Women Count: A Guide to Changing the World

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Harry K. Jones

Women Count: A Guide to Changing the World
by Susan Bulkeley Butler with Bob Keefe

It might be of interest to readers to know a little bit about this author in order to appreciate the expertise and experience behind the revealing content, case studies, and rallying cry to be found within these 135 pages.

Susan Bulkeley is CEO of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders (www.sbbinstitute.org). She also made business history as the first woman professional and first woman partner at the company that eventually became Accenture, the $19 billion global management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing organization. She certainly knows of what she speaks.

In Women Count, the author enlightens us with the fact that history is filled with stories of women who overcame sexism and other odds to go on to greatness. Readers will learn about:

Deborah Sampson, the first American woman to join the Army.
Catherine Littlefield Greene who invented the cotton gin.
Susan B. Anthony who created the National Women’s Suffrage Association who eventually earned the right for women to vote.
Amelia Earhart who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
and many others.

Over the years, we’ve learned that woman have made great strides here in the U.S.:

Fortune Magazine states that the number of Fortune 500 women CEOs has increased four-fold over the past decade.
“A Woman’s Nation” report informs readers that 40% of mothers are now their family’s primary breadwinner, and 60% of mothers bring home at least 1/4 of their family’s income.
Time Magazine reports that 54% of men and 69% of women say they believe there would be fewer problems in the world if there more women in business and government.
Women represent 1/2 of the country’s population, half of the country’s college graduates, and around 51% of the country’s workforce.

While these figures paint a very positive picture of women’s progress over the past decades, it is far from what it should be. Consider:

Less than 3% of the top executives in America’s biggest companies are women.
Less than 16% of the directors of Fortune 500 companies in America are women.
Only 17% of members of Congress are women.
As of last year, only 6 of the nation’s 50 governors are women.
Four decades after Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, women still earn an average of 75 cents for every dollar men earn!

Author Susan Bulkeley Butler issues a challenge and game plan for women to step into their power and become “women who count.” She believes that then, and only then, can women truly change the world. For those who believe that the world greatly needs the unique abilities of women to lead our country to the greatness it deserves … this is a must read!

Women Count: A Guide to Changing the World is available from Amazon. The AchieveMax® company is an affiliate of Amazon.com.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

How Remarkable Women Lead

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Harry K. Jones

How Remarkable Women Lead: The Breakthrough Model for Work and Life
by Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston

Let me begin by warning you not to be taken in by the title: men have as much to learn from this book as women. In fact, I can think of a number of males in leadership roles that I plan to recommend this book to.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity and privilege to work with many remarkable women leaders. I know from personal experience that the talent, experience, creativity, tenacity, dedication, and outcomes of these woman in leadership roles have contributed tremendously to the success of so many outstanding organizations in every industry.

The book’s 368 pages are based on five remarkable years of proprietary research by co-authors Joanna Barsh and Susie Cranston … both McKinsey & Company consultants. The authors establish the links between joy, happiness, and distinctive performance with the groundbreaking model of Centered Leadership.

A number of personal stories and related insights demonstrate the magic which occurs when you put the five elements of Centered Leadership—meaning, framing, connecting, engaging, and energizing—to work.

I especially enjoyed the interviews with top executives who have proven themselves under very competitive and challenging circumstances. They include:

Andrea Jung, the CEO of Avon, who fired herself on Friday and re-emerged on Monday as the “new” turnaround CEO.
Eileen Naughton, who lost her dream job but landed on her feet at Google to emerge as a formidable leader.
Ruth Porat who successfully coped with personal and professional times at Morgan Stanley.

These interviews and others (Xerox’s Anne Mulcahy, former Quantas chairman Margaret Jackson, and orchestra leader Alondra de la Parra to name a few) provide both insight and inspiration to any potential or current leader facing today’s enormous challenges. It was indeed interesting to hear from some of the most accomplished women leaders in the world and enlightening to hear that they had their moments of crisis, self doubt and mistakes. They learned from these moments and used them to build their future.

I often get a personal “feel” for a book’s offering by browsing chapter titles. I found this particular offering intriguing in a number of chapter areas. Here’s a short sample of what to expect.

It All Begins with Meaning
Your Own Happiness Equation
Start with Your Strengths
Dreamcatcher
Matter of Framing
Your Organization as Family
The Tapestry You Weave
Make Your Own Luck
Weathering the Heights
Energy in Your Toolkit

Some chapters better apply to women starting out in their careers, while others focus on the seasoned female leader. How Remarkable Women Lead is a great read, with real insights and actionable ideas!

It’s both a roadmap as well as an accessible workbook into the mechanisms that govern the lives of women leaders.

How Remarkable Women Lead: The Breakthrough Model for Work and Lifeis available from Amazon. The AchieveMax® company is an affiliate of Amazon.com.

About Harry K. Jones

The Art of War for Women

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Harry K. Jones

The Art of War for Women: Sun Tzu’s Ancient Strategies and Wisdom for Winning at Work
by Chin-Ning Chu

The Art of War is a Chinese military dissertation written by Sun Tzu some 2,500 years ago. It contains 13 chapters, each of which is dedicated to one aspect of warfare. It has long been praised and studied as the definitive work on military strategies of its time. This work has had a large influence on both Eastern and Western military thinking, business tactics, and beyond. In fact, for years now, I’ve seen books using this approach to many non-military areas such as The Art of War for Gardeners, The Art of War for Golfers, The Art of War for Marketers and the list goes on. Obviously, many authors have seen this title as a marketing tool to attract the attention of readers who have seen it on the book shelves for years.

This classic was first translated into a European language in 1782 and has been said to have possibly influenced Napoleon, General Douglas McArthur and even the planning of Operation Desert Storm.

In recent years, much emphasis has been placed on applying the Art of War philosophy to business and managerial strategies. This is what I find so very interesting about this trend. Today’s media talks much of the radical change we have experienced in recent years, and they warn us to expect more of the same in the future. To an extent that’s very true.

On the other hand, consider the things that remain the same after centuries of growth, education, progress, and technology enhancements. I find it fascinating that the problems that Sun Tzu wrote about 2,500 years ago are identical to those we face today! The solutions, to a great extent, are also the same. As you examine the 13 chapters, it’s very easy to feel as though you’re browsing a list of challenges which exist in today’s workplace. In short, we are reminded that there is nothing new under the sun. Our pressing issues today were just as important 2,500 years ago—the common and critical factor in this equation is PEOPLE. Addressing this factor has contributed much to the success of this philosophy.

Until now, Sun Tzu’s strategies have been focused on tactics for men facing great battles in a male-dominated world … as well it should have. However, in recent years, women have stepped up dramatically to gain center stage in many sectors of our culture. Note the fact that the U.S. is currently contemplating the election of our first female President. We’re in the midst of a revolution where woman are educated, can vote, and have full and equal rights alongside men … and women are capitalizing on this revolution more and more every day.

Author Chin-Ning Chu, an accomplished female Chinese business strategist, author, and internationally renowned speaker is a descendant of the pauper (Chu uan-Zhang) who became the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty by defeating the descendant of Genghis Khan. She is the President of Asian Marketing Consultants, Inc., chairperson of the Strategic Learning Institute, and President of Neuroscience Industries, Inc. She was also a major contributor to the Great Books series segment on The Art of War, which aired on The Learning Channel. In short, she’s more than qualified to speak on this subject!

Chin-Ning Chu has taken on the work of SunTzu in a fresh light. She took the strategies and tactics that had, until now, been fashioned for execution by men and translated them into a game plan that can easily and efficiently be understood and administered by women.

She tells her readers that for perhaps the first time in history, women can no longer attribute the traditional glass ceiling, their upbringing, or the competitive pressures of the world for their success or failure.

She shares a number of examples of women who claimed they were helpless, mistreated, and unfairly turned down for promotions and career advancement. After further investigation it was discovered that these women had actually sabotaged their own chances.

The author uses a nice blend of humor and advice as she converts these ageless strategies to female-friendly applications.

Here’s just a peek at some of her chapter content:

Winning by Wearing Glass Slippers or Combat Boots
The Twenty-First Century, the Women’s Century
A Womanhood Makeover
Kick Some Butt with your Jimmy Choos: Dealing with Sexual Harassment
Women are from Venus … Mars, the Moon, and Earth
Adopt the Best of Masculine and Feminine Energies

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is the most influential book on strategy ever published, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide in several editions. This brilliant adaptation of the ancient masterpiece shows women how to use that ageless philosophy to win in every aspect of life. It’s quite obvious that this book, The Art of War for Women, is certain to become a classic in its own right.

(This book review was originally published in 2008 as one of the Top 10 Books – Edition 18.)

About Harry K. Jones

See Jane Lead

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Harry K. Jones

See Jane Lead: 99 Ways for Women to Take Charge at Work
by Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D.

For decades many women have been told that they can only succeed in business if they adopt traits that have forever been considered masculine. In short, you’d better think, sound, and act very much like your male counterpart if you hope to compete on any level.

Along comes Dr. Lois P. Frankel to challenge that long-standing theory. Here we have an author who specializes on the subject in focus. Lois is the president of Corporate Coaching International, a California-based consulting firm that specializes in executive coaching, leadership development, and team building. She has also authored Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make That Sabotage Their Careers, Stop Sabotaging Your Career: 8 Proven Strategies to Succeed―In Spite of Yourself and Overcoming Your Strengths: 8 Reasons Why Successful People Derail and How to Get Back on Track among others.

It is the author’s contention, based on years of her own studies, that the very characteristics we typically attribute to women are exactly the same traits and talents that make women even more qualified to lead in today’s challenging environment. In reviewing business headlines over the past few years, I can think of a number of male leaders that might want to give some serious consideration to thinking, sounding, and acting very much like some of the prominent female leaders who have recently emerged in very positive and productive roles. (Check our blog article, “Gender Gap in Pay, Recognition and Rewards,” for 13 bios of current female leaders who are positively paving the way for so many others.)

The author not only shares her reasoning for this role reversal but offers a detailed plan to benefit from the very instincts once considered a hindrance in the career development of most women. Frankel punctuates her tips with short bios of influential women providing real-life examples of success in male-dominated fields. Each of her examples focus on the fact that these women took full advantage of their feminine qualities.

As for the 99 tips promised in the title, you’ll find them dispersed throughout the 270 pages, which comprise nine chapters of solid content. In addition to the 99 tips, you’ll find a quiz that will assist you in determining which aspects of leadership need to be personally strengthened. The author then dedicates a full chapter to each leadership aspect to assist you in the creation of a personal action plan to capitalize on each area.

As if that weren’t enough, you’ll find anecdotes and exercises, team effectiveness surveys, self-assessment tests, and a communication-style classification. In the final pages, Dr. Frankel also provides a very helpful reading list of many excellent books that will provide additional assistance in any woman’s pursuit of business and personal success.

In short, this book provides an excellent blueprint for women wanting to tap their full potential as future leaders in every aspect of their lives.

(This book review was originally published in 2007 as one of the Top 10 Books – Edition 16.)

About Harry K. Jones

Smart Women Take Risks

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Harry K. Jones

Smart Women Take Risks: Six Steps for Conquering Your Fears and Making the Leap to Success
by Helene Lerner

While content focus differs significantly, this offering shares many very positive similarities with our last review, Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos. So much so, in fact, that it led me to create an article for the resources section of our blog on the subject of “Tips for Choosing a Great Book.”

You might be wondering why we’re viewing several books that appear to be focused on women’s issues. There are a growing number of reasons for this focus, and it’s imperative that leaders in every field are aware of each of them. Let’s take a quick glance.

According to PINK Magazine, which is spotlighted in our blog:

“A record number of women now lead top companies in America and millions more (15.6 million) have started businesses of their own―at a rate twice that of men.”

“Women are excelling in other fields, too―from medicine to education, philanthropy, politics and the arts. Women now wield trillions of dollars and account for more than 80 percent of all consumer spending.”

Even with such progress, stumbling blocks remain.

Think pay (75 cents vs. one dollar.) I have never understood this one and never will. So many of our clients, in a wide variety of industries, are currently being led very successfully by women at a number of levels ranging from board members and CEOs to front line-supervisors and team leaders.

Think politics (Less than 15% of congressional members are women).

Think advancement (Hundreds of millions have been paid out in recent gender discrimination settlements).

But perhaps the biggest hurdle has to do with the internal struggle―with issues like life balance and, yes, power. Activist and author Naomi Wolf calls it, “the last taboo―women talking about having money and worldly power.”

These two books are obviously aimed at female readers and for good reason. I truly believe both authors have done a great job of offering excellent advice and guidance to women who want to succeed in their chosen fields of endeavor. However, another reason for reviewing both offerings is to alert our male readers to two excellent resources that are also great reads! I found very little content in either book that I wouldn’t hesitate to pass on to male readers sharing the same goals of success as any female readers. My hat is off to both authors.

Without giving away the content, let me offer a number of obvious reasons why this book is a “must read.”

Very topical and relevant subject for all of the reasons mentioned above in the PINK magazine reference.
A very easy and enjoyable read produced by a CEO/coach/consultant/TV host with a great deal of education, experience, and expertise to share on this crucial subject matter.
Six concrete steps for conquering your fears and making the leap to success. Each step is clearly articulated and illustrated with inspiring stories and tips from women who have successfully completed each step.
In-depth bios of 17 trail-blazing change agents who will act as mentors for you by sharing their stories of passionate achievement.
A number of mini-bios of additional trail-blazers throughout the book to illustrate various tips, tools, and strategies.
“Quick Tips” at the end of each chapter that summarize key points you’ll want to remember.
“Power Links” at the end of each chapter to link you with interesting resources that provide additional information on the subject of focus within that particular chapter.
Interesting statistics, charts, graphs, exercises, definitions, and questionnaires that make it extremely difficult to put this book down for even a moment.
Direction to Helene Lerner’s popular web site (womenworking.com), which offers strategies on advancement, leadership, navigating work/life, and power networking contacts; free membership and newsletter; power contacts; great book reviews, interesting articles, etc. … a tremendous resource!

For those who are serious about conquering their fears and making the leap to success, this book is certainly a foundational “must read.”

(This book review was originally published in 2007 as one of the Top 10 Books – Edition 15.)

About Harry K. Jones

Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Harry K. Jones

Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos: 10 Strategies for Stepping Up to Success and Satisfaction at Work
by Lynette Lewis

I always admire an author with the ingenuity to formulate a book title that will hook a potential reader at 10 paces. This is obviously one of those titles, and you’ll have to admit it’s catchy. The one issue I do have with this title is the fact that 99.5% of male readers will march right past this offering assuming its content is advantageous for females only. That I can’t agree with. I first browsed through its content to see if it was something I’d want to suggest to the many female team leaders, supervisors, department heads, vice presidents, and CEOs we work with in our leadership programs. It took me only a few minutes to know that this book would be a valuable asset to anyone striving for success in their career pursuits.

When it comes to stilettos, I don’t know Jimmy Choos from Manolo Blahniks. I doubt if that’ll ever be a concern for me. Author and speaker-motivator Lynette Lewis doesn’t seem to be concerned either as her focus is obviously on your personal brand as opposed to a consumable wearable brand.

I personally believe the author meant to create a go-to-guide for life as a woman in today’s very competitive, global marketplace and working world. I also believe she achieved just that. However, I would venture to speculate that the majority of her content could easily be adapted and utilized successfully by any man who shared that goal of personal success.

Let me give you a few examples. I’m often faulted for giving away too much information in my reviews. Personally, I’m not even certain you can do that when it comes to the subject of career success. Regardless, let me spare the details and just whet your appetite by teasing you with her 10 strategies by title:

Create a Purpose Statement for Life and Work
Become Personally Whole
Adopt Methods for Gaining New Joy and Satisfaction
Discover Gifts in Surprising Places
Follow the Four Principles of Promotion and Build Your Personal Brand
Organize a Personal Board of Directors
Implement Creative Tools That Maximize Everyone on the Team
Follow an Approach to Speaking That Works Every Time
Expand Your Definition of Mentoring
View Your Life Through the Lens of Hope and Possibility

If you have the tendency to want to skip Strategy #8 because you’ve never been interested in “speaking,” think again, be patient, open your mind and hear what the lady has to say. She’s right on the money as she explains the many reasons, challenges and benefits to becoming a better speaker. It doesn’t matter if you’re speaking to one other person, a small committee, a mid-sized meeting, or an intimidating full house … the rewards of doing a good job can be extraordinary. The consequences of a poor performance can be disastrous! This one strategy alone can be decisive to your success even though it addresses a subject that many might prefer to avoid. Don’t make that mistake.

I very much enjoyed the many quotes and stories the author shared of incredible women who made that precarious climb up the ladder while keeping their proverbial stilettos and heart intact. Through these revealing examples, Lynette Lewis shares the secrets to purposeful work and focused dedication to her time-tested strategies.

One last observation … quickly review the author’s 10 strategies listed above. Which, if any, would you consider to be beneficial to women alone? Personally, I found all of them to be enlightening, significant, inspirational, and necessary for anyone accepting the challenge of mastering that traditional ladder of success! Therefore, if you’re a man who is second-guessing the value of this book that was written with women in mind—for fear that it may threaten your manhood—you have other problems that demand your attention!

Whether you’re stuck in a dead-end job or are living the career of your dreams, Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos should be among the must-read books in your personal and/or business library.

(This book review was originally published in 2007 as one of the Top 10 Books – Edition 15.)

About Harry K. Jones

EVEolution

Posted on December 14, 2009 by Harry K. Jones

Eveolution: The Eight Truths of Marketing to Women
by Faith Popcorn and Lys Marigold

“Within a decade, the companies that do the best job of marketing to women will dominate every significant product and service category!” predicts best-selling author, Faith Popcorn. Following her success with The Popcorn Report and Clicking, her third book continues to break new ground and chart exciting new territory as she explores marketing to women.

Faith Popcorn runs a marketing consultancy in New York called BrainReserve and has been a real presence in the business world for the past two decades. She is not to be dismissed lightly as she boasts a roster of big-time clients ranging from BMW to IBM and Nabisco. When she speaks, they listen. They want her to tell them the pulse of the economy from a consumer standpoint. After all, she predicted the great success of SUVs and the failure of New Coke. She knows of what she speaks.

The bottom line is that women today have the economic power, and corporations and marketers who want to succeed had better figure that out. Women “purchase or influence the purchase of 80% of all consumer goods.”

With references to EVEolve, EVEangelical and EVEsdropping, Popcorn shares eight essential truths of EVEolution—the trend that will redefine the way companies create profitable and lasting relationships with women.

(This book review was originally published in 2000 as one of the Top 10 Books – Edition 4.)

Book Reviews

Book reviews written by professional speaker and consultant Harry K. Jones.

Category Archives: Women-in-Business Books

Women Count: A Guide to Changing the World

About Harry K. Jones

How Remarkable Women Lead

About Harry K. Jones

The Art of War for Women

About Harry K. Jones

See Jane Lead

About Harry K. Jones

Smart Women Take Risks

About Harry K. Jones

Climbing the Ladder in Stilettos

About Harry K. Jones

EVEolution

About Harry K. Jones