Archive for book reviews
S.K.I.R.T.S in the Boardroom: A Woman’s Survival Guide to Success in Business and Life
Posted by: | Comments
You don’t have to be an executive to appreciate the advice offered in S.K.I.R.T.S in the Boardroom: A Woman’s Survival Guide to Success in Business and Life. The book offers practical, motivational, and inspirational advice and strategies for the new generation of women.
In many ways, the corporate world continues to be a man’s world. Women today have more income, more education, more opportunity, and more entrepreneurial drive than ever before, however, the glass ceiling still exists.
S.K.I.R.T.S. is an acronym for Sisterhood, Knowledge, Integrity, Respect, Tenacity, and Substance. These are the often-overlooked qualities that extraordinary women require to maximize their potential in business and in life. Evans will show you how to develop these qualities and unbeatable business savvy using personal stories, exercises and real-life examples.
You will learn:
-
How your attitude sets the tone for your relationships
-
How those relationships determine your ability to influence those around you
-
Turn your dreams into reality
- Combine confidence and compassion
- Target your talents
This book is a must read for for any woman who wants to maximize her professional potential. It will definitely help you navigate the male-dominated corporate world and keep you inspired when you’re unmotivated and unsatisfied with your career.
Just Let Me Lie Down
Posted by: | Comments
Working mothers are a special breed. They have to balance the responsibilities of being a mom with the pressures of working a full-time job. I know how difficult it is because I am one of those moms myself. We are truly a special group.
Kristen van Ogtrop, editor of Real Simple, offers a humorous look at the demands that working mothers face in Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom. Starting with the letter A and working her way through the alphabet, van Ogtrop offers witty commentary on her role as a working mom. My favorite letter was G because it included the word guilt. I am not only a working mom but I am a single working mom. I can ride the guilt train all day! I didn’t find Speeding Ticket in the letter S but I can understand because the author is from New York and they have mass transportation. Unfortunately, most working moms in Florida have to drive. Imagine my horror when I discovered that everyone in my son’s small private school knew why he was late that day! Again – riding that guilt train.
This would make a great book to give as a gift.
Just Let Me Lie Down: Necessary Terms for the Half-Insane Working Mom (Hardcover)
Celebrate Single Working Women’s Week
Posted by: | CommentsAugust 1-7 is Single Working Women’s Week. Single working women today do it all. They bring home the bacon, they cook it, and then they clean up the kitchen! Single working women earn the money, buy the groceries, and take out the garbage. Thry feed nurture, and clean up after both children and pets.
This week take the time to celebrate all the single working women you know who make the modern world a better place and who find the money, time and energy to lovingly support others.
Happy Girlfriend’s Day
Posted by: | CommentsAugust 1st is Girlfriend’s Day. Celebrate this special day by taking your girlfriend(s) shopping, to the movies, out to eat, or for a picnic. You could also bake some of those fabulous cookies or cupcakes that they rave about so much.
I’m waiting for my Oatmeal-Raisin Cupcakes from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes to come out of the oven right now. They are simply scrumptious and they’ve been a hit at several parties. Thanks, Martha!
There are 175 cupcake recipes in the book. Some are way above my culinary expertise but many are just my speed. My favorite cupcakes (to date) are:
-
Coconut Cupcakes
-
Ginger and Molasses Cupcakes
-
Devil’s Food Cupcakes (for my son)
-
Peanut Buttoer Cupcakes
Martha says that anyone can make cupcakes. Thanks for the vote of confidence
Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes: 175 Inspired Ideas for Everyone’s Favorite Treat
Review of The Myth of Multitasking
Posted by: | Comments
Are you a multitasker? I am and I used to be really proud that I could juggle multiple projects at once but after reading Dave Crenshaw’s The Myth of Multitasking I am ready to turn in my Queen of Multitasking crown.
The first sign of multitasking is a desk with piles of paper on it. I like to call it organized chaos. I’m guessing that you know exactly what my desk looks like.
Multitasking is not efficient. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Department of Information and Computer Science at the University of California Irvine campus concluded that an employee can only devote 11 minutes to a task before they are interrupted. Once you are interrupted you are more likely to continue to be interrupted and more often than not the task will go unfinished until another day.Clearly, multitasking is not cost effective.
You might think that you are multitasking if you are checking your e-mail and answering a quick question from someone. Actually, what you are doing is called switchtasking. You are not actually doing two things at one time but rather you are switching back and forth between two tasks. The process happens so fast that you are not even aware that you are dong it.
Multitaksing should not be confused with background tasking. When you are walking and listening to music you are background tasking. You are performing two or more tasks but only one of those tasks requires mental effort.
When you multitask while talking to someone, you are not completely listening to the other person. If you are not completely listening you are not making the other person feel important.
What steps can you take to stop multitasking?
-
Recognize that multitasking is a lie
-
Understand the difference between backgrund tasking and switchtasking
-
Become aware of the truth about how you have been using your time on a weekly basis
-
Create a new and realistic budget for how you will use yout time on a weekly basis
The Myth of Multitasking: How “Doing It All” Gets Nothing Done
Review of Dogplay: The Canine Guide to Being Happy
Posted by: | Comments
You might be asking yourself why I am reviewing a book called Dogplay or what this book has to do with Social Wellness Month. These are both excellent questions and I have great answers.
Social Wellness is about being happy and healthy and maintaing a positive attitude. Dogs are poster children for positive attitude. They are happy and optimistic and they love life.
You can’t help but smile as you read the canine affirmations:
“Become a pathological optimist.”
“Watch more reality and less reality TV.”
“If life insists on handing you drama, be the star.”
“Be more reliable than the postal service.”
“Give inner peace a chance.”
Kim Levin photographed the lovable canine’s in this wonderful collection and Christine Montaguila listened as the dogs offered their personal affirmations.
This book makes me smile and laugh everytime I look at it. Laughter is so healing.
Review of The Power of Apology: Healing Steps to Transforming All Your Relationships
Posted by: | CommentsForgiveness has become a vital theme in today’s world, yet the true makings of a real apology are not well-known. Beverly Engel, a psychotherapist, takes a new look at apologies and their healing power. The exchanges of apologies are “crucial to our mental and physical health and well-being”, Engel says. Engel gives insightful information on making apologies truly meaningful and heartfelt apologies and able to open new paths to deep spiritual forgiveness. According to Engel apologies should include:
-
Regret
-
Responsibility
-
Remedy
She also discusses areas in which an apology just simply will not do and times when overapologizing can end up doing more harm than good especially when one’s self-esteem is involved. There is even advice on dealing with apologies in regards to issues in the workplace. Mrs. Engel sheds much light on the sensitive, yet powerful issue of forgiveness. Finally, the words “I’m sorry” can be said and we can know its true meaning.
The Power of Apology: Healing Steps to Transform All Your Relationships
Review of The Definitive Book of Body Language
Posted by: | Comments
Have you ever wondered how to decipher nonverbal communication, how to read other people’s thoughts and emotions through their gestures, or how to insure that you own gestures are sending the right message? Allan and Barbara Pease answer these questions and show you how to pick up on both the conscious and the unconscious signals that people send.
Head Gestures
A head nod is a gesture used to signify ‘yes” as in agreement. There is power in a head nod. If you are speaking and your listener nods his head that gesture indicates that the listener is interested in what you are saying.
A head shake is the opposite of a head nod. This gesture signifies no. A person who is agreeing with you but is shaking his head is obviously not telling the truth.
Hand Gestures
The palms of the hand offer a powerful body signal. The palm up position is a non threatening gesture while the palm down position is a gesture of authority.
Smiles and Laughter
How can you tell if a smile is genuine? Genuine smiles are produced by the unconscious brain causing your mouth muscles to move, your cheeks to rise, your eyes to crease and your eyebrows to dip. Laughing and smiling are universally accepted gestures of happiness and smiling seems to be contagious.
Arm Signals
When you fold your arms across your chest you are creating a barrier and it is a universal gesture which has a negative meaning. A person who exhibits this gesture and also has clenched fists is exhibiting hostility.
What does your body language say about you?
Review of Queen of Your Own Life
Posted by: | Comments
Queen of Your Own Life is one of the best books I have read – this week! Written by Kathy Kinney (Mimi from The Drew Carey Show) and her best friend Cindy Ratzlaff, the book is inspiration, motivational . . . and humorous!
If you want to learn how to value yourself as a woman, you need to learn how to:
-
Claim your beauty and feel your power
-
Clean your mental closet and find your queen voice
-
Admire yourself for who you’ve become
-
Build deep, fulfilling friendships with other women
-
Establish firm boundaries that will strengthen all your relationships
-
Learn the simple trick to finally being happy
-
Place the crown firmly on your head
Act as if you are beautiful – because you are. Create an affirmation and say it often. When YOU feel good about yourself people will notice. You are perfect just the way you are.
Confront negative thoughts head on. Acknowledge that they exist but do not let them consume you. Laugh at them!
Your life experiences and your accomplishments make you the person you are today. Focus on the new talents and skills you’ve developed.
Build nurturing and lasting relationships with women you trust and women who will support you no matter what.
Do you ever find yourself doing something that you really did not want to do? I have and it’s because I have not clearly defined my boundaries. Setting boundaries is a skill Setting boundaries is a skill. Recognize your limits and very very clear about what you can and cannot do. (Can you tell that this is my greatest challenge?)
Happiness is an acquired skill. Choose to be happy.
Put your crown on. Celebrate. Claim the happiness you deserve.
I loved the quotes interspersed throughout the book. They were so inspirational.
Review of No Excuses!
Posted by: | CommentsDo you ever feel like success has eluded you? Do you sometimes envy the success of those around you? Brian Tracy is here to tell you that they are No Excuses. Success can be yours if you apply the power of self-discipline.
Tracy offers 21 ways to achieve lasting happiness and success in the 3 major areas of your life:
- Personal success
- Business success
- Overall happiness
Decide what you want in life and go after it. As you progress toward your goal, each step will be its own reward. The more you grow, the confident and fulfilled you become.
Employees who are self-disciplined are able to set priorities and execute tasks quickly. Setting priorities allows you to do important tasks an to become a valuable person in your field.
The ability to achieve your own happiness is the true measure of your success in life. You become truly happy when you are able to practice self-discipline, self-mastery, and self control.
