Book Review: The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson - The Ultimate Manual for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom

Whether you currently have a business, or whether you are just entertaining the early glimmer of an idea that you want to see turned into a profitable business, The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson is a great place to start.

The book contains five parts, comprised of 21 different chapters, but don't let that intimidate you - Carrie writes in a way that is very engaging and supportive, not to mention thorough and very helpful.

Part One: The Myth Busters covers the myths of traditional jobs, retirements and similar issues, and shows you why you should own your own business.  It makes you face the fact that not everyone will support your decision to build your own dreams, and also shows you how to find the support you need.

Part Two: The Three Big Mistakes covers going after the wrong priorities (following someone else's dream, trying to do too much, and simply chasing opportunities that don't fit with your goals and dreams).  I personally think that this section is so important, it is worth re-reading.  Your priorities and the focus of your planned business are so important, and Carrie really provides great insight in helping readers to narrow in on the right things... if you let her!

Part Three: The Methods covers things like changing your mindset to one of success, taking action, finding a mentor, etc.  Carrie shows you the importance of truly believing you can achieve your dreams (but keeping them realistic), and not waiting forever to take action - get going and get the ball rolling.  She encourages you to set a deadline to get yourself motivated, and brings up finding peers to be accountable to while meeting your deadlines.  She also shows the importance of finding a good mentor who can help you learn from their actions and mistakes without having to make those same mistakes yourself.

Part Four: The Models In this section, Carrie covers the different types of businesses (service-based, expertise-based, knowledge-based, goods-based and referral-based), and eventually being able to develop multiple streams of income, once you have reached a strong income level with your main focus.

And Part Five: The Marketplace, this is where Carrie talks about where you find your target-audience (and the importance of understanding them, do they have disposable income, are they online, etc), and how to engage them.  She also discusses how to transform your ideas into income without becoming too overwhelmed.

If I had to choose one word to describe this book it would be "highly."  This is a highly organized book, it is highly positive, Carrie is highly engaging, and the information in it is highly helpful.

Be sure to check out The Barefoot Executive, Carrie Wilkerson will most likely save you frustrations, wasted time and wasted resources by helping you fully develop your ideas and come up with a strong plan to fulfill your dreams.


The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom  
 by Carrie Wilkerson
 Thomas Nelson ~ 256 pages
 Non-Fiction / Self-Help / Work From Home

Edition Reviewed: eBook - Review copy received courtesy of the publisher and Living Your Moment, many thanks to both the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

About the Book:

Don’t Think You Have What It Takes to Run a Business? It’s Time to Reconsider.

For the person who longs to run their business from home, author and highly successful entrepreneur Carrie Wilkerson says it is possible (she doesn't just say it though, she shows you how). In her new book, The Barefoot Executive, Carrie helps readers of all types understand the necessary ingredients in starting and running a lucrative home-based business. You’ll learn how to reclaim your time, determine your income, and change your lifestyle-all while keeping personal priorities intact.

Successful at running her own seven-figure business from home and being an active speaker on the subject, Carrie demonstrates business models with tables and charts in an easy-to-understand format. Chapters within the book include such subjects as finding a target markets, developing marketing strategies, and brand development. Especially important are the common pitfalls listed to avoid in starting a business from home.

The Barefoot Executive offers the opportunity to live life on your terms with the financial freedom to do it. Want to start your workday with e-mail and coffee on the back patio? Want the flexibility of joining your fourth grader on an all-day field trip? Are you ready to take that vacation you’ve been planning for years? Then you have a choice to make, and The Barefoot Executive will help jumpstart your transition.

You’ll learn:
Your “why.” The most important question. Why do you want to work for yourself?
What type of business best suits your experience and talents.
How to stay focused on your goal and avoid distractions.
Where to find the support that will accelerate your success.
How to link your business to the right market.

Whether it’s a service, a product, or your insight or expertise, you already have the raw materials necessary to transform your life. Carrie will walk you through the process of building the business you need to achieve the life you want. Her guidance is practical. No philosophical silliness, no theoretical abstractions—just concrete action steps alongside insights from fellow entrepreneurs, interactive exercises, and links to Carrie’s online video coaching segments. It’s the next best thing to working one-on-one with her. The Barefoot Executive will have you energized by the possibilities and embracing the extraordinary life that is well within your reach.

About the Author: (from the publisher's site)

From corporate life to teaching high school to sales, to information marketing, consulting, and even virtual service provider, Carrie Wilkerson has been there and done that professionally and personally. As “The Barefoot Executive,” she has quickly become the definitive resource for helping others achieve extra income and career goals while working from home and keeping their priorities intact. She is a mentor/coach/advisor to more than one hundred thousand men and women as The Barefoot Executive through videos, podcasts, masterminding, mentoring, and live speaking. Not only a business expert but also an expert in business, Carrie’s work-at home methods have inspired thousands and have earned many awards, online and off. Her passion is in teaching others to “Fill their Stadium” with fans so that marketing is easy and business is abundant. She lives in Texas, with her family.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Reveiw: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family: Includes So Many Innovative Strategies You Won't Have to Cut Coupons by Steve and Annette Economides

So, I couldn't cut my grocery bill in half, but I was able to save even more than I used to by adding a few extra tips I learned from this book to those I already knew.

If you already make a point to save money, you probably know a good portion of the tips and strategies in the book, but you will probably learn a few new tips too! 
But don't be afraid to pick up this book... You will likely find a few extra tips to help you save even more, and for those just starting to try to save money at the grocery store, you will learn (and save) a lot!


Even if you already clip coupons and shop sales, you can still find some great information in this book. For example. I have forever changed the way I shop for eggs after learning about repackaged eggs in the book. I've always wondered what happened to those cartons of eggs with broken or cracked eggs in them... well, the authors explain that the cartons are taken to the back and repackaged. In my local grocery store a dozen eggs ranges between $1.99 and 3.79 depending on the type of egg. After asking about the repackaged eggs and finding where they are, I found out that they are only $1.35, and they are typically large and jumbo eggs! So I open a few cartons, choose my favorites, and save a nice little bundle (we use lots of eggs each week, so it is a nice savings for us).  I think the savings from the eggs has more than covered the cost of the book!

Reading over the contents might help you see if this book might be for you!

Book Contents:
1. Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half (or More)
2. The Power of the Plan
3. Shopping to Win
4. Couponing - One of Many Ways to Save
5. Cooking That Will Save You Time, Money, and Sanity
6. Stocking Up and Organizing - Store It, Find It, Use It
7. Economizing Equipment - Powerful Money-Saving Tools
8. Family Dinnertime - Building A Stronger Family at the Table
9. Feeding Your Kids for Less
10. Where and How to Eat Out for Less
11. Gardening - Grow It Yourself and Be Healthy
12. Bag up the Savings
Bonus Materials



Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family: Includes So Many Innovative Strategies You Won't Have to Cut Coupons
by Steve and Annette Economides
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 28, 2010) ~ 272 pages
Non-Fiction / Personal Finance / General

Edition Reviewed: Paperback - Review copy received courtesy of the Amazon Vine Review Program

About the Book:

From the Publisher: America’s Cheapest Family shows readers how to save up to $3,000 annually on groceries with their proven strategies, tips, tools, and tricks.

The average American family spends 10 to 15 percent of its take-home pay on groceries. Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half gives them a sure-fire opportunity to reduce that number forever. With the proven plan in this book, the average family can save more than $3,000 a year on its grocery bill.

“Can cutting coupons do that?” a consumer might ask. Of course, these money-saving experts teach coupon-clipping strategies, but they don't stop there. Readers learn how to plan their shopping to save big bucks, effectively store food and save cash, identify products that save time and money, beat the grocer at pricing games, and more!

The Economides learned to deliver healthy, tasty food to their family of seven on $350 a month. In this authoritative manual, the average family can follow their lead and fill its grocery cart without emptying its wallet.

Excerpt:


About the Author: (from the publisher's site)

Steve and Annette Economides were married in 1982. Steve worked as a graphic designer for $6.50 per hour, while Annette stayed home to stretch pennies until they begged for mercy. In just nine years, on an average income of just $35,000, they paid-off their first home. They have also paid cash for cars, taken debt-free vacations, spent $350 per month to feed their family of seven, and put their kids through college without school loans.

They are NY Times Best Selling authors and are recognized internationally as family finance experts. They have appeared on many national TV shows including: Good Morning America, the Today Show, ABC's 20/20, Fox's Your Life with Neil Cavuto and the Dr. Phil Show. They are regularly quoted on radio, in newspapers and have been featured in magazines such as Good Housekeeping, People, and Real Simple as well as profiled on Yahoo.com and MSNBC.com.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate

Review: Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook by Lynne Tolley and Pat Mitchamore

Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook
by Lynne Tolley and Pat Mitchamore
Thomas Nelson ~ 192 pages
Non-Fiction / Cooking / General

Edition Reviewed: Paperback - Received courtesy of the publisher for review and participation in their blogger review program!
Perfect for : Personal Use, Gift, Great for Whiskey appreciator in your life
My Thoughts: Keeping the Spirit alive with down-home cooking and some wonderful people... not only does Jack Daniel's Spirit of Tennessee explore some wonderful recipes that include the classic whiskey, but Lynne Tolley and Pat Mitchamore also took time to explore the history and people that make up Tennessee itself (they even included lots of great photographs). The cookbook also includes some non-whiskey recipes that really represent the people and tastes of Tennessee.

One story I absolutely loved reading about was "Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House," which talked about Mary Bobo, who turned 100 in July of 1981, how her birthday was celebrated, and the boardinghouse she ran until she was 98 years old! [pages 29-31, complete with pictures] ** The boarding house is now used for dinners, and is ran by Lynne Tolley (author) ~ this cookbook includes some of the original recipes used by Mary Bobo, which are still used today **

Some of the recipes that sound divine and make me want to join in on hosting some good old Southern hospitality: Bride's Party Punch, Hot Southern Comfort Nog, Divine Fruit Dip, Pecan Chicken Salad (non-whiskey recipe), Southern Belle Fancy Potatoes (non-whiskey), Hushpuppies (heard so much about these over the years and I've never gotten to try them... until now!, non-whiskey), Black Label Sirloin Roast, Pit Barbecue (complete with instructions on how to make the pit, when to do things, recipe, etc), Jack Daniel's Rib Glaze, Truffles (chocolate), Jack Daniel's Chocolate Velvet Cake, Eggnog Pie

Content: From the Contents ~ Drinks, Appetizers, Soups & Salads, Vegetables, Breads, Entrees, Outdoor Cooking, Desserts, Cakes & Pies, Accompaniments, and the Index
Format: Cleverly mixing the history of Tennessee throughout the different sections of the cookbook make it more personal and give it more depth.
Readability: Fun and easy to read/follow recipes
Overall: This cookbook is a great addition to any kitchen, and would be a great gift for any whiskey fan... add to that the fact that these recipes would be great for entertaining and for everyday cooking!

About the Book:

From the Publisher: The rich tradition of country cooking, the distinctive taste of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, and the heritage of rural America are all elegantly captured in Jack Daniel's The Spirit of Tennessee Cookbook. Included are more than 350 recipes, stunning full-color photographs, and stories of the people, places, and traditions of Middle Tennessee. Illustrated and indexed.

About the Author: (From the publisher)

Lynne Tolley, the great-grandniece of Jack Daniel, is the proprietress of Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House restaurant in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Lynne travels extensively as a talk show guest, sharing traditional southern recipes.

Pat Mitchamore is a writer, public speaker, seminar leader, and travel consultant. She is also executive director and producer of the Mr. Jack Daniel's Original Silver Cornet Band.

This book was reviewed as part of the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program.

Review: Read and Share Bible by Gwen Ellis

Read and Share Bible: Over 200 Best Loved Bible Stories Retold by Gwen Ellis, Illustrated by Steve Smallman
Thomas Nelson (April 3, 2007) ~ 440 pagesNon-Fiction / Bible / Children's / Religion / Picture Book

Edition Reviewed / Special Thanks: Hardback - Received courtesy of the Amazon Vine review program!



Perfect for : Personal Use, Kids, Sunday School

In a nutshell: This Read and Share Bible is a wonderful addition to any child's bookshelf! The stories have been retold by Gwen Ellis in a way that makes them easy for kids to understand, and the pictures by Steve Smallman are simply wonderful, bringing the stories to life in a friendly and cheerful way.

It has taken me quite a while to find a book that meets the qualities I was looking for- easy to share stories from the Bible with plenty of pictures! After all - this IS a children's book, and kids love colorful pictures and words they can understand.

The suggested reading level for this book is ages 4-8, but I encourage parents to sit down with children younger than that - those who are interested in picture books would love these stories. They will enjoy the pictures as you read them the stories.

Extended Review:
Content/Format: The book contains more than 200 stories from the Bible, with big and colorful illustrations on each page. It even has a page of tips for parents (while telling the story, make the lion ROAR!). The book has been organized following the stories in the Bible and is broken into the Old Testament and the New Testament. Each of the Bible stories has a descriptive title, the scripture it is based on, a short story, colorful illustrations (From page 294,"A Baby Named John" Luke 1:57-66), and ends with a little comment or question at the end for discussion.

Readability: Very easy to read, understand and talk about with children.

Overall: I absolutely love this Bible story book! Gwen Ellis and Steve Smallman have done an absolutely beautiful job of choosing and illustrating stories in a way that makes them fun to read as a whole family!

From the publisher:
It is big and bright with lots of page-turning learning about the Word of God.

The Read and Share Bible is unique in its format and solid in Bible teaching. Packed with 200 stories that are simple re-tellings, the gigantic message of God's love and care is sure to win the hearts of little ones and give them a strong Bible foundation to guide their lives. With over 400 pieces of art, this Bible Storybook is highly interactive as it encourages Scripture Memory and reinforces comprehension with quick activities for you and your children.

Stories include Noah, David, Joseph, Abraham, Paul, and Christ as well as many other timeless Biblical characters and lessons.

About the Author:
Gwen Ellis… (from her website)

is a writer, editor, speaker, and consultant who established her own company, Seaside Creative Services, Inc., five years ago in Southern California. Gwen has been a professional in the publishing industry for 27 years.

Some people say Gwen has experienced just about everything that can happen in a woman’s life. She battled ovarian cancer, lost premature twin daughters at birth, lived as a single-again for many years, and she also knows the pain of losing one parent to cancer and the other to Alzheimer’s Disease.

But life hasn’t all been tough stuff. In fact, Gwen sees life as an awesome adventure.

Steve Smallman. . . (from his contact website)

I started working as an illustrator when I was in my final year at Art College and now, over 28 years later I still haven't got a proper job! I've illustrated literally hundreds of books, predominantly in educational publishing. A few years ago I was main illustrator for Longman's 'Story Street' reading scheme, illustrating 79 titles and writing 5.

I've worked in children's television, specifically in character development and most notably in the 'Raggy Doll' series in the mid to late 1980's. I have also done a certain amount of licensed work, illustrating characters such as Postman Pat, Bill and Ben and Sesame Street.

I've been described as an 'Animal Artist', not I hasten to add because I'm wild and hairy but because I love to draw animals and especially like to give them human characteristics.

I've been writing children's books for about 6 years and have already had several picture books published with more in development.

I've got 4 great children and although they're all adults now, my memories of them growing up inspire and inform my writing.

[Edited to remove some information]

And if that isn't enough, I also paint murals in schools, either on my own or working with groups of children and I take inset training sessions for teachers in drawing. Anything except get a proper job!


If you have reviewed this book and would like me to add a link to your review, please include a link in your comment!