Her book contains gentle life lessons and uses a fun approach, focusing without patronising or preaching on the typical obstacles and challenges women face as they grow their careers and themselves. This week we offer an extract from the first chapter, entitled “A very brief HERstory of the work diva:

‘There are only two types of women: goddesses and doormats.’
– Pablo Picasso (Spanish painter; 1881–1973)

If you do not know who Pablo Picasso is, please do not tell anyone. Google the name before you even begin reading the rest of this book, and find out. You cannot survive without a good general knowledge if you want to get ahead in business – or in life in general, in fact. Although I was flippant about business books in the Introduction, here’s the bad news: If you want to be taken seriously in your career, you need to invest time in serious content.

In business, you are measured by your understanding of the world at large, the corporate world in general and your company in particular. Knowing who do to whom in the latest Marian Keyes is not going to win you the big promotion or pay rise you are chasing. ‘That’s not fair,’ you might moan. ‘Men read golf magazines and that seems to help them!’ No, it’s not fair, but if you want a book about what’s fair and how things should be in the world, then go back to reading that novel. If, however, you want a book that will help you to get ahead in the real – and very unfair – world of business as a woman, you’ve come to the right place. Sit back, kick off your shoes, grab a glass of wine and drive your career forward in comfort

• Complete first chapter of Work Diva

About the Author

Kim Meredith is the managing director of Spectrum Solutions, a company she founded in 1989. She is also the chief executive officer of the globally represented The Dealmaker Programmes Company. By 2000, she was one of only 179 women on the boards of the top 300 JSE Securities Exchange–listed companies. Kim currently lectures and consults in the USA, Latin America, Europe and Africa.

Book Details

• Work Diva: How to climb the corporate ladder without selling your soul by Kim Meredith
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  EAN: 9781770200838
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