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Summary: Wonderful book
Review:
This is a wonderful book for any person struggling with career decisions. McMeekin provides the tools for rediscovering one's inner needs in a simple step-by-step manner. Her vignettes provided real life situations that anyone in that position can identify with. McMeekin guides you to your own true path. The book was truly an inspiration!
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Summary: Extremely valuable portable mentor for creativity
Review: For readers wishing to get in touch with their creative energies, Gail McMeekin's book 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women: A Portable Mentor is right on target! McMeekin believes that "creativity is not just for 'talented geniuses.' Creativity is a tool we can all access and utilize." This is true! But so few of us believe it, particularly women who may not see themselves as creative even when they trust their insights, intuit the next step, and otherwise manifest the new. McMeekin captivatingly provides inspiring stories from 12 women as she describes how we can engage our creativity and master the challenges we face on our creative journey. And she convincingly demonstrates that discipline and goal setting are just as much a part of the creative process as inspiration and idea generation. The book is full of practical advice for getting past very real obstacles to produce creative results. I particularly like the chapters (Secrets 5-9) around Committing to Self-Focus, Conquering Saboteurs, Consulting with Guides, Selecting Empowering Partnerships and Alliances, and Transcending Rejections and Roadblocks. They provide terrific, probing questions and insights. The format for all the chapters is extremely helpful in leading readers through thought-provoking exercises to rediscover and build their creativity. This book really is a portable mentor, which everyone (women and men!) should read!
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Summary: A portable inspiration!!
Review: I have featured this book in creativity circles that I run for women for almost two years. Although I have tried using other books, I have come back to "12 Secrets" BECAUSE it features tangible, real life stories of women from diverse life paths. Gail profiles women who have surmounted ordinary internal and external obstacles and unlocked the extraordinary power of their creativity. The "12 Secrets" aren't theory -- they're culled from real life experience. The vast majority of the women who join my creativity circles initially say, "I'm not creative." As soon as they begin to read Gail McMeekin's book, they quickly realize that creativity is a birthright and that it can be nourished and strengthened. I was personally attracted to this book because it is such a fine example of qualitative research based on life history interviews. Yet, it is written so fluidly and artfully that you can almost miss the fact that you're being treated to a very high level of scholarship and wisdom. After reading this book, I contacted Gail McMeekin and have profited from her skills as a creativity coach ever since. She has an enormous personal database of wisdom about creativity. Working with her has been a transforming experience! "12 Secrets" helped me take major steps toward unlocking my own creative power and leadership.
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Summary: 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women
Review: I have just finished reading the book and cannot express how much it touched me. I am now rereading it and doing the assignments McMeekin has offered. This book helped me find my way back to my creative spirit and trust within myself.
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Summary: From a very impressed reader
Review: I havent even finished the book yet but something told me to write a review for this wonderful book. I am enjoying the book very much and have been recommending it to friends and family.
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Summary: Creativity
Review: I wanted to express how much this book has helped me and my creativity level.I was suggested this book by a close friend of mine when I was battling to succeed creatively in my life.
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Summary: An Inspiration
Review: I've read many self help books but this one was different. McMeekin is an inspiration for all who feel locked into a path that doesn't fulfill. I highly recommend this book. It has truly changed my life and my priorities.
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Summary: Must Have Book
Review: If you are a woman struggling with finding a way to live your dreams and still survive the day-to-day realities that drain your energies and spirit, I recommend that you read this book and refer back to it often. Advice and success stories like this do not come along often enough. I have 6 children and work a real-world 9-5 job. I have been struggling to find the time to live my dream of being an artist. While I admit, I do not consciously follow every little step in books like this, I FIRMLY believe that reading them and referring back to them when the going gets rough just saturates your subconscious with the power and methods to make your dreams come true. Reading about the lives of other women who have accomplished their dreams is what keeps me on the path, it's like a creative circle of supportive friends.
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Summary: The Power of Women's Voices
Review: It's hard to believe in this day and age that women artists and writers still face many challenges that men do not.
McMeekin's book is an extremely valuable resource in understanding the process of finding, nurturing and developing artistic expression. Using case studies with well known women, she shows us all how it can be done, providing us with mentors who hold the light aloft and show us the way.
Particularly fun for me were the quirky details, such as the number of "dumb" jobs held by Clarisa Pinkola Estes before the Running with the Wolves author made it big. It's the real lives of women who've gone before that provide true inspiration in this book. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: McMeekin's book is a must for all who feel frustrated and stuck in their career. She takes you step by step through a process that helps you define your needs, your desires, and tap into your own creativity...you. Eight women read it as part of our book club and more than half of us are expanding our paths as a result. Incredible!
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