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The Balance Myth: Rethinking Work-Life Success
Shatter the work-life balance myth by creating one life and one family Tired of trying to attain the mythical work-life balance and constantly feeling frustrated? Are you giving yourself a C for your performances at work and at home? Teresa A. Taylor knows that trying to be a career woman and a mom can leave you feeling tired and defeated, and she wants you to take a new approach. She herself rapidly ascended through the ranks to become COO of a Fortune 200 company while raising two boys with her working husband, and in The Balance Myth , she shows you how you can do it too. Taylor takes you along to a meeting in the White House, to union negotiations, and to her sons' soccer practices as she shares her candid, humorous, and heartfelt stories. Based on these real-life experiences and the lessons she learned from them, she shares the key to living with multiple responsibilities: integrating--not bifurcating--your personal and professional worlds. In addition, she offers insights about leading with integrity; surrounding yourself with positive resources; pushing through adversity; and celebrating accomplishments--especially your own. Taylor couldn't take the mother out of the career woman or vice versa, and she believes that you shouldn't have to either. Don't search for balance; the answers are within you!
232 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 4, 2013
Not very good. Does not provide much insight or anything new to the conversation on the work life balance myth. Feels like more like an opportunity for her to tell the stories of her professional career
April 9, 2014
The biggest message in this book which no working mother needs to read this book to find out is that there isn't a 'balance'. Many personal sacrifices are made in order to work. Teresa was successful not because she found a balance, but because she worked very, very hard. Reading this book, there wasn't much mention of the personal life, but many sad stories of how much she gave up to be 'successful'. Hard choices that not every parent (men and women) would want to take.
May 23, 2019
Best moment: when she listed "girlfriend of popular boy in school" as one of her high school honors
March 13, 2019
Not What I Expected
My first reaction to the title was that this would be some sort of Workplace Therapy book or Handbook. After all, the title states "rethinking." To me this book is a thinly disguised memoir of a successful woman who made it big. Her insights aren't especially deep, but it's likely they seemed so to Ms. Taylor. I think she's had an interesting and challenging life, and triumphed over her obstacles. She presents herself honestly, it seems to me, and this may not be as impressive as the author may want the effect to be on the reader. There is an index, but I cannot imagine why. I did not learn anything from this book, but felt I was privy to self-revelation that lacked redeeming qualities, but rather showed an unethical process of one person's need to have almost everything her own way. I sensed not competitiveness, but her need to be on top. I am also leery about authors that present a long and incredible CV (regardless of its veracity) in a book suggesting it will help someone else. When I get a book looking to learn about a behavior process, and possible benefit from that on some level (the title does state "success"), I don't care one bit about the author's credentials. The autobiography of Ben Franklin is just that. It includes all of his accomplishments as well as his insights and experiences. But it didn't present as a book of wisdom.
My first reaction to the title was that this would be some sort of Workplace Therapy book or Handbook. After all, the title states "rethinking." To me this book is a thinly disguised memoir of a successful woman who made it big. Her insights aren't especially deep, but it's likely they seemed so to Ms. Taylor. I think she's had an interesting and challenging life, and triumphed over her obstacles. She presents herself honestly, it seems to me, and this may not be as impressive as the author may want the effect to be on the reader. There is an index, but I cannot imagine why. I did not learn anything from this book, but felt I was privy to self-revelation that lacked redeeming qualities, but rather showed an unethical process of one person's need to have almost everything her own way. I sensed not competitiveness, but her need to be on top. I am also leery about authors that present a long and incredible CV (regardless of its veracity) in a book suggesting it will help someone else. When I get a book looking to learn about a behavior process, and possible benefit from that on some level (the title does state "success"), I don't care one bit about the author's credentials. The autobiography of Ben Franklin is just that. It includes all of his accomplishments as well as his insights and experiences. But it didn't present as a book of wisdom.
April 11, 2019
I liked it, but nothing in this was a big "ah-ha" moment. Maybe I didn't need to read it? Taylor talks a lot about how to succeed in business, with general tips for women. As someone who isn't navigating a "cutthroat" corporate world, most of that did not apply.
I did, however, greatly value her points about honesty and maintaining one calendar (not bifurcating your life). I am a list person, and tend to get overwhelmed by all that I have to do. She had a lot of great time-management tips for busy people, not just working moms.
Overall, it's a quick book that makes some good points and is worth a read.
I did, however, greatly value her points about honesty and maintaining one calendar (not bifurcating your life). I am a list person, and tend to get overwhelmed by all that I have to do. She had a lot of great time-management tips for busy people, not just working moms.
Overall, it's a quick book that makes some good points and is worth a read.
January 28, 2019
Finally the Tuth
Received a copy of this memoir as a Goodreads Giveaway. While I read many negative reviews, I think they missed many good messages hidden within this book. While I wished this book could have been more, I've come to realize Ms. Taylor is honest and I received more - tips, advice, affirmations, having spent my defined 30 minutes a day reading this book; a great tip by the way.
Received a copy of this memoir as a Goodreads Giveaway. While I read many negative reviews, I think they missed many good messages hidden within this book. While I wished this book could have been more, I've come to realize Ms. Taylor is honest and I received more - tips, advice, affirmations, having spent my defined 30 minutes a day reading this book; a great tip by the way.
March 25, 2019
I won a free copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads.
Not sure what this book turned out to be but it is more memoir with tips than an actual exposition on work life success. I know a lot about this woman and Mrs. Taylor does sound like she has a fascinating work history especially as a female in a more boys club environment and I wish more of that story was told. It just kind of fell flat by virtue of trying to do too many things.
Not sure what this book turned out to be but it is more memoir with tips than an actual exposition on work life success. I know a lot about this woman and Mrs. Taylor does sound like she has a fascinating work history especially as a female in a more boys club environment and I wish more of that story was told. It just kind of fell flat by virtue of trying to do too many things.
February 10, 2019
I won an ebook copy of The Balance Myth by Teresa A. Taylor and this is my honest opinion of the book. I wasn’t too impressed by this book. Nothing profound in content.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to any mother.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to any mother.
April 9, 2019
I won a digital copy of this book on good reads. Thank you.
Some good points. I don't know if I needed to read that much to get to it though, it reads at points like a memoir, which isn't exactly what I was looking for.
Some good points. I don't know if I needed to read that much to get to it though, it reads at points like a memoir, which isn't exactly what I was looking for.
October 27, 2019
I was hoping for more.
April 2, 2023
Great book! I wish I’d read it when I was still working full-time. I found ideas and advice I can use in my volunteer work and family life.
April 23, 2019
Updated: I was looking forward to reading this after winning it in a giveaway but I didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped. It was more memoir than self-help, which is totally fine, but don’t expect anything life changing. The whole cowboy up, tough it out approach didn’t resonate with me as a real option for a lot of people who are struggling. The author has obviously been through some really difficult times and has proven herself to be very accomplished and capable… but I don’t know that her approach will work for everyone. I don’t have kids so there were a lot of “layers” that didn’t really apply to me. The business components were interested, as I’m studying business and leadership, but I don’t think the book was really framed in a generally applicable way. Also, she frequently does this thing where she’ll say/write something and then right after re-state it as a random quote, I assume for emphasis but I find it very strange. Overall it was a quick, easy read with some little nuggets of advice mixed throughout a memoir.
October 10, 2013
Ugh. I think a more appropriate title would have been "How to be a Successful Female Executive (...and Have Kids)." Most of the advice is for the (corporate) workplace and references to her family centered on how to get work done at home or bring your kids to the office with you on the weekends - great balance! There was no mention of anything this woman ever did aside from work and spend (some) time with her family. Hobbies? Exercise? Volunteer? Apparently these things are not actually part of work-life success in the author's mind.
April 28, 2014
This a real account of the navigation of daily push and pull of a successful primary breadwinner and parent. Taylor does a fantastic job speaking from a true experience that should encourage any person in a similar role to rise to your potential and find ways to navigate the challenging times that are inevitable with this life choice. Balance is not something to achieve on a daily basis but rather to strive for over a lifetime.
August 21, 2015
Not impressed. Thought she talked more about herself. Nothing really to take away from this book, and not even the admission that she must have had heaps of support to do what she did. Lots of fluff.
October 22, 2014
No real insights, no helpful tips unless you can find lessons for yourself in the stories she tells. Disappointing.
April 27, 2019
I was happy to receive this book from Goodreads as it’s been on my to-read list for a while. What working mother doesn’t want to learn tidbits from an accomplished professional about how best to handle it all?! So, while there were some helpful tips which stood out for me (I.e. merging your work and personal calendar into one or the importance of networking in both your professional and home life), the rest of the book seemed to just recant the author’s various work experiences. Overall, the stories seemed to jump all over the place from one topic to the other. No real flow. I admire strong professional women and love to learn from their successes and failures. However this book was just middle of the road for me as I had no real takeaways from a working mother perspective (which at my current state in life is of utmost importance to me).
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews