Sharpen Your Heels
by Mrs Moneypenny with Heather McGregor
Portfolio/Penguin
Ladies, you can't have it all.
At least, this is the message that Heather McGregor, aka Mrs Moneypenny, wants multi-tasking mothers and career women to take from her book. She debunks the myth of the 'superwoman' who simultaneously excels in all areas of her life, and says 'work-life balance' is nonsense.
Instead, we need to learn to set priorities (for example, the parent-teacher meeting vs that CEO conference), delegate and above all, not apologise for the life choices we make. The problem is, she explains, women - unlike men - are programmed to think about others. As little girls, they learn to please and seek the approval of others.
McGregor, 50, is a London-based columnist for the Financial Times, an entrepreneur and mother to children who she refers to fondly as her three 'cost centres'. Her career advice for women ranges from the obvious and generic - qualifications and experience do matter, as does whom you know - to some more relevant nuggets for today's career woman, such as how to manage your online reputation.
There are also tips on how to network without using social media, gatecrash VIP events, and an easy recipe for creating a powerful circle of girlfriends.