book cover with the workds play like a man win like a woman what men know about success that women need to learn Gail Evans

Play Like A Man Win Like A Woman

Before Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook, there was Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman: What Men Know About Success that Women Need to Learn by Gail Evans; CNN’s first female executive vice president.

I was introduced to this book back in 2009 at a time when I was at a cross roads with my career. Not everything that happens in the workplace is fair but getting sage advice on how to get beyond it is especially helpful.

By laying out the object of the game called business and the rules of the game, the author sets out to assist women become more successful in the workplace.

The book reaffirmed things that I was already doing right and things I was definitely doing wrong or not doing at all. Thankfully it offered up great advice and solutions on how to address and handle going forward. With so many great tips that help, it’s no wonder my copy of the book has flags and highlights throughout.

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Two examples of parts of the book that I identified with included:

  1. Addressing the issue of being passive in  “Ground Rule 1 of 4: You are who you say you are”
  2. “Rules of success 4 of 6: Toot Your Own Horn”

I can’t tell you the many times I didn’t step up to claim my rightful recognition only to have someone else claim it as their own and I quietly complain about it. Part of me felt it’s being boastful a feeling deeply rooted in my childhood and how we were raised to be seen and not heard.

Even if you disagree with aspects of the book, the reasoning behind the suggestions are anchored in experience and offers up some of the best career advice for women.

In no way is the author advocating to be anything than to “Be a Woman” and to “Be yourself” which are the final two rules in the book.

From end to end Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman: What Men Know About Success that Women Need to Learn offered up straight no nonsense insights that will benefit any woman. It’s the kind of book that every now and then you pick up just to refresh the info because it offers the best career advice for women.

My suggestion is to read the book and then take what resonates and carry on. After you’ve read the book, I’d love to hear your take on it.

Kerry-Ann

Kerry-Ann Reid-Brown is Founder & host of Carry On Friends one of the first podcasts dedicated to the Caribbean American Experience. She is leading the way for Caribbean Podcast as the founder of Breadfruit Media, the first Caribbean podcast production company; and founder of the Caribbean Podcast Directory a place to discover podcasts by people of Caribbean Heritage.