Bodacious: An AOL Insider Cracks the Code to Outrageous Success for Women

My name is Kevin Decker (kevindecker.com) and as an Author, Coach, and Motivational Speaker I read a lot of books about people, their motivations, and their relationships. As I read Bodacious all I could think about was women I know that would be inspired by it.There is so much value in this book that it's hard to summarize. Here, by chapter, is a lesson learned, inspiring quote, or interesting situation from each.1. Like nothing you've seen before - Today's economy offers greater risk and greater reward than ever before. Mary creates the context for her story talking about the situation as it exists today and her journey to Bodaciousness.2. Bodaciousness starts on the inside - Next she looks at how you define yourself and stop letting other people define who you are.3. Staff your Bodacious start up self - Mary then shares about surrounding yourself with knowledgable people that respect, value, and encourage you.4. Bodacious women take a stand - Get control over those things that you can control.5. Bodacious women thrive on shift and change - Ok, now that you've taken a stand it's time to move, change, and adapt.6. One thing I wish I'd understood before I left AOL - Find out about how the littlest fairy in Sleeping Beauty teaches us about office politics.7. Breaking through to Bodaciousness - It's about being intentional, deliberate and winning instead of just surviving.8. Bring It On - Read Mary's list of 11 ways to make your own luck.Epilogue: Life's short, learn fast - Act Bodaciously, and love every minute of it! Bodacious redefines the definition, perception, and expectations of successful business women. I can give no greater compliment than saying that I want my 4 year old daughter to grow up Bodacious!

Ms. Foley brings both the essences of a charismatic coach and a sober realist to the story of her rise at AOL. Bodacious! is an energetic read.This is NOT one of those "How-the-planets-aligned-and-allowed-me-to-fulfill-my-manifest-destiny" kind of books. Both successes and failures are described honestly. (It's to the author's credit that she describes both her little failures and strategic failures as candidly as she chronicles her successes.)Some passages of interest to look for:* Business is business, and Ms. Foley advises the reader to NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. It's an idea that's worth repeating ... over and over and over until Velcro personality traits morph into Teflon.* Setting boundaries comes with risk, but you HAVE to set them. In Chapter 4, she writes about taking a stand, and also what to do when someone takes a stand with you. (And why you shouldn't worry about being thought of as a "b****".)* Office politics. Everything you instinctively loathe about office politics is probably wrong. Ms. Foley tells you why the glass is not, in fact, half empty, but rather 3/4 full ... and rising. Trust me, her perspective will be an eye-opener for many. (Although I've seen these views implied before, I've never seen them addressed so unflinchingly dead-on.) Another gem is her succinct description of the unspoken rule changes when you start dealing with senior management. Even if you don't complete the rest of the book, make sure you read Chapter 6.* Defeat and quitting well. A telling bit of business advice I received many years ago was, "Everybody knows everybody." Ms. Foley succinctly describes the why and how of quitting well. You may end up working for a supplier ... or ... heh heh heh ... a client.Lastly, the author wants you to thrive in a world of constant change. Recognizing that the reader must choose the specifics of her own path, she does not offer false hope by providing a specific roadmap to "guarantee" success. Ms. Foley does, however, shine a light with her positive - and truthful - words.And that bright red exclamation point.

Many of the ideas in "bodacious" will sound familiar, since Mary Foley is advising women to be more assertive, strategic, competitive and political. It's the formula men have long used to get ahead, but Foley addresses her counsel directly to women, along with tips on how to overcome traditional ideals about acting feminine. Hardnosed or not, Foley writes in an engaging way, as she combines personal growth suggestions with examples from success stories, including her own. After a ten year career starting as a customer service rep, she became an AOL millionaire and retired. Now an author, speaker and personal coach, she dispenses advice in a catchy, casual style, which makes even familiar suggestions interesting. While some men may find it interesting to eavesdrop on these lists and reminders for women in the workplace, we from getAbstract recommend Foley's breezy career boost to women white collar and professional employees who are ready to pump up on pep talk.

Bodacious is a true "wake up call" for any woman who has put herself second especially in the work world. Through Mary's personal experiences, the reader has a multitude of opportunities to examine her choices and come to terms with what is and is not working in her life. Bodacious is written in small bites, with depth and humor, and is very compelling. I've already recommended it to several friends who are stuck in their own lives and who I believe can benefit from Mary's straight-forward insight. Every woman can be "Bodacious". It's all about choice!

This book (and author) simply ROCKS! Bodacious is awesome reading for the new college student ready to enter into the work force with their first job (in any field), any woman ready for a mid-life career change, to include any woman entertaining consulting (in any field) as their personal career choice. There are so many outstanding tips in this book ~ for any career (to include life) in this book ~ "BODACIOUS"!! A must for your list of things to read!! Then....pass it on to another Bodacious friend or family member! :)