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Library Journal Review
By the year 2000, it is projected that 50 percent of all U.S. businesses will be women-owned. These two timely titles reflect this dramatic trend. The Woman Entrepreneur features profiles of a cross-section of women entrepreneurs. Their stories are mesmerizing, offering sound practical advice as well as inspiration. The 34th profile, that of the authors, successful entrepreneurs themselves, is particularly interesting. The book is rounded out with a brief history and statistical analysis of women entrepreneurs, as well as a resource directory for those interested in starting a business. Our Wildest Dreams focuses on the process of ``growing a business,'' and how that process differs for women. Godfrey, herself a founder of several companies, challenges the traditional ways of doing business and describes the special qualities women bring to business as the new ``right stuff.'' She delineates the barriers women still encounter, such as limited access to capital, and suggests how to overcome or compensate for them. Going even further, Godfrey proposes a national agenda for women, including expanded access to federal contracts. A chapter of real-life stories of successful businesswomen is a highlight, and the book concludes with a section on resources for prospective women entrepreneurs. While both titles are recommended for all business collections, The Woman Entrepreneur is well organized, clearly presented, and polished--a pleasure to read. Our Wildest Dreams goes into greater depth about the unique contributions of women to business. However, the excess verbiage, cliches, and tendency to ramble detract from the message.-- Nancy Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publishers Weekly Review
Many of the three million businesses owned or headed by women actually owe their financial health to such apparent disadvantages as their lack of ready money and inability to leverage, asserts entrepreneur Godfrey in this persuasive feminist survey of a little-explored topic. The author identifies a winning combination of ``head, heart and hands'' common to the hundreds of women of varying ages and ethnic, social and educational backgrounds she interviewed, all of whom have fun heading firms. They range from the founder of an intercoastal trucking business to the African American head of a public relations agency catering to celebrities and Fortune 500 clients. The women focus not on the bottom line, but on long-term vision and balance, inspiring and fully utilizing their associates' special resources--not necessarily gender-related, the author stresses. The very nature of business is changing, Godfrey declares, as women take charge of an increasing number of companies: ``Integrating profit and meaning is the new imperative.'' Full of concrete advice, the book deserves a wide audience among women seeking to start their own businesses as well as men who wish to escape the stratified corporate environment. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
The statistics are astounding. Four million U.S. women business owners now collect over $450 billion in revenues, and by the year 2000, one-half of all business owners will be female. Those numbers alone dictate a real need for monetary support and psychological attention. Frankly feminist (though not radically so) and speaking from a clinical-social-worker mindset, Godfrey examines in detail the barriers to and bonuses of experiencing our wildest dreams. What does it take, in terms of attitudes and qualities, to do your own thing? Are there new rules in the workplace? Has success been redefined and, along with it, fun? How did these entrepreneurs start, and what obstacles did they cope with? The answers, backed by recent research, may stun Fortune 500-type executives. Her passionate and compassionate, easy-to-read text minces no words when talking about hardships, but provides a practical blueprint, seven profiles, and a future agenda for all to heed and to follow. ~--Barbara Jacobs
