MAY/JUNE 2008 BOOK CLUB SELECTION

When it comes time to choose a book for our Victory Circles book club it leaves me to ponder and consider, consider and ponder. With so many great books out there in our horizons to learn and grow from picking a book that will hit the proverbial buttons of the high spirited ladies of our Circles is important.

So for the months of May and June I have chosen Marcus Buckingham’s, GO Put Your Strengths to Work.” I had originally been leaning towards Michael Gerber’s, Awakening The Entrepreneur Within. With Michael’s classic book, The E-Myth Revisited, I figured this new release of his would be just as important to have on the bookshelf. Then a funny thing happened on my way into the bookstore, Marcus’s book was sitting out front on sales rack for only $5.99! Quite frankly a price that I could not pass up as I purchased both books. Having enjoyed Marcus’s book, First, Break All the Rules, I knew that there was more value than the $5.99 I paid for it!

But sticking to my original plan I started in on reading, Awakening the Entrepreneur Within. By the time I got to page 10, I hit a big disagreeing point with what Michael calls his Reality #2 of the five realities of an entrepreneur. He states that “Entrepreneurs do not buy business opportunities; they create them. Having been an entrepreneur for most of my career as well as having coached a good many entrepreneurs, I strongly disagreed with that viewpoint. While I could go on about my opinion on this, I won’t but it did take the luster of the next 30 or so pages out of the book for me to the point I set it down and haven’t picked it up since.

So there I was finding myself gravitating towards, GO Put Your Strengths to Work. After all, our strengths are our greatest assets and values, without them, we get lost in the sludge of our day-to-day lives. Sometimes never fully enjoying the greatest asset we potentially have in the muscles we have already been given along our way.

My hope and plan is dig into this book along with the other ladies of the Victory Circle. The benefits of our book club are especially beneficial for those ladies who don’t have time to read the selected book. You see by the time we have our group book review on June 25th, whether they have read it or not you will be able to engage in the juicy discussion that will be happening on this topic.

The recommendation is to most certainly read, Go Put Your Strengths to Work, if you can find the time…a little less than two months and counting! Please share your feedback as you go!

Happy Reading!

P.S. I got the great price on the book at Border’s (retail list price is $30.00) – not sure if it is still available. Amazon has it for $19.50 – check out the link on our book club link on the web site, www.victorycircles.com

The Industrial Revolution Returns

 By Cheri Ruskus

One of my favorite educational moments in elementary school was during the discussions that came around the history topic of the Industrial Revolution. Hearing what people like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison accomplished in taking an idea and making something from nothing. I found it fascinating how one person’s idea sparked another person’s idea and another and another. Bringing with it not only new ways of living, but also new ways of making a living. Perhaps that is when the Entrepreneur in me was actually born.

Imagine then my delight a few days ago during a teleconference as author and marketing guru, Seth Godin, talked about the fact that we are all having the opportunity to participate in another industrial revolution. His new book Meatball Sundae shares how ideas are being generated all around us on a constant basis. Everyday new ideas are created in one form or another from technology to psychology, enhancing our lives.

For women entrepreneurs, those of us in the thick of it, taking care of home and hearth. it has been wonderful to implement these new ideas and tools as we also create and sustain our own business entities. I am privileged to know a number of women entrepreneurs who got sparked by an idea have been watching it take off. Yes, they took a little idea and made it a reality, creating businesses that made a difference not only in their lives but also in the lives of many others. Other women entrepreneurs in turn get sparked and do just the same.

No doubt about it that being a mother and an entrepreneur is a challenge but can indeed be done. Is it seamless? No, some days things can unravel a bit and not turn out as planned. But I can’t help but think that it is much easier to find our independence than it was when my mother had to leave her children every day for 10 hours and be a “working mother”. Leaving us, her children, to fend for ourselves.

In writing these words I realize that it is more than technology that assists us – it’s the freedom of being your own boss. Women entrepreneurs can actually, successfully play the dual role game of mother and businesswoman. For me, I have chosen at this point of my business life to work from home so that I am “here” for my two teenage children. Having experienced life as a teenager without a parent present most days, I know the difference it can make!

Some days can be hectic and crazy jumping back and forth between my business demands and those of my 17-year-old son, my 15-year-old daughter and the running our household. But I would not have it any other way! Being here when they get home from school makes all the difference in the world for all of us. Being here when they are sick, having a rough day or simply just need their Mom allows me to be the mother I always wanted to be. All the while I am building a company that means a great deal to me and will be ready to fill the void of their absence when they take off here in just a few short years (actually only 8 short months for my son) to college.

The key in this revolution we are involved in is finding support. This can come in all shapes and forms from your spouse, significant other, friends, colleagues and business network. It is that support that will propel us as women to the next level of being all that we can be, as we create more and do more. Support to overcome the fear that comes with the word “entrepreneur”. Support to get it all done. Because let’s face it for the breed of us women that are also called entrepreneurs, multi-tasking isn’t a choice, but a way of life.

I am so delighted that women entrepreneurs of today have a multitude of opportunities before them. We have incredible tools and technology to get the job done. And probably most important is that we also have a strong dose of tenacity. And with that I say…
Bring on the revolution! Let’s Play! Pass on the torch to the woman standing next to you!

Welcome Women Entrepreneurs!

This blog is brought to you by the Victory Circles.  A mastermind forum for women entrepreneurs.