Careerpreneurs: Lessons from Leading Women Entrepreneurs on Building a Career Without Boundaries

Many of the more than nine million women business owners today have succeeded, according to Moore, because they learned how to manage their careers early, even before they started their own businesses. Using examples of businesses that have received national acclaim from the media and other organizations (such as the A.D. Morgan construction company, Advanced Tissues Sciences and Suzy's Zoo greeting cards), Moore reveals that these women have rarely stayed in one linear career path within a corporation, and that they are often closet inventors and risk takers. An entrepreneur professor at the Citadel, Moore provides a self-assessment quiz that allows would-be business owners to evaluate themselves on the same terms to see whether or not they're ready to start their own companies. She explains how entrepreneurs need to maximize their skills, particularly in managing people and negotiating, offering helpful negotiating strategies and a checklist of objectives. A key step in the negotiating process, according to Moore, is to see the situation from the other person's point of view after establishing one's own position. While her book offers a compelling look at the personalities of entrepreneurs, the book includes a haphazard mix of anecdotes and analysis that make it less helpful for readers looking for hands-on practical advice. (Sept.)