Book

Briefcase Essentials: Discover your 12 Natural Talents for Achieving Success in a Male-Dominated Workplace

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Briefcase Essentials takes the Silver in the ‘Women In Business’ category of winners awarded by Axiom Business Book Awards and featured in Independent Publisher Magazine.

Here’s what others have said about Briefcase Essentials.

“A must-read for women in business–and for men looking for the tools to succeed as well. Susan Spencer shares her hard won wisdom on how to make it to the top, and keep a smile on everyone’s face while doing so.”
– David Levien, Author of CITY OF THE SUN, WHERE THE DEAD LAY, and THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLAR POP

Whitney Lewis, Assistant Editor of Women’s Online Media and Education Network has reviewed Briefcase Essentials and posted her review here. You can also view Briefcase Essentials on the home page of www.WomensRadio.com under the book tab.

“In a witty, conversational series of twelve lessons, Susan teaches us how to learn from our mistakes so we can be more successful the next time. If you are a woman in business, the biggest mistake you can make is to not read this book. It’s an empowering must-read for entrepreneurs.”
—Ellen Fisher, Publisher, Women’s Yellow Pages

“Want to shatter the glass ceiling? Briefcase Essentials might just be the hammer you need. Women in the United States start businesses at a faster rate than men do, and as someone who covers entrepreneurs for a living, I always like to see books that provide them with the tools they need to succeed. Susan devotes a chapter to ‘bandwagon men’; consider me one of them.”
—Rod Kurtz, Executive Editor, AOL Small Business

“Briefcase Essentials flies across the pages with intelligence, honesty, and sincerity. The essential points made for women in business are all true and perceptively expressed through Susan Spencer’s dramatic stories. I identified with every one of the key insights, and even found myself highlighting huge portions of the text because the words were all so meaningful.”
—Sherrie Savett, named by Lawdragon in 2008 as one of the top 500 lawyers in the United States, Managing Principal and Chair of the Securities Litigation department of Berger & Montague, PC

“This book presents a blueprint for capable women to follow with its mixture of practical advice and insight into the ways in which women function differently in the working world. As the father of two young women entering the workforce, I welcome any tools that allow them to compete successfully in their chosen careers.”
—L. Hamilton Clark Jr., headmaster of the Episcopal Academy, Philadelphia.

“I’ve been focusing on women’s leadership strengths for fifteen years. Susan Spencer’s analysis is simply the best I’ve found. And that’s before taking into account the fact that she was GM of an NFL team—and if you can deal with that . . .”
—Tom Peters, author of In Search of Excellence, Leadership, and many other bestselling business books

“Susan Spencer’s unique career path gives her insight into the worlds of business and leadership that she expertly shares in Briefcase Essentials. This book should have a permanent place on every businesswoman’s bookshelf.”
—Susan Gunelius, author of 30-Minute Social Media Marketing and Blogging All-in-One for Dummies, owner of WomenOnBusiness.com, and President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc.

“Women executives at every stage of their career will discover many highly effective tools & strategies for success in business in Briefcase Essentials. I have utilized almost all of Susan Spencer’s recommended tools in my forty-five years of building a highly successful weight-management business.”
—Marilyn Price Birnhak, Founder & President, Weight Watchers® of Philadelphia, Inc.

“I’ve spent over twenty years in the oldest boys club there is: Wall Street. Susan Spencer’s book gives you the keys to not only unlocking the old boys network but also competing and getting ahead just like she did in the NFL and beyond.”
—Richard Reyle, Senior partner & Senior Vice President of a wealth management team at Merrill Lynch

“An interesting account of one woman’s journey to business success in a man’s world. Susan T. Spencer clearly explains how a woman’s basic instincts and multitasking abilities can be utilized in the competitive world of business. An easy read well worth the time.”
—Lorraine Hunt Bono, former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada

“Just got my signed copy of your book. Thank you very much. I thought I’d read a page or two of your tome to kind of get the flavor, and found myself reading all the way to page 41 before I had to put it down to do other things. I AM at work, after all. Anyway, it’s a great read. You are a savvy communicator with a very worthwhile message.”
—Bruce T. Jensen, President/CEO, Town & Country Bank, St. George, Utah

“Susan Spencer’s book Briefcase Essentials gets what too many business books miss: Women have innate talents and abilities that can give them an edge in the business world. Spencer uses her expert storytelling skills to show entrepreneurs how they can use her twelve business essentials to achieve the success they dream of. This book is a must-read for all women business owners!”
—Barbara Corcoran, Founder, The Corcoran Group

“If you think every woman going into business should read Briefcase Essentials, you are smart. If you think any woman currently in the business world should definitely read the book, you are not only smart—you’re intelligent. If you think that any man, whether in business or not, should treat this book as required reading, you’re not only intelligent, you’re brilliant. Briefcase Essentials is the clearest guide to how intelligent women think I have ever read. Every man should read it.”
—Thom Mayer, MD, Founder & Chairman of the Board, Best Practices, Inc., and Medical Director, NFL Players Association

“As an entrepreneur in the male-dominated field of aviation, I could identify and understand so well the material Susan presented. Her vision in Briefcase Essentials reframes the gender debate. She encourages women to embrace their female attributes . . . that are often berated by men in business. This is a powerful book about the strengths women possess and not putting those strengths aside to do a ‘man’s job.’ It celebrates working women and how their unique contributions to the workplace empower them to become leaders.”
—Ann D. McGee, President, Miracle Flights for Kids

Read the book summary below or read the first chapter for free.

Read the information contained on the jacket of Briefcase Essentials for comments and messages highlighted by the author.

Read a Q&A with Susan T. Spencer from PhillyMag.com »

Women will want to buy this book to learn how to deal with men in business instead of trying to act like them. Men will want to buy this book to get the author’s firsthand impression of the ultimate question: “Do I measure up to a locker room full of naked football players?”

As a lawyer and VP and acting GM of the Philadelphia Eagles, and then, for the next twenty years, carving out another career “in beef” as the owner of several meat processing plants, Susan T. Spencer is one of a kind, and she brings a fresh perspective for women in business. Visit the photo gallery to see Susan at work.

“I’ve been focusing on women’s leadership strengths for fifteen years. Susan Spencer’s analysis is simply the best I’ve found. And that’s before taking into account the fact that she was GM of an NFL team—and if you can deal with that…”

- Tom Peters, author of Leadership and many other bestselling business books

Susan’s stories and examples are authentic and her advice for women who work in Business, or own a company, or are thinking about starting a business is direct (“be honest with others, and above all, be honest with yourself”), practical (“women need to identify female-phobic men and find a way around them . . . because they will never change!”), pioneering (“hire diverse individuals to create a unique mix of personalities among employees, which invigorates a business”), and barrier breaking (“Don’t be afraid to let men surprise you; you never know who is going to turn out to be your ally”).

This exciting saga and energizing guide roots for women to succeed and urges them to use Susan’s proven approach to tackle business issues and situations by relying on their innate talents (explained and highlighted as twelve “Briefcase Essentials”). Specifically, female readers of Briefcase Essentials will learn

• How women’s ability to be flexible and adaptable in business helps them solve problems and handle workplace issues.
• How women’s ability to engage people and put them first leads to business success.
• How and when a woman should stand her ground to achieve positive results and gain credibility.
• How women’s intuition (“listening to your gut”) helps them make important decisions.
• How women’s perceptive communication drives sales and helps a company grow.
• How “bandwagon men” help women finance their businesses and support their growth.