Episode 180: A Book of Her Own (re-release)

“If you’ve got a business [book] market that is primarily male, then it’s commercial suicide to put out a book on a topic by a woman when you could put one out by a bloke.”

— Alison Jones

Some of the business books on my shelf

Scan the business section of any bookstore and you'll see reams of books written by men, far fewer by women. In this show we talk about women as writers and readers of business books. Is it imposter syndrome, fear, or lack of time that stops women from putting fingers to keyboard? Is Lean In a business book or a self-help book? And why are female authors less likely to embrace a publicity blitz when their book is published?

alison jones

My guest is Alison Jones, owner of Practical Inspiration Publishing, host of the Extraordinary Business Book Club podcast and author of This Book Means Business.

You can also read a transcript of the show, which originally aired in 2018.

Episode 179: Sixtyish and Loving It: Perseverance and the Midlife Career Change

“People say, wouldn’t you like to be 30 again or 40? You know, I’m loving being this age...it’s a stage of our lives that can be just as rewarding and achieving as every other stage, if you put your mind to it.”

— Heather McGregor

Professor Heather Mcgregor

In the last couple of episodes we discussed the transitions working couples go through during their lives. In this show we re-meet a former guest who’s half of one such couple. Heather McGregor embraced a big career change at 55, going from entrepreneur to academic dean running Edinburgh Business School. She’s continuing a stage where she's switched from supportive partner to family breadwinner.

This transition involved a big move and, initially, living apart from her spouse and son. It hasn’t always been easy, but, she says - like staying married - it’s been worth it.

Heather has always had an eye on the future, planning for what might come next. She believes it's never too late for a career change, as long as you prepare ahead of time.

You can also read a transcript of the show.

Heather is the author of several books, among them Mrs. Moneypenny’s Career Advice for Ambitious Women.

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For many years Heather wrote a column for the Financial Times as Mrs. Moneypenny. I first approached her for an interview in 2012. She’s appeared in these past episodes.

I realized after I put this list together that the last time she and I spoke was actually in 2015, not 2016 as I said in the podcast.

Episode 4: Getting Ahead

Episode 11: Women of a Certain Age

Episode 18: The Power of Image

Episode 26: Get Ahead. No Guilt.

Episode 147: Forced Out