Career Reading Book Review-Who Says It's A Man's World: The Girls' Guide to Corporate Domition

Hello again internets: It took a good book to bring me back to my blog. I just finished Who Says It's a Man's World: The Girls' Guide to Corporate Domination written by @Emily Bennington. I am currently an Associate Vice President at Wells Fargo, where I work as a Relationship Manager for the Asset-Based Lending division. I'm happy with my job, and I've moved up quickly in the past 10 years with my company, but it never hurts to learn more.

I enjoyed Emily's book. She divides her book into easy to tackle sections, with each ending in an Action Plan to help the reader improve in the areas discussed. While I'm happy to say I already follow some of the steps, there were many more that I plan to add to my workday and career path.

Her main areas of focus were to discuss why women are emotional, to not bring sexy back (use your brain, not your boobs ladies), networking, and team harmony.

Emily included many anecdotes from career women, both executives and people still working up the corporate ladder. One of the most important lessons I took from the book is to get your name known in your company, especially if it's a large organization spread across the country/globe. She discusses the difference between having a mentor (someone who trains you) and having a sponsor (someone who champions you). Your champion talks about you to other executives and keeps you moving up the corporate ladder by bringing you opportunities.

For women in any area of their career, I recommend reading this book. I'm looking forward to catching up on Ms. Bennington's other novels and putting her tools to work for me!

Summer Reading Fun

When you were a kid, did you participate in the summer reading contests the local library sponsored, where you could get free pizza or prizes for reading books? Well, this summer I discovered that the Maricopa County Library system does a reading contest for adults! All you had to do was sign up and do brief reviews of books you read. I completed 3 reviews and won a $10 Harkins Theatres Gift Card!! I felt 10 again. . . 

Since I got a new Kindle Fire last year I have been reading quite a bit. I have been an avid reader my whole life, as both my parents always enjoyed books. My dad was always quiet, but if you got him talking about books he could go on for hours. I grew up reading Louis L'amour, Tom Clancy, James Herriot, and Patrick McManus. This led to a development of a dry sense of humor and a great imagination. My reading library has expanded quite a bit lately. I read books 3-5 in the Game of Thrones series, Steve Jobs biography, Freakonomics, a couple of books on French Bulldogs in anticipation of getting a new puppy! I also read Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess and even got to meet her at a book signing sponsored by Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe! I know own 3 copies of her book, as I pre-ordered a hard copy to get a signed nameplate, ordered a copy for my Kindle so I could read easily on my travels, and then bought the 3rd copy from Changing Hands as admission to the signing! It has been quite the summer of books and puppies!

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Pudge and Sadie playing in the yard!

@azcardsgirl29 and @thebloggess meet in person!

Pudge and his dental rope!

Artemis Fowl-Author Presentation

My best friend Becky and I took our young padawan learner to a presentation given by Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series. I began reading the Artemis Fowl books after my sister Danielle recommended them to me. Unfortunately she was in Seattle when Mr. Colfer was in town, but I did manage to score her a signed book and pen!!



Mr. Colfer put on an amazing one man show; it is no wonder his books are so excellent. Becky had not read any of the books prior to us seeing the show, and is glad she waited because now she can "hear" Mr. Colfer narrating the story as she reads. I have attached a link to his presentation, Fairies, Fiends & Flatulance; it is definitely worth watching!!