Book review: Escape from Cubicle Nation

By on May 1st, 2009 In Weekend Reading

You probably know Pamela Slim from her popular blog, www.escapefromcubiclenation.com.   I’m a big fan of hers because she offers candid but friendly advice about how to make the leap from corporate to entrepreneur.   The blog is personal, reflective, and practical, an extension of her brand (I saw her speak at an enterpreneurship conference in Phoenix a couple of years ago, and she was just as candid and friendly in person).

She has parlayed her blog, brand and experience into an amazing book, “Escape From Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur.”   You’ll be spellbound from the very first page, trust me. In in the foreword, Guy Kawasaki promises that “the book will help you make a good decision about whether to shut up and suck up your current cubicle or strike out on your own. Think of it as a good hard reality check.”

There are four major sections to the book, which addresses every concern and aspect a potential entrepreneur can think of:

1.  Opening up to the opportunities – how to make peace with the fact that even with a steady paycheck, title, and benefits you are still miserable

2.  The reality of entrepreneurship – how to choose a good business idea, downshift, define your brand and test prototypes

3.  Make the money work – look your finances in the eye and know how to shop for benefits

4.  Making the leap - how to deal with friends and family, how to know when to make the leap

There are a lot of books in the entrepreneurship category, which as publishers know proves it’s a viable market. What makes this book so much better than the rest is Pamela herself. Her background as both entrepreneur and life coach put her in contact with hundreds of clients over the years, from which she developed a framework and process to enable her clients to make the leap successfully. And when she discovered from all those conversations is that the major factor keeping people from what moving forward is not lack of information but fear.  Her book is the synthesis of all of those conversations, enhanced with periodic exercises to help the reader clarify his or her goals and break down the fear.

If you want to be your own boss yet have no idea what you are passionate about,  turn to chapter 4 where she walks you through that process – “find out what makes you purr.”   All you public relations professionals out there who are slaving away for unreasonable bosses — this is your ticket to freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of peaceful Monday mornings.

There are a lot of aspects of entrepreneurship below the tip of the iceberg that wannabees don’t often realize. Pamela has witnessed them firsthand and points them out for you, whether it’s figuring out how to find the best health insurance, managing your cash flow, setting competitive prices, obtaining a license to do business, or setting up your corporation or LLC. 

The hardcover book is published by Penguin/Porfolio and is priced at $25.95.  It’s available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders, and is also available on the Kindle.   Read more about the book here.  And read about this great Arizona author here. 

With Pamela as a shining jewel of Arizona non-fiction, and Stephenie Meyer a jewel of fiction with Twilight,  I think we can put to rest any questions about whether Arizona is a writer’s mecca.   Two completely different writing styles:  one great state.

Comments

The book is here! | Escape From Cubicle Nation Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 9:21 am

[...] Read Linda’s review here. [...]

francine hardaway Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 9:26 am

Yes, I’m a big Pam Slim fan. Not only does she walk her talk, but her writing is totally authentic and collaborative. She’s a community builder. And when you also crank in the fact that she did this while having two babies, you realize how truly awesome she is.

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