ways to make that cooperation smoother, more pleasant, and more effective for all involved!

Be the leader you would like to have!

... Read more

Book Description

A behind-the-scenes look into the lives of successful middle- and upper-middle class African American women, the groundbreaking HAVING IT ALL? is sure to spark discussions from cocktail parties to boardrooms.

In a single generation, black women have made extraordinary strides academically, professionally, and financially.They’ve entered the workplace at a far greater rate than white women; increased their enrollment in law schools and graduate programs by 120 percent; and many are now running top companies, or in some cases, the country.Isn’t that enough?Not necessarily.With sharp insight, award-winning journalist Veronica Chambers explores the challenges and stereotypes she and other African American women continue to endure, and answers the question most often posed to her: What does success mean for black women?

Twenty-first century black women draw their inspiration from a wide range of sources: Claire Huxtable to Audrey Hepburn, snowboarding to basketball, Gloria Steinem to bell hooks.They choose what they like.Yet they are misunderstood by mainstream America and lack an accurate portrayal in the media of their lives.HAVING IT ALL? interweaves the thoughts and reflections of more than fifty women who occupy this territory.The voices range from Thelma Golden, chief curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, to a Silicon Valley executive, to medical and legal professionals, and stay-at-home “mocha moms.”

Successful black women today want it all: marriage, motherhood, engaging work, and prosperity.The difference is that they come to the table with the strength, courage andwisdom of black women ancestors who-did-it-all, even when they didn’t-have-it-all. What has gone so undocumented by the media is that modern black women are coming up with creative, satisfying answers to the juggling act that all women face.

Veronica Chambers chronicles this topic for the first time in her absorbing, riveting and groundbreaking book HAVING IT ALL? ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Wonderful Book!
I must say that this bookd is long overdue. Finally a book that heralds the accomplishments of a sector of the population that has been constantly overlooked: black women. Throughout the book, the author discusses the age old question of whether it is possible to have it all. Judging by the women profiled in the book, its not only possible, but imperative! Granted some of the women felt that there was more that they could do or acquire, but a majority of them were qute settled and happy with themselves and their chosen lifestyles.
The book is an easy read, something that is difficult to accomplish in some instances with nonfiction. Chambers brilliantly weaves in self help strategies with colorful and interesting anecdotes. I would definitely recommend this book to every black woman out there. It provides a lift as you read and see just how powerful and accomplished black women are and continue to be on a daily basis in a world that only grudingly acknowledges them.

A for Effort
The title of this book, Having It All, ends in a question mark. A deliberate choice of punctuation, that question mark implies that some level of discourse, some debate will follow in order to answer the question of the title. But although it seemed Ms. Chambers truly wanted to answer it, there was too much murkiness involved in the premise - not least of which was the lack of a definition for the "It All" referred to in the title. The word 'success' (as in 'successful Black women') is similarly glossed over, but from the descriptions that follow, it seems to refer to women earning, or being born into, a lot of money.

The confusion begins with the first line of the introduction: "Thank God for Clair Huxtable," or more specifically, the fictional 'Cosby Show' character's introduction to mainstream America. Invoking the memory of a tv character who, by Ms. Chambers' own admission, broke the needle on the "Let's be real!" meter would have been a less glaring misstep if any one of the women chronicled in her book had come close to mirroring the character's over-achieving, stress-free lifestyle. Thankfully, they do not; the women are real, well-rounded, insightful, gratifyingly imperfect. Their stories are what make the book worth reading, but Ms. Chambers zig-zags between telling them and marveling over the fact that such women (Black women with enough disposable income to afford beautiful homes, designer clothes, plush vacations and disrespectful servants) even exist. The stories don't really match the cheerleading, self-congratulatory tone of the book. These women clearly don't have 'it all'(thus answering the question of the title), but they do have rich, interesting lives that seem to fulfill them, ups-and-downs notwithstanding. Should we, as Black women, just be pleased that there are so many more Black women of means out there, or should we be discouraged by the price we're likely to pay (racial isolation, the dearth of desirable mates) by joining their ranks? Ms. Chambers doesn't know either, and you won't be any closer to an answer after reading this book.

As a reader, I was initially thrilled by the subject matter and ultimately disappointed by the book's lack of focus. Overall, though, I would recommend this book, if only for Ms. Chambers' exhaustive research and for the brave, candid disclosures of the women involved.

Black Women Are Having Their Cake and Eating it Too
Journalist Veronica Chambers has attempted to give readers a panoramic view of the successful Black woman's journey amongst a sea of self-help and other nonfiction books on similar subjects in Having it All. Drawing upon historical context along with interviews with an assortment of African American women, it appears she has favorably portrayed them in this text. Recent articles such as the Newsweek article about successful Black women's strides and challenges juxtaposed against the reported dismal picture of African American men's accomplishments give a short synopsis of the obstacles, fears and triumphs of having it all. This book digs further into the psyche of Black women, who Zora Neale Hurston has called " the mules of the world". But we have come a long way baby, as evidenced in the changing face of Aunt Jemima who has gone from an overweight, handkerchief wearing mammy to a perfectly coifed, smartly dressed intelligent woman that entertainment stylist B. Smith would be proud to honor.

Can Black women have it all? Over a five-year period Chambers spoke with such high profile women as Janet Hill, Starr Jones, and Donna Auguste along with others not as well known who struggle with the same doubts and concerns as their White counterparts but with the added burden of race. What is interesting is how each of these women define success. Some count having it all as having successful careers along with the financial rewards along with a satisfying marriage and children. Still others women measure their success by their careers strides only and do not feel the need to marry and/ or have children. But more times than not, they all find themselves straddling the line between the Black and White worlds. Some of these women are first generation college graduates from working-class backgrounds, others have parents who were the first to partake of the benefits of the civil rights movements, and still others come from affluent backgrounds of several generations.

Thelma Golden, former curator at the Whitney Museum and now a director at the Studio Museum in Harlem, talks about having a sense of entitlement, never allowing race to be a stumbling block. Robin Nelson-Rice, who has traveled and lived abroad in her career, talks of being worlds apart economically and education-wise from her family, and the author herself talks about constantly being asked for financial assistance by her extended family. Susan Fales-Hill, who is a legacy of affluence, regularly appears in Vogue and Vanity Fair society pages and cautions Black women to keep their options open when choosing a mate. Still another young woman who was raised by parents in the Black Power movement despairs of finding a Black man with which to grow old.

This was very well researched and written and like other exposes in the same vein including "Our Kind of People" by Lawrence Otis Graham, overdue. Chambers, who has been a staff editor at Newsweek and other publications, continually stresses that the women we see in these pages are not exceptions, but the norm, women we know and see everyday. I don't know if this book is so much about women who want or have it all as about women who have come into their own and have learned to negotiate their lives on their own terms. I would recommend it if only to reassure us that, yes we can have it all.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub

WOW!!!
This book should be read by everyone! Its depth, humor, intelligence and sensitivity reflect the predicament of resilient African-American strivers. But, its real value and appeal lie in the complex, universal humanity conveyed by the interviewees. Whether you're the object of the the issues so expertly handled by Chambers, friends, loved-ones, or allies in addressing them, or interested newcomers, you will benefit from this affirming work.

Good Book
I read Ms Chamber's book, and I was real glad to know that there are sisters who are achieving and doing things some of us have only dreamed of. I enjoyed reading of the Aunt Jemina's who although some folk had beef with them, these women were representatives of Quaker Oats during segregation, and had toured the country meeting people and promoting the product. one of them urged other women to go out and meet others as well. In present day situations, although the women are achieving, they are also having unique situations, such as being one of the onlys,meaning being the only black in town or at a company, or who has achieved some first momentum. One lady spoke of living in a predominately white town in California, and whenever she would go and make an order, the salespeople would hesitate ordering thinking she wouldn't come back and all. Another spoke about having a black West Indian nanny who called her by her first name, told her personal business, and then had the nerve to tell her that they didn't care to work for black people. Then you had a woman who had a prominent position with a prestigious museum in New York, who after the museum changed administrations, demoted and finally fired her despite the fact that she did great things for this museum. She has went on to the Studio Museum of Harlem. And on and on. Most spoke of vacations in Europe, living in the best of communities, but still there was this echo among them if this was really worth it. It should be required reading at colleges and high schools. Very resourceful book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Women, help yourselves.
Women have tended to sell themselves short when it comes to making or deserving to have money. Money Shy to Money Sure dispels the myths about women, money, financial savvy and power, then goes on to provide a sane and reasonable blueprint for women at all stages in their financial education.

Women's investment groups, financial counselors, and women of all ages will profit from this comprehensive, practical guide to women and the money issue.

Mentors are a girls best friend.
It's pretty hard to take care of yourself as a woman in the world today, especially if you don't even know what taking care of yourself means. Christie and Mellan start out by teaching us what being independant really means, and give us a smooth and warmly-written guide to getting things done. I'm getting a copy for all of my friends, even those who have already taken their first steps towards financial freedom.

Get a new map--Money Shy to Money Sure
"S O" refers to Sherry and Olivia-Olivia Mellan and Sherry Christie-the new doyennes of savvy saving and fiscal fortification. Based on our society's continued gender-bias earning ability (or lack thereof), women need all the positive coaching we can get. "Money Shy to Money Sure" (MSTMS) provides innovative direction, interjecting quotations from dynamic women who are also solid financially; many quoted here with refreshingly direct remarks.

One of my favorite myths: "It's selfish to put myself first. I'm suppose to take care of everybody else." When I recently read U.S. women lose a quarter of a million dollars in potential income in their working lives, I balked. $250,000 is a lot of money to loose due to disparate wage earning. I immediately got a copy of MSTMS to learn how to finesse my current retirement plans.

Myth #2: "I don't have enough money to do anything with." Oh, really?! Then you need to read "How to find money you didn't think you had." I know, I know...you already know these inclusions blindfolded. Herein lies the point-"finding money" does not have to look like attempting to break open the piñata at your niece's backyard birthday party!

To honor the preceding decades of prosperity: "If I take charge of my money, I'll antagonize others and might end up alone." National statistics still show women outliving men (by 7-10 years) ergo our need to save 12% (female) versus 8% (male). Financial planners' still indicate only approximately 7% of the general American public is financially prepared for retirement. "...Antagonize others..."? "...Might end up alone..."? Hel-lo!

"Money Shy to Money Sure" is a delightful road map to financial well-being. Get going. Get the book. Happy trails. DBW ... Read more

Book Description

"Reading at times like a Clancy novel and at others like a Greek tragedy, Burrowss Backfire presents a detailed picture of how a leader can rob a company of its soul and cause it to stray from the principles that had made it enduringly great. Read it and weep."
–Jerry I. Porras
Lane Professor of Organizational Behavior and Change Emeritus, Stanford Business School
coauthor, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

"Peter Burrows has written a fascinating account of the largest high-tech merger and proxy fight of all time. Riveting stories about Carly Fiorina, Walter Hewlett, and the melodrama in the HP corporate boardroom make this book a great read as well as an object lesson in corporate governance and corporate change."
–David B. Yoffie
Starr Professor of International Business Administration, Harvard Business School
author, Judo Strategy: Turning Your Competitors Strength to Your Advantage

"Carly Fiorinas story as told by Burrows illustrates well the timeless role of leaders: to help organizations work through necessary but painful changes that dont happen naturally."
–Robert Burgelman
Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business
coauthor, Strategy Is Destiny: How Strategy-Making Shapes a Companys Future

"A well-researched view inside the controversial management transition at HP. The personality-dominated decision-making process at HP shows us how the power of personalities can override and reshape business legacies. Backfire has all the makings of a modern historical novel."
–Regis McKenna
author, Total Access and Relationship Marketing: Successful Strategies for the Age of the Customer

"At a time when corporate governance was a most important issue in American business, the merger of Hewlett-Packard and Compaq produced a proxy battle that should have embarrassed everyone involved. Backfire tells the story in all its gory detail. It is must reading for investors, executives, and anyone who cares about corporate governance."
–Roger McNamee
cofounder, Integral Capital Partners and Silver Lake Partners ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Insightful!
Peter Burrows offers insights into high level business, where personality matters more than economics, as he explores the mammoth HP-Compaq merger. Most mergers fail to make money or to produce the promised "synergies" so, he asks, why - other than ego - do CEOs pursue them? Though stylistically somewhat trite, this book successfully explores the HP Board's decision to approve the merger, with Walter B. Hewlett's vote in favor, and his subsequent lonely, ultimately quixotic battle against it. The most contentious issues in contemporary business are all here: shareholder rights and value vs. CEO power; employee-oriented cultures vs. "re-engineering;" corporate integrity vs. sharp practice; and the interesting spectacle of a ruthless, hard-headed female CEO pitted against a sensitive, cello-playing man. The author says Hewlett-Packard executives were told not to speak with him after he quoted merger critics in Business Week, so there is an inevitable Walter Hewlett bias. We found this to be a very good read, even a must read, for corporate warriors.

Burrows Fiorina account far too favorable in view of results
The main weakness of this book was that its treatment of CEO Fiorina was far more favorable than the facts warrant. The controversy over the 20 billion dollar merger should have been foreseen by the Board of Directors. Certainly there was ample evidence at the time of the proposed merger that Carly Fiorina's ideas and actions were incompatible with her role as head of a major American company. Burrows should have detailed many more of these. For example, she invested millions of shareholder dollars in a radical feminist group and even set them up with office resources at HP. She donated over $100,000 of her personal funds to an eccentric socialist training camp in Los Altos Hills. This is clearly a businesswoman that simply does not have her head screwed on right for business. The businessman George Soros has been rightly condemned in the business community for analogous nutty actions on a larger scale but Burrows mostly gives Fiorina a free pass on such activity, although his account is certainly better than most.

It has been nearly five years since Carly Fiorina took over HP and the bottom line result is that even after spending 20 billion on Compaq, the investment community values HP at less that half of what it was worth when she took over. Clearly, a much harder-hitting book from Burrows was warranted than what he produced, given the huge magnitude of the investor losses that have occurred since.

Computer server business assessment needed in book
I enjoyed this book as it contained substantial original reporting that is not duplicative of the work that others have done. I would have liked to see more material concerning bottom line issues. The bottom line issue that has the most resonance for me is the Wall Street assessment, both now, and at the time of the merger, that HP's non-printing businesses have no value on the Street. In other words, if HP were to be bought by some other firm, the Wall Street consensus is that such an acquirer should simply eliminate the other businesses. HP's value is actually less as currently structured because eliminating these other businesses has closing costs associated with this shutdown activity.

The clear implication here is that Walter Hewlett was absolutely correct in opposing this merger, since the result clearly is that 20 billion dollars was completely wasted, and precious time is still being lost on ineffective strategies to revive these businesses. With the benefit of hindsight we can say that Walter Hewlett should have been given more credit than he received, even from Burrows, for opposing this capital and job destruction, even in the face of Fiorina's personal attacks.

This book should have pointed out that these at-risk businesses can still be saved, particularly the server and server-related businesses, with the appointment of proper management by the Board of Directors. What they need to be looking for this time is not someone whose picture has been on the cover of "Fortune" magazine, as was Carly's before she was hired, but someone with the knowledge and interest in saving HP. Carly not only does not have the engineering expertise, she simply creates the impression that she has no interest in HP's existing businesses, even printing, which she has left to wither on the vine in a new investment sense.

HP has had a computer server business for over 25 years. It is a big market, roughly 50 billion yearly and rising. HP has 27%, but has failed to gain any share at all from the collapse of Sun Microsystems. Instead, customers are transfering to IBM and Dell, which should be a big wake-up call for the Board. Dell Computer is number one in market position for the key Linux server business, perhaps because of HP's totally insular and uninformed approach to this market. A lot of hard work by HP employees went into building a formerly successful server business, it is senseless to discard this potentially excellent business because Carly is more interested in trying to sell MP3s at Starbucks, something that will never generate much profit.

I would have liked to have seen a clear statement in this book that if in the summer of 2004 if HP's non-printer businesses are still worth zero, that the HP Board of Directors needs hire a new CEO. Doubtless they prefer to have a charming dialogue with Carly about her boneheaded hipster ideas involving HP products in Starbucks rather than argue with some computer nerd about computer enterprise/service-provider product investments, but I would argue that being true to their responsibilities requires that they do the later, whether they like it or not. It would have been good for Burrows' book to say so.

Fiorina's harmful international impact ignored
My major concern with this book is that it vastly understates the negative impacts any poor HP CEO, and in particular Carly Fiorina, can have. The negative impacts are not limited to HP shareholders, employees and customers, whom few people seem to care about. A few months ago Fiorina bought a 10,000 person Indian software firm, adding greatly to HP's huge investment in India. Inappropriate investments, HP and otherwise, are greatly resented in India, because it reinforces corruption in the culture that prevents improved living conditions for most Indians. Your Ronald Reagan dealt with the corrupt culture in the Soviet Union in a vastly superior way -- not by financially supporting corrupt bureaucrats and communist state governments (as Fiorina has done in India) but by dealing very sternly with these malfactors. Fiorina's investments have caused great harm in India. A few days ago Atal Vajpayee's government was voted out and the communists are going to call many of the shots in the new government. This is very, very bad for about a billion Indians.

These potential international impacts should have been given attention in Burrows book. HP and a few other big US firms caused this senseless suffering in pursuit of corruption in India. The motivation for HP to outsource to India in the way they are doing it is certainly not cost savings (which don't really exist) -- the motivation is a combination of graft (doing business in India requires bribes, and once slush funds are created it is impossible to determine weather the bribes really go to Indian bureaucrats or whether American managers pocket most of the cash) and the desire of Carly to remove herself as far from actual production and productive people as possible. It is said she does not even use the company cafeteria because she could find herself too close to actual HP workers.

I would hope in the future America would produce more great leaders like Ronald Reagan and find ways to keep harmful ditzy people like Carly Fiorina out of leadership positions. Burrows book would have been much better with a discussion of these international impacts.

Insightful!
Peter Burrows offers insights into high level business, where personality matters more than economics, as he explores the mammoth HP-Compaq merger. Most mergers fail to make money or to produce the promised "synergies" so, he asks, why - other than ego - do CEOs pursue them? Though stylistically somewhat trite, this book successfully explores the HP Board's decision to approve the merger, with Walter B. Hewlett's vote in favor, and his subsequent lonely, ultimately quixotic battle against it. The most contentious issues in contemporary business are all here: shareholder rights and value vs. CEO power; employee-oriented cultures vs. "re-engineering;" corporate integrity vs. sharp practice; and the interesting spectacle of a ruthless, hard-headed female CEO pitted against a sensitive, cello-playing man. The author says Hewlett-Packard executives were told not to speak with him after he quoted merger critics in Business Week, so there is an inevitable Walter Hewlett bias. We found this to be a very good read, even a must read, for corporate warriors. ... Read more

Book Description

Marilyn French Hubbard, the founder of the National Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs, offers insight into wealth building for women with this one-of-a-kind book. Sisters Are Cashing In examines the emotional, mental, and spiritual reasons that lead women into spending themselves into debt and poverty, and the steps one can take to avoid that abyss. No matter what a woman's age, income, education, or lifestyle, this book will provide strategies that work--to create and maintain wealth. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

She is Talking to Me, and to All Of Us
With every book, I do my best to slowly read, so that I am getting every message that the author is sending me. And if it takes a month to finish a book, that's okay. But, no, this book drew me in like no other book. And I had to read it in one day, as I highlighted so many parts. I journaled, and I said, "Wow! She is talking to me!.

It takes courage and faith to write a book like this. And anyone who reads this book will gain more than imaginable.

As a coach, journalist and public speaker, I have arrived at a point where I am reading more on my money memories, and what messages I am telling myself, so that I create more money than I need to reach my audiences. Ms. Hubbard's book has certainly helped me do this.

You will feel like you are sitting with her, with no one else there, but the 2 of you. You will laugh out loud, maybe even cry. But when you are done reading this book - You will being Cashing in on fulfilling your life, while you meet the demands of your commitments.

Thank you, Ms. Hubbard for giving the world the gifts of who you really are.

She Knows What She's Talking About
Ms. Hubbard has done a marvelous job of distilling the timeless truths that allow any woman to succeed. Although targeted to women of color, the book has practical information which can benefit anyone who has a genuine desire to build a better life. As a professional woman myself who has had to recognize and fight past my own set of debilitating internal-messages, I sparked immediately to many of the author's insights. Ms. Hubbard, for example, reminds us of the importance of seeing adversity as an opportunity for growth and of valuing and maintaining a "prosperity mind-set" in which we perceive the world as filled with unlimited good. Most important, she convinces the reader that acquiring wealth, be it monetary or spiritual, is available to us all. She knows what she's talking about.

Make a plan and follow it through
This book is for women who work for themselves as well as those who work for somebody else. It can help you if you're still in school and just starting out or about to retire and want to know how to maximize that nest egg. It's practical and down-to-earth and you can use the information immediately, without having to figure it out. Marilyn gives it to you straight in plain English. ... Read more

Book Description

Starting, funding, and growing a new venture are significant challenges for every entrepreneur. For women, the hurdles are even higher, due to widely held perceptions about them, their capabilities, and their businesses. Now, five leading experts on women entrepreneurs offer systematic solutions to the challenges, offering timely advice to women dedicated to achieving success and claiming the rewards.

Clearing the Hurdles draws on five years of original research, performed as part of the Diana Project--a major initiative that explores ways women grow businesses.

The authors identify key factors associated with funding, growth, and success: the founder’s goals, expertise, and commitment; strategic direction; team building; effective use of networks; and access to capital. Most important, they offer concrete strategies for overcoming obstacles: strategies proven in the marketplace by women entrepreneurs.

Wealth creation: Don’t get left out!
Learn what it takes to build your high-growth business

Get credible
Fill the technical and management gaps in your expertise

Get strategic
Choose the right business, build the right plan

Get connected
Link yourself to the right resources, networks, and people

Get over the funding hurdles. This book is a training manual for women who want to claim their place as winners in the entrepreneurial challenge. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Authors' credibility speaks volumes
Here, in one book, you will find the collective wisdom of five leading academics on the subject of women entrepreneurs and high growth businesses.
This incredibly well-researched book is the culmination of years of work on the gold standard of studies of women in business called "The Diana Project".
While women entrepreneurs have forged their own path and now account for over 50% of all new business start ups, issues still remain around perceptions and misconceptions of women in business by those who control purchasing and funding decisions. This book provides a road map for navigating these issues, while at the same time it holds a mirror up to everyone by laying out facts and case studies regarding the hurdles women face in breaking some of the last barriers to acheiving full economic parity. ... Read more

Book Description

The Mom Economy offers hands-on exercises; guidance from career counselors, psychologists, and human resource professionals; and valuable advice from more than 100 working mothers with family-friendly employment, in an indispensable guide that can help women:

€ Know what they must earn
€ Understand how employer-sponsored benefits may help
€ Evaluate employers
€ Negotiate for flextime, part-time, or telecommuting
€ Establish a network
€ and more

A large majority of women work today-but in many cases, it's still up to them to negotiate terms of employment that suit their lifestyles and allow them to meet their kid's needs. This practical volume helps moms get what they need most from the workplace-and find the work that works for them. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

So Helpful
I bought this book when I decided to go back to work after a couple of years at home with my kids. I was honestly a bit scared about selling myself and convincing an employer to take my skills seriously, but The Mom Economy gave me the tools I needed to prove my worth, which also gave me confidence. I started a new job recently, and so far, it's all manageable. Anyone who's going back to work should use this book - it will make you feel like you have support in the process.

Hands on
Elizabeth Wilcox has managed to address almost every issue that faces a mother who needs or wants to work. After reading this book, I was able to come up with an unusual way to make my job fit with my family obligations, and my boss ended up being impressed with the way I handled the discussion. I could do it because the book gave useful tools and taught me how to be prepared. It is rare to find books that are actually practical and how-to in this area, so this one really stands out. ... Read more

Book Description

Many women struggle to achieve success in everyday negotiations, from how much to pay the contractor to buying a car to making a good business deal at work. Now there's no need to ever feel shorted again! You just need to learn and use the practical, clear and easy techniques, and secrets contained in Secrets of Successful Negotiating for Women. Using the simple strategies in Secrets of Successful Negotiating for Women, any woman can learn to be a great negotiator. You'll learn: * How to never be taken advantage of again in any business or personal negotiation. * The Seven Sisters of Negotiation-simple skills to memorize for success. * How to find the "heart" of any deal. * Key phrases that promote your power. * How to access your intuition for fun and profit. * The "Tide Principle"-essential to success in every deal. ... Read more

Book Description

Fusing aesthetic and economic analyses, Embroidering Lives investigates the lives and work of women in the chikan embroidery industry of Lucknow, India. Richly descriptive and accessibly written, the book explores many important issues in women's studies, anthropology, and urban development today--the impact of purdah (seclusion of women) upon women's work and occupational opportunities, the key role of sub-contractors in home-based industry, the need to understand a handicraft from its makers' point of view, and the role of development agencies and programs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Review:
If your interest in embroidery extends to the anthropolgy of women's work,then this book is one you should read. It's not as accessible as"Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years" but well worth the read.This book is about the contemporary conditions under which embroidererswork in India. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent, timely book--fully inspirational for women
This is an EXCELLENT, timely, and fully inspirational book for women entrepeneurs and wannabe ones. There just isn't that much out there that tells great stories of women business leaders/small businesswomen with inspiring visions--and so we generally don't even get to learn these stories. This book shares 29 of those rare stories, and better yet, does them in the women's own words. It's HIGHLY inspirational, and a real treasure trove of women's wisdom for starting and running your own business. As a reader, you feel privileged to sit and "listen to" these 29 women tell their precious stories, and you come away feeling like you know who they are, and that you've been inspired to do more yourself. Great job, throughout: even lovely photos here and there to illustrate who the "speakers" are--the tellers of these tales. A great book, and one I'm very glad I stumbled across. It should make the short list of anyone's guide to what makes entrepeneurial women tick. Excellent. ... Read more

Book Description

For many women, their professional and personal lives are intimately entwined. PowerTools shows women how to leverage this holistic approach to their best advantage.

Through artfully woven research, interviews, and personal experiences, Aliza Sherman explores the common threads in women?s search for success. By distilling these experiences and lessons into a series of 10 techniques, or "PowerTools," Sherman shows women how to:

-Maximize their particular strengths and powers as women in business -Avoid sacrificing success and fulfillment in one part of life at the expense of the other -Identify and overcome their self-imposed and external obstacles to success-Achieve a success that expresses both their professional and personal goals.

PowerTools demonstrates how women can learn to welcome change, determine their true goals, and take charge of their own path to attain success and satisfaction. It?s filled with woman-to-woman advice, real-life stories, recommended reading, and personal projectswomen can undertake immediately to achieve more balance and fulfillment. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Napoleon Hill's Message
In the wonderful book, "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill, he advises readers to think of role models who at night, just before going to sleep, you imagine are in a meeting with. During this imaginary meeting you are asking them to teach you what you most admire in them.

And he calls these people his invisible counselors.

Aliza, in essense, is doing this, through "PowerTools For Women in Business," by telling the story of 10 women who continue to convert their most adverse life experiences into propelling causes, work and prospererty.

Because, as Mary-Scott Welch, "Networking", said, "It helps a lot to get other women's ideas about your problems, not in the abstract but in the very specific terms of a real-life situation," a book like "PowerTools is a great beginning for women to walk through the examples of other women, to bring out the best in who we are.

As a journalist, I have the opportunity to meet many authors, and I must say that some of them do not live the messages that they promotee in their books - but Aliza certainly does.

This book contains easy to follow, real life stories of women maximizing their strengths, while never forgeting to be women.

Thank you, Aliza for living your mission.

Powertools for Women in Business
Aliza Sherman writes a powerful guide filled with tips and tools that inspire, challenge and help you grow professionally and personally.

An enthusiastic, can-do optimistic guide
Aliza Sherman's PowerTools For Women In Business is an enthusiastic, can-do optimistic guide that teaches women how to best take advantage of their own strengths and personalities to succeed in the business world. PowerTools For Women In Business is about keeping professional and personal lives in harmonious balance, never sacrificing one at the expense of another, when for women especially they tend to become all too intertwined. Personally imposed barriers to success, and emotional obstacles such as guilt or unease wielding power can be confronted and conquered. Very highly recommended reading for any female executive, especially one who is relatively new to the cutthroat, male-dominated, complex and demanding world of business!

a dose of inspiration!
If you're in a need of some inspiration, read this book. PowerTools will get you energized to turn your dreams into a reality. Reading all the touching and motivating anecdotes from other women will empower you to take action to achieve what's most important to you.

Aliza will pump you up!
I loved this book! Aliza has a wonderful way of drawing compelling stories out of high-powered women and creating "rules" for success based on how these big girls have done it. As a matter of fact, Rule #1 is "Share Your Stories -- Teach, Inspire, Motivate, and Learn by Telling and Listening." A critical lesson, that by overcoming our fear of asking for help and appearing needy, we can actually get farther faster by talking about the areas of business we are stuck in and learning from the advice of others. Powertools was a fun and informative read. ... Read more

Book Description

Japanese women, who comprise more than 40% of the workforce, are essential to the Japanese economy but are not typically thought of as managers. Jean Renshaw challenges that perception in this pathbreaking book. Traditional norms of lifetime employment, the seniority system, and the bureaucratic, tightly knit nature of Japanese industry all serve to restrict women's entry into management. Despite these enormous barriers, the last ten years have seen the number of Japanese women managers almost double. Renshaw interviewed over 150 successful women managers of Japan, exploring family backgrounds, personal characteristics, socialization, professional experiences, and corporate cultures to discover the secrets of their success. Showing the reader where and how this "invisible evolution" is occurring, Renshaw surveys the history of Japanese women in management and reveals the potential of the rising female managerial class to change in profound ways the male-dominated culture of modern Japan. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Women of the Street: Making It On Wall Street -- The World's Toughest Business, by CNBC "Business Tonight" host Sue Herera, aims the spotlight at 14 women who have made their mark in this traditionally unfriendly arena. Stars of the financial world like Mary Farrell of Paine Webber and Julie Stone of Smith Barney reflect on their paths to success and the consequences of their actions. The addition of some outside perspective could have made this good book even better. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Introduction to Wall Street and the place of women in it.
I work in the business - this book is a terrific introduction to the rough and tumble, fast paced, pressure cooker industry known as Wall Street. Ms. Herrera profiles smart, talented, spunky woman - tough yet surprisingly tender cookies who shared determination and perseverance but chose very different paths and methods in pursuit of a career in an industry driven by ego, greed and money. They did it their way, overcoming roadblocks and stumbling blocks in the not so long ago male-dominated financial marketplace, establishing their place in an exciting, rewarding, albeit tough, industry, particularly for woman. ... Read more

Book Description

Today's women work not one but three shifts: the first from nine to five, the second at home, and the third in their minds as they review the decisions and actions of the day. While the first and second shifts may be physically exhausting, the third shift can be psychologically rending because many women use it to second-guess their motives, doubt their choices, and question their trade-offs. Michele Bolton shows women how to turn the third shift into a source of self-awareness and self-confidence instead. Drawing from a three-year study of women in Silicon Valley and her own experiences as a working mother, Bolton explores the three most important dilemmas all women face, whether they're corporate executives, entrepreneurs, or full-time moms. She then presents women with a practical plan for facing these dilemmas, making the hard choices, and embracing their decisions. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Third Shift: Create Maximum Power for Self-Actualization
In this single volume, women are provided with excellent advice on how to manage hard choices in their career, their home, and (in fact) their entire life. The title refers to the "self-destructive and exhausting ritual" to which so many women become hostage. For many of them, this shift seems endless. Bolton observes: "Rather than deriving joy from their choices as women -- to work, to stay at home, to help out in the community -- many women are half-crazed by the constant demands, options, and trade-offs." She organizes her material within three Parts:

The Identity Challenge: Who Are We?

The Task Challenge: What Do We Do?

The Balance Challenge: Who Comes First?

Bolton draws upon a wealth of research (hers and others') which guides and informs her observations, recommendations, and conclusions. In the Afterword, she suggests that "In many ways, women today live in a surreal world, floating back and forth between an outdated cultural mirror that prescribes certain genderized roles, and then careening suddenly toward the possibility of an entirely new image, with as-yet-unknown life scripts and patterns for its many actors and actresses." Although written for women, this book should also be be read by men who also have "hard choices" to make. If they make the correct choices, perhaps many of the decisions made by women will be less difficult.

The Third Shift
This book is great! I am 45, a highly driven person with two school age children. I left a corporate management carreer after 15+ years feeling completely burned out and confused. Even though I knew it was not possible to be a Superwoman, I still tried to do it all. This book explains my feelings about my corporate experience and is a good guide to me for my current at home experience. I have gone back to reread it many times. I am now aware of my Third Shift, always have had it, just never gave it a name.

The Third Shift=Practical and Thoughtful Advice!
Choices are always tough, and Michele Bolton's THE THIRD SHIFT makes them so much easier to make. I am a professional woman who, like many other readers of this book, am a mother, wife and involved community member as well. The societal infrastructure for women hasn't yet caught up with our aspirations as women -- to be the best at work, to be the best at home, to change the world -- and it is because we live in this transitional era that Bolton's book is so important for women like me to read. Instead of chastizing ourselves for trying to take on so much, Bolton's study shows that questioning oneself and others is the very essence of being a successful woman. In addition to providing useful suggestions for professional women in the corporate workplace to be (and feel) more successful, Bolton also turns her attention to entrepreneurial women launching their own businesses, a move she says that is so much more than a job change, but that involves a more profound change in one's very identity. Finally, Bolton even offers several chapters of suggestions for "stay-at-home" moms, so that no matter what your life choices are, you can find out how to feel better about them by reading this book! Best of all in this book is the personal voice of the author. She writes as a researcher, academic and executive coach, but also as a woman and mother. As you read each chapter (even the ones that don't seem to relate to you directly), you often feel as though you are reading about yourself or someone you know. Take time to buy this book and then sit down and browse through it. This book won't change the world, but it will change how you look at the world, and how you feel about your place in it.

The Third Shift:Full of practical and thoughtful advice!
Choices are always tough, and Michele Bolton's THE THIRD SHIFT makes them so much easier to make. I am a professional woman who, like many other readers of this book, am a mother, wife and involved community member as well. The societal infrastructure for women hasn't yet caught up with our aspirations as women -- to be the best at work, to be the best at home, to change the world -- and it is because we live in this transitional era that Bolton's book is so important for women like me to read. Instead of chastizing ourselves for trying to take on so much, Bolton's study shows that questioning oneself and others is the very essence of being a successful woman. In addition to providing useful suggestions for professional women in the corporate workplace to be (and feel) more successful, Bolton also turns her attention to entrepreneurial women launching their own businesses, a move she says that is so much more than a job change, but that involves a more profound change in one's very identity. Finally, Bolton even offers several chapters of suggestions for "stay-at-home" moms, so that no matter what your life choices are, you can find out how to feel better about them by reading this book! Best of all in this book is the personal voice of the author. She writes as a researcher, academic and executive coach, but also as a woman and mother. As you read each chapter (even the ones that don't seem to relate to you directly), you often feel as though you are reading about yourself or someone you know. Take time to buy this book and then sit down and browse through it. This book won't change the world, but it will change how you look at the world, and how you feel about your place in it.

Excellent read for all women in and out of the workplace
I purchased this book as I am a woman about to have my first child after spending many years building a career. I found this book to be enlightening and fascinating. Like many first time older mothers I have concerns about continuing to work and raise a child. Not only did this book help me come to terms with the fact that it is okay to work and have children but it helped me understand how women's behavior in the workplace and their tendency towards self-doubt is normal. Michele Bolton's use of examples from her meetings with numerous women is an excellent way for the reader to identify with the problems that all women face on a daily basis, both at home and in the workplace.

I have very rarely read a non-fiction book that I wanted to keep reading as if it was a good novel. It is written in a great style and uses a "self awareness" versus "self-doubt" analogy in each chapter with which I claimed total identification. I am recommending this book to all my friends. Many men could also benefit from reading this book too. ... Read more

Book Description

In this insightful and often provocative look at women in business, Marion Luna Brem unabashedly embraces many of the stereotypes used to describe women and, in doing so, redefines the meaning of success.

Brem has identified what she calls the seven truths about women, characteristics of which she feels women can claim particular if not exclusive ownership. She advocates that women can use five attributes-resiliency, nurturing, intuition, creativity, and passion-to build profitable and satisfying professional and personal lives. Brem encourages readers, through her own example and the stories of many other women that illuminate this book, to discover and exploit their own distinctive strengths. At the same time, she accepts that women must address two other important issues-self-value and sensitivity-that may become obstacles in their quest for professional achievement.

Finally, Brem brings these "truths" to bear as she offers a freshperspective on leadership and balance as they pertain to women who are trying to achieve success on their own terms. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A must read
This book is designed for any women that wants to accomplish their goals in the business world. It is very informative and useful to all women. Ms. Brem has done a excellent job.

The Truth about the Seven Greatest Truths
In Marion Luna Brem's The Seven Greatest