The Enterprising Woman

Rating:
Summary: A great "how-to" and reference book in one!
Review: I admit that I wasn't all that thrilled when my aunt gave me a "book" for my MBA graduation present. It felt a lot like getting socks and underwear for Christmas as a kid when you really wanted a new bike. And after years of hitting the books, I was in no hurry to pick up another one.Needless, to say, it's taken me a few months to actually pick up The Enterprising Woman and take a look. And after reading the first couple of chapters, I realized that it's not only good, solid information-like I got in my $$$ business school-but there are all kinds of real life anecdotes of business owners (who ALL just happen to be women-very cool) talking about how THEY did it. Not only that, but the author has also put in a great deal of reference information, so you don't need to go hunting for important things like the number to the U.S. Patent Office. The Enterprising Woman turned out to be the best gift I got for graduation. I spent the money, went on the trip, already broke the CD player (oops, sorry, Dad), but I'm using this book a lot. The Patent Office number came in handy for my new software security business I'm developing, and the book's chapter on Intellectual Property really got me thinking.

Rating:
Summary: Practical AND Inspirational
Review: I don't really consider myself a business book buyer . . .even though, technically, I'm a business owner. But I saw the author on Great Day America and really liked what she had to say. Not surprisingly, the book was just as informative and encouraging as the author. This isn't a book you just buy and put on your shelf. Use it!

Rating:
Summary: A great find for the new year . . . and my new life.
Review: Lots of books tell you how to start a business and even more show how THEY did it, but this is the first book I've found that gently told ME how I could create and start a business that was uniquely my own. After years of working for someone else, I'm now ready to jump out on my own. And I'm going to use Enterprising Woman as my primary reference book.