Tampa Book Buzz

book buzz:brazen careerist:the new rules for success by penelope trunk

Brazen Careerist:The New Rules for Success by Penelope Trunk

There once was a girl
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead
When she was good
She was very good
But when she was bad, she was horrid.

This nursery rhyme sums up how I feel about business self-help author Penelope Trunk. When she’s right, she’s right; but when she’s wrong, Trunk is way off-base. In Brazen Careerist:The New Rules for Success, Trunk proudly claims that this is “not your parents’ career guidebook.” She writes for Generations X and Y, twenty- and thirty-somethings who care less about retiring after forty years with a gold watch and care more about the successful integration of career and personal life.

Some of Trunk’s chapters that I agree with include “Detours Are the Route to Happiness,” about how exploring career and life options in one’s twenties is a smart move; “You Only Need $40,000 a Year To Be Happy,” a solid argument for living within your means and being satisfied with what you have; and “The New Workplace Currency is Training,” about how cross-training and constant learning will serve you well in all areas of life.

I disagree with some of Trunk’s advice, such as that found in chapters “When Writing Your Resume Don’t Be Too Honest,” which takes the standard resume advice “use strong action verbs” several steps further; “Getting a Promotion Is So Last Century,” a pessimistic look at what constitutes achievement in the workplace, and “Use Harassment to Boost Your Career,” where Trunk theorizes that “enduring sexual harassment can sometimes be a way to gain power to achieve your long-range goals.”

Agree or disagree, love her or hate her, Trunk is a good writer who breaks down important career advice into short, easy-to-read chapters (some of which are a little too short). By using bold chapter titles and making potentially-anger-inducing pronouncements, Trunk purposely creates controversy with her advice. And we all know that controversy sells, right?

Whether you vigorously nod your head in agreement at her advice or disagree vehemently, Trunk makes you think. Thinking for oneself is the ultimate path to success for all careerists, brazen or not.

Book Buzz Barometer: B

local author and publisher marcia freespirit

Talk about amazing coincidences…

After seeing an article in the Creative Tampa Bay newsletter, I recently began drafting a post for TBB about local author Marcia Freespirit’s new publishing company.  Later that day, I received an email with the subject line “Eric Strum referred me to you” from a local author named … you guessed it … Marcia Freespirit. (Thanks, Eric!) Here’s Freespirit’s press release:

JimSam Inc., Tampa Bay’s newest book publisher, has opened its doors.  JimSam Inc. welcomes two new authors to its lineup in 2007.  Kristi Kennedy, CEO of NuLife Solutions, and Jim Cheatham, CEO of The Lionshare Group, will be releasing new titles by mid-2007.

This comes on the tail of great success of other budding authors such as Christopher Paolini of Eragon fame.  Christopher began writing this now famous fairytale in his young teens.  With the help of his family he self-published the book, which was later picked up by a major publisher and consequently made into a major movie.  The author is now only 23 years old.

JimSam Inc. offers publishing services to authors who need assistance writing their own stories of success and triumph.  With five books to be released in 2007, JimSam Inc. is set to become one of Tampa Bay’s premier book publishers.

Kristi Kennedy will release the V Factor, Truths, Lies and Myths of Hormone Replacement Therapy.  With her own experiences and over 7 years in the field, Kristi’s wealth of research and information will undoubtedly provide valuable information that will change the lives of many men and women. Yes, men too!

Jim Cheatham’s experiences and tremendous wealth of knowledge in the business sector will be compiled in his book, Just One More:The Non-Textbook Approach to Success for the Entrepreneur.

Marcia Freespirit, CEO of JimSam Inc., will also be releasing her memoirs, Gladwoman, in February and has two additional books in the works. JimSam Inc. is located in Riverview at 10818 Cedar St. and Marcia Freespirit can be reached at 813-748-9523.  The company website, www.jimsaminc.com, will debut in mid-January 2007. Details about Freespirit’s upcoming book launch party will be posted here soon.Details about Freespirit’s upcoming book launch party will be posted here soon.

Details about Freespirit’s upcoming book launch party will be posted here soon.