The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss & Achieving Financial Freedom

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The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss & Achieving Financial Freedom

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 108 ratings · 30 reviews

Carrie Wilkerson offers the opportunity to live life on your terms. 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 jump-start your transi...more Carrie Wilkerson offers the opportunity to live life on your terms. 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 jump-start 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.
DISCOVER what you already have to offer, how to use it to your advantage, and where to find the people who are eager to buy it. "The Barefoot Executive" will pull you over the hurdle of uncertainty and get you moving, planning, "doing."

What Others Are Saying:

"Carrie Wilkerson has done a great job with this book, and she's personally helped me make tons of money with my business. I highly recommend this book!" - Chris Brogan, president, Human Business Works, and publisher of chrisbrogan.com

"There has never been a better time to turn your passions into income. But just having an idea doesn't mean you're ready to order business cards just yet. Carrie Wilkerson's "The Barefoot Executive" walks you through the process of developing your idea, finding your audience, and setting yourself up for a lifetime of success doing the work you love for the hardest boss you'll ever have... yourself!" - Dave Ramsey, host of The Dave Ramsey Show and best-selling author of "The Total Money Makeover"

"""One of the best ways to achieve success is to learn from someone who has already done it. If you are looking to build a viable, sustainable, and lucrative business from home- or anywhere else- Carrie Wilkerson is your example, and her new book will show you the way." - Tim Sanders, author of "Today We Are Rich" and former CSO at Yahoo!

"A lot of books can fire up an entrepreneur. But a lot of those books leave readers high and dry when it comes to practical application. Enthusiasm isn't enough. You need a plan and the tools to build with. Carrie Wilkerson's guidance provides just that. Combine that with her enthusiasm, warmth, and core values, and you have someone very real to learn from. As my dad says, 'a great book needs to cover the Why and the How.' This is a great book. I know that when Carrie advises Ziglar, Inc. on marketing ideas, we get results." - Tom Ziglar, CEO and proud son of Zig Ziglar

"Packed with real-world case studies, action items, business models and links to free coaching videos, "The Barefoot Executive" isn't just a book, it's a multimedia road map that takes you by the hand and walks you down the road to earning a living on your terms and reclaiming ownership of your life." - Jonathan Fields, author of "Career Renegade"

"If you're dreaming of building a business on your terms, then you'll absolutely love Carrie Wilkerson." - Tory Johnson, CEO, Women For Hire and "New York Times" best-selling author(less)

Hardcover, 228 pages

Published August 23rd 2011 by Thomas Nelson Publishers

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Apr 13, 2013 Farnoosh Brock rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: business-spirit

I loved The Barefoot Executive. I absolutely LOVE Carrie's style. I am So glad I saw her tweet on how her book was $2.99 on the Nook store, and for some reason, I just clicked through and bought it.

Something about her just intrigues me. She has been extremely responsive on Twitter to all my tweets, and I just met her.

As for the book, I read it on my Kindle and it was hard to put it down as another reviewer said. She was right there, it felt like, coaching me, talking to me, and being very bossy...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Nicole Elliott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

I am a proud barefoot executive. After my first child was born I found myself growing tired of spending hours of my day perusing Facebook, watching Sesame Street, and going through the motions. Now, don't get me wrong! First and for most I am a wife and a mommy, and I love love LOVE both of these things! In fact it was my love of these things that had me determine to be a stay at home mom. I found myself wanting more though, I knew that with my skills and with all that is available to me today w...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Theresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review cross-posted on my blog
In the Barefoot Executive, Carrie Wilkerson gives the reader practical business advice, from her own personal experience. She presents real applications and practical techniques using interactive, thought-provoking questions and exercises throughout, it’s like having your own personal coaching session on-demand, in book format. She takes the reader through the process of starting their own business, from investigating their options and skill sets all the way to crea...more Review cross-posted on my blog
In the Barefoot Executive, Carrie Wilkerson gives the reader practical business advice, from her own personal experience. She presents real applications and practical techniques using interactive, thought-provoking questions and exercises throughout, it’s like having your own personal coaching session on-demand, in book format. She takes the reader through the process of starting their own business, from investigating their options and skill sets all the way to creating their own financial and work life freedom, based on what that looks like to them, not what it looks like to everyone else.

Beginning with their motives for starting a business, she asks the hard questions and encourages the aspiring entrepreneur to take a look at why they want to start a business. Helping the reader to break through to the deepest reasons, moving them past the superficial reason of “to make money” – encouraging them to be very specific in their “why”. She helps them map out their own personal plan, one that fits their motives, encompasses their options, skill set, personal interests, abilities and unique offerings.

This book is not only for those wanting to start a business, it’s also inspirational for those already in business for themselves. It’s full of practical advice and techniques designed to help those with an established business to develop other streams of income. No matter where you are in your own business you’re sure to find plenty of inspiration to build new income streams and ideas to strengthen your established endeavors.

Sprinkled throughout the book you’ll find “Barefoot Action Steps” which contain a web address for a supplemental video to watch and then a brief action step to take. These are designed to encourage, educate and make you think. You will also read many “Barefoot Case Studies” throughout the book, these are case studies of her friends, colleagues and clients that have their own businesses and they share their stories with the reader. These are meant to inspire, encourage and stimulate thought.

The book lays out the business process from idea to income, and gives tips and advice on how to implement each step of the process. This is a step by step process you can do today to help you define and set clear business goals. This is not a cookie-cutter business model, nor is it a get rich quick scheme – this book is designed to help you personalize your business model specifically for you and your business.

The author encourages the reader to use the book to their advantage, suggesting that they read the Introduction and then return to the Table of Contents to decide what to read first, based on where you are in your business process and where you want to begin or focus. She gives you TONS of food for thought and generates an avalanche of questions you should be asking yourself about your business. You then take all your answers and work out your own personalized business model.

Normally when I read a book for review purposes, I read for content. This usually entails much skimming of the material, looking for the main points, because I am on a deadline. With this book, I just couldn’t do that. There is so much practical, useful information on nearly every page of this book, I was continually drawn in deeper. I took 7 pages of notes while reading this book. SEVEN!!! I found myself wishing I had requested a hard copy, instead of the e-book version. It would have made it so much easier for me to put sticky notes and flags on all the pages and passages I found information useful to me and my business. I am so impressed and inspired by all that this book has to offer, I plan to go out and buy a hard copy. This is one book I know I’ll return to again and again.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Living Your Moment. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Jan 31, 2012 penny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-nypl, business

I was pleasantly surprised. There are lots you can gloss over but there are nuggets that stopped me short and made me rethink my mindset. It isn't syrupy, it isn't all "look-at-me! I make X million a day and I suckered you into buying (or library borrowing) and taking the time (aka $) to read it and there isn't much in it". There is much in it. While the book isn't perfect (something about it is tugging at me but I'm not yet able to define what), it can appeal to a range of individuals, no matte...more

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Mar 12, 2012 F. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am a big believer that you can always learn. And you should always be learning. So, when I was sent a copy of The Barefoot Executive: The ULTIMATE MANUAL For Being Your Own Boss & Achieving Financial Freedom to review, I was excited to start reading it because I can always learn from one of my main topics that I blog about and podcast about: business.

Business is such a broad topic that you can write tons about it from all sorts of views and perspectives. Author Carrie Wilkerson, founder/ow...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Mark Modesti rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm halfway through and if I read anymore and she's done such a good job of kicking me in the but (not butt) that I cant read anymore until I do something! Somehow I think this is just what she had in mind...

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Aug 09, 2012 David rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: business

I first heard about Carrie through two of my heroes, Dan Miller's 48 Days podcast and Dave Ramsey's podcast. I knew she was a very successful businesswoman and I was excited to see she published a book.

The first part of this book was not what I expected. She shared a bit about her story, but instead of digging deeper into the details, she often repeated the same high level accomplishments. Those are great, but I really wanted her to share how she did those life changes. Not too much detail, but...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Jonquil rated it 2 of 5 stars

Some good ideas and motivational passages buried by too much repetition; I got tired of hearing about weight loss and paying off huge debt and spending time with children. The author should have enough anecdotes from her long, successful career as a coach to make her points with a new story each time rather than repeatedly citing her 100 pound weight loss. I understand the premise that our personal challenges, victories and experience are logical jumping off points for starting a business but th...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Alain Burrese rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed “The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom” by Carrie Wilkerson. It's an inspiring and motivating read that encourages the reader to be their own boss and achieve financial freedom by growing their own business. There are some good lessons here, but mostly it is a book that opens the reader's eyes to possibilities and points them toward greater achievement if they believe and take action on those possibilities.

The book is divided...more I enjoyed “The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom” by Carrie Wilkerson. It's an inspiring and motivating read that encourages the reader to be their own boss and achieve financial freedom by growing their own business. There are some good lessons here, but mostly it is a book that opens the reader's eyes to possibilities and points them toward greater achievement if they believe and take action on those possibilities.

The book is divided into five main parts. The first, The Myth Breakers, contains chapters that focus on ideas such as job security and retirement being fairy tales, and why you must own your own business to truly become financially successful. The second part has three chapters on what Wilkerson calls The Three Big Mistakes. These are chasing someone else's dream, chasing too many rabbits, and chasing dollars. Both of these parts will motivate you to become your own boss and chase your own dreams.

Part three, The Methods, provides chapters that provide ideas on the mindset and resources needed to create your own business to pursue. These include the mindset of success, taking massive action, masterminding, finding a mentor, and doing your research. The fourth part, The Models, contains different business models for you to choose from to create your business. These are service based, expertise based, knowledge based, good based, referral based, and finally multiple streams of income once you have at least one firmly planted.

The final and fifth part of the book, The Marketplace, contains five chapters on finding a place to sell what you decide to sell as your business. These are who wants what you have, ideas to income, where will they find you, building your audience, and where will you find them.

Again, the book is very motivating and inspiring. The author also included links to short on-line videos to reinforce some of her messages. (The ones I watched were the same message as in the book, but you get to see her live telling it.)

The book doesn't contain the nitty gritty down in the trenches steps a person will have to take to start a business and build it to a success. But rather, gives a broad overview of the possibilities and provides encouragement and guidance as to what general directions a person may take, and things to include along the way.

Again, I enjoyed the book and feel Wilkerson shared some good advice for the would be self-employed business owner to think about and act upon. If you've been thinking of starting out on your own to pursue your dreams, The Barefoot Executive just might give you the shot of motivation you need to get started.(less)

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May 30, 2012 Cheryl C. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Barefoot Executive isn't a how-to book that takes you step-by-step through how to start your own business. Instead, it is a book that motivates and encourages your dreams. You'll discover how to take skills you already have, determine what business model you're interested in, and how to be successful in the marketplace. Even in crowded markets you can be successful because you are unique and offer your own unique perspective. You can provide the answers to the questions people are asking.

Wi...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Carol Harlow rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I find the first chapter really meaningful in being successful in starting your own business. There are several inspiring quotes to be found in this book such as:

"Winners compare their achievements with their goals, while losers compare their achievements with those of other people.
—Nido Qubein"

I think we tend to forget that we shouldn't compare ourself with others. You may find that others are achieving success easily, but the important thing is not to use that as an excuse, but as a push to mo...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Kerri rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book helped me start thinking about what I can do with my business. There were many times when I felt the author was speaking directly to me. Stop making excuses about why you can't. Start solving those problems. Do massive action until completion. Hire people to help whether it be hire a bookkeeper or a housekeeper so that you can focus on the business. Find a mentor even if you have to pay someone.

Was the book exactly related to where I am in business? No. It was more geared towards encou...more

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May 11, 2011 Melissa Reinke rated it 5 of 5 stars

I proofed this book for the publisher and found it so interesting that I'm actually planning on buying it when it comes out. Carrie Wilkerson is an inspiring writer, giving tips and tricks that will last me for years to come. The Barefoot Executive is a book I plan on referencing time and again as I focus on beefing up my freelance work. Cheers to independent living!

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Dec 15, 2011 ConnieK rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: business-development

Where is the 10 star option?! The best business development book I have ever read - and I read a lot. Chock full of ideas and inspirations that I will come back to over and over. A must read for any entrepreneur (wanna-be or already established).

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Jul 18, 2012 Heather Littler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read this book if you want motivation to start a home business! It won't tell you exactly how to do like some business guides do but if you have been thinking of starting a business and you need to be convinced, read it. You won't be sorry!

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Mar 12, 2013 Dougmolineux rated it 1 of 5 stars

Full of useless information that really skirts around the meat of the matter. Don't bother. Probably made the idea of working from home for me less appealing.

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Aug 29, 2011 Shannah marked it as to-read

I am wondering if this book would be worth adding to the list of an entrepreneur's book club for reading in the upcoming year...

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Jul 29, 2012 Teri Temme rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read this book if you are thinking about being your own boss. Very good instruction and examples. Thank you Carrie!

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Jul 25, 2012 Diana rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that this book was pretty good. Great beginner's guide to starting your own home-based business!

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May 31, 2013 Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book to inspire those who think that they are ordinary that they can do the extraordinary.

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Oct 28, 2011 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found it motivational, I really enjoyed the bonus info I got in addition to the book.

Great for newbies or those needing to refoucus.

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Jan 14, 2013 Laurie Wilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fantastic book!

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Aug 20, 2012 Clare rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: self-improvement

outstanding book

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Jan 06, 2013 Carrie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Excellent read

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Mar 02, 2012 Cory rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, not-fiction, in-my-nook

This is a great book. I've never read books of this type before, so I have nothing to compare to... but there is a ton of practical, useful information here. Very down to earth and very readable.

If you're looking to start a business from home, start here.

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Jun 29, 2012 Bobbi Dust rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It wasn't what I expected. The business lessons were minimal, instead there was a lot of name dropping and motivational speaking. The videos throughout the book repeat what was written.

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Jul 22, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, business

Loved this book and the straightforward advice about starting your own income streams.

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Jun 14, 2012 Curtis rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

minimal amount of good advice interlaced with an abundance of motivational drivel.

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Nov 07, 2012 Kathy Warren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pretty good. It was interesting and some great idea.

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Jul 28, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

AMAZING!!!

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