Women Entrepreneurs Only: 12 Women Entrepreneurs Tell the Stories of Their Success [Hardcover]

Ernst & Young (Author), Gregory K. Ericksen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471324396 | ISBN-13: 978-0471324393 | Publication Date: April 26, 1999 | Edition: 1

Praise for Women Entrepreneurs Only "Although everyone defines success differently, the twelve women profiled in this book share the same important qualities--ingenuity, intelligence, and determination. Their stories of how they launched their companies and triumphed as women entrepreneurs are a must-read for anyone looking to join the ranks of successful business owners." --Lillian Vernon, founder and Chief Executive Officer Lillian Vernon Corporation Praise for What's Luck Got to do with it? "This powerful, fascinating book reveals a microcosm of our country--past, present, and future. These remarkable people are truly proactive visionaries who create concepts, not just problem-solve." --Dr. Stephen R. Covey author of the bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People "Any aspiring entrepreneur can learn a lot from the real-life stories of these architects of the business success stories of the '90s as told in What's Luck Got to Do With It? This is not an academic treatise, but war stories from real people who have actually done it--and lived to tell their tales." --Stan Davis coauthor of Blur: The Speed of Change in the Connected Economy In their own words. Sheryl Leach--Barney the Dinosaur?(TM) Jenny Craig--Jenny Craig Personal Weight Management?(TM) Ruth Fertel--Ruth's Chris Steak House Joy Mangano--Miracle Mop Mary Ellen Sheets--Two Men and a Truck Doris Christopher--The Pampered Chef, Ltd. Dorothy J. White--Miracle Services, Inc. JoAnne Shaw--The Coffee Beanery, Ltd. Sharon Lobel--Seal-It, Inc. Ebby Halliday--Ebby Halliday Realtors Sherrie Myers--Lansing Lugnuts Deborah Johnston--Care Advantage, Inc.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I have looked upon every job as an opportunity. I've always looked upon work as a privilege and that's why I'm still at it.... There is nothing else I want to do," says 88-year-old business maven Ebby Halliday. Women Entrepreneurs Only profiles Halliday and 11 other highly successful entrepreneurs--women who demonstrate how their inspiration and dedication continue to serve them and their businesses. These women, all winners of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, tell their stories--from inception to investment to market. Along the way, each experienced setbacks, doubts, support, and, ultimately, the belief that she possessed an idea that could positively influence others.

Included in this round-up are Doris Christopher of the Pampered Chef; Sheryl Leach, creator of Barney the Dinosaur; and Joy Mangano, inventor of the Miracle Mop. The entrepreneurs discuss their greatest challenges, the lessons they learned along the way, and what they wished they had known earlier, all the while offering advice to fledgling entrepreneurs. It's a powerful combination of real-life inspiration and lessons that could benefit anyone--man or woman--who wants to know success in business. --Kathleen Doll

From the Inside Flap

"What I have found—which could help other entrepreneurs—is that when you have an idea and believe in it, it’s almost like the whole world conspires to help you." —Sheryl Leach, creator of Barney In their own words, twelve outstanding women entrepreneurs tell their remarkable stories of inspiration, determination, and success in the business world. From visionary restaurateur Ruth Fertel of Ruth’s Chris Steak House to children’s entertainment genius Sheryl Leach, creator of Barney the Dinosaur, here are the inspiring profiles of twelve women entrepreneurs at the forefront of a revolution in women-owned businesses. Eight million women-owned businesses in the United States contribute nearly $2.3 trillion annually to the economy and these businesses are increasing at nearly twice the national average. But it’s who these women are, not just what they’ve done, that is the most fascinating and inspiring part of their stories. Sitting in traffic with her restless one-and-a-half-year-old, stay-at-home mother Sheryl Leach had an idea for a video that could both entertain a small child and be educational. It was the birth of Barney, king of children’s entertainment. When housewife Joy Mangano got fed up with cheap mops that didn’t stand up to her day-to-day household cleaning, she invented the "Miracle Mop" and answered the prayers of millions of people like herself who were frustrated with inferior quality. And it was Ruth Fertel’s belief in herself and her conviction to "treat others the way you want to be treated" that helped make Ruth’s Chris Steak House America’s largest upscale restaurant company. These three women epitomize the kind of people Ernst & Young has honored over the past twelve years as outstanding entrepreneurs, people who are resourceful, creative, independent thinkers, hard workers, risk takers, and visionary leaders. Assembled here are twelve compelling, behind-the-scenes stories of women—single mothers, wives, and daughters—who were seized by brilliant ideas, started from meager beginnings, and moved up in the business world with an uncompromising desire to succeed. In Women Entrepreneurs Only, you will discover who these women are, find out what motivates them, who helped them the most, what they would have done differently if they knew then what they know now, and what advice they have for aspiring entrepreneurs. These women mean business, but they have also created a nurturing environment within the business world, where their people work with them rather than for them, and where the businesses they own are truly and uniquely their own. The Entrepreneurial Services practice of Ernst & Young is dedicated to owner-managed and middle-market businesses. It consults in the areas of finance, taxes, accounting, business planning, information systems, and international expansion. Watch for "Entrepreneurs Only" brought to you by Ernst & Young on CNN-FN.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471324396
• ISBN-13: 978-0471324393
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #864,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read! Dream BIG! Never Quit!, March 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Women Entrepreneurs Only: 12 Women Entrepreneurs Tell the Stories of Their Success (Hardcover)

Fantastic! This book is a well written,easy read. It is a wonderfully motivating book. I read it cover to cover in 1 day. It inspires any woman to feel they can do anything even start their own businesses. It gives an honest accounting of 12 women from all walks of life, who have started companies on purpose or accidently, with or without money. They have weathered many obstacles along the way to building huge organizations and muti-million dollar businesses. As a small business owner, I admire their courage and it has given me the push to set much, much higher goals for myself and my company. The lessons and advice in this book are invaluable and extremely insightful. Lesson learned: Dream Big! Go for it! Never Quit!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars these are inspiring stories, October 6, 2010

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I. Wong (UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Women Entrepreneurs Only: 12 Women Entrepreneurs Tell the Stories of Their Success (Hardcover)

these are inspiring stories but if you want real detail. this is not the book for you. i did enjoy the book though