One Tough Mother

by Gert Boyle, Kerry Tymchuk, Mark O. Hatfield (Foreword)

When a heart attack claimed Gert Boyle's husband in 1970, the forty-six-year-old housewife and mother of three found herself at the helm of Columbia Sportswear, a small outerwear manufacturer in Portland, Oregon, that was struggling financially. With no business experience whatsoever, Boyle was faced with the challenge of running Columbia, which had been founded in 1937 by her father -- a Jewish immigrant who had fled Hitler's Germany. Boyle and her son Tim persevered, turning a company that in 1970 had forty employees and less than 800,000 in annual sales into the leading seller of skiwear in the United States, with more than 2000 employees and over a billion in annual sales. Along the way, thanks in part to a creative marketing campaign that billed her as "one tough mother," Boyle established herself as an industry icon, and the first woman ever inducted into the International Sporting Goods Hall of Fame. One Tough Mother presents an honest and often irreverent account of Boyle's journey from a childhood in Nazi Germany to incredible success in America. She offers insights into succeeding in business and in life, and shares many of the advertisements and strategies that have made her so recognizable.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Business, Memoir, Historical

207 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Alisa]

Surprisingly quick read for a memoir but if you know anything about Gert Boyle it is that she cuts to the chase pretty darn quick. The challenges she overcame throughout her life only furthered her resolve, and she navigated her way through her business and personal life with practical thinking and determination. Columbia Sportswear turned into a powerhouse under her leadership, and even though she was not terribly fond of the 'tough mother' ad campaign that featured her, she embraced it with grace and humor. Great story of an amazing woman.

[Anna Brown]

A short, inspiring read about an incredibly strong, hilarious business woman. I laughed and cried and now I wanna buy a new Columbia jacket. (Gert also reminds me soooo much of my Gramana 🫶🏻)

[Paula L]

Taking this one to heart.

Inspiring. No BS. Bulletproof. No guarantees, but the warranty is solid - just like her. She emulates Nike in their campaign to ‘Just do it’. She did it everyday. Through heartache, unfavorable odds and rain - she never gave up. Being a woman business owner and having people look at me and say ‘You?’... I get what she’s saying and she has inspired me to keep going. And always try to be better tomorrow.

[Kim Gabbard]

Read in one sitting! I will be a Columbia customer for life after reading this book. Gert's voice resonates through the pages, giving her family's history and views on the challenges of running an outdoor apparel company - an industry dominated by big men with big egos. I think it would have been tough to be her child but she had the strong determination required to survive and thrive in such a competitive industry.

[Luke Beckham]

This book was a memoir of Gert Boyles life. This book was very inspiring and up lifting. Boyle documents her life and the creation of Columbia. It was surprising to see her take over the company when her husband died. Running the company with her sons is very impressive and makes me wonder what I could accomplish If I gave it a try.

[David Folz]

Note this is a book I read probably back in.. 2014 or 2015 (day of the Patriots/Seahawks Super Bowl) so it's a bit dated to when I read it. I thought for a short read it was a good book though. Very informative of her life and growing up and the struggles of the business.

[Hannah Buschert]

As many already stated, it’s a short read but Gert made every word count. Gert lived an incredible life and inspired many. This book is truly one of my favorite reads, it made me laugh, cry, and taught me a few valuable lessons, but I wish it were longer.

[Evan H]

It’s a cute little book, very short. she has the most remarkable story, turning a small family business she inherited from her late husband into a global power brand . A little on the simplistic side rather than any sort of deep analysis but still some nuggets. Nice one for the office shelf. is

[Mary Sak]

I really enjoyed this book about the chairman of Columbia Sportswear. It was both inspirational and funny. Highly recommend.

[Mike]

It was a fun and entertaining book. Gert has a fascinating history and it was great reading a book that is much like Gert, "straight and to the point".

[Kathy]

Quick read. She really does give you her tips to find success in your life. She seems very down to earth & probably a hoot to hang around with!

[Catherine]

Enjoyed this unusual memoir, but sort of wished there were more since she sounded like a very interesting person

[Carly Foerster]

Super quick memoir - cuts right to the chase, true to Ma Boyle’s spirit. It’s an inspiring and enjoyable read, with a few solid lessons woven throughout (particularly in her early learnings the first year as president of Columbia Sportswear.) She really was One Tough Mother.

[Carrie E.]

Short and sweet but enjoyable and interesting.

[Erick Mertz]

Decent read. A light read full of a few laughs, insights into family, and a treasure trove of images from Columbia Sportswear's advertising history.

[Marion Sangiuliano]

Fascinating woman!!

[Dee]

Fun to read about a Portland icon that I was quite familiar with! Could have done without the "padding" of the advertising photos - although they were fun to look at!

[Amy]

A quick, no nonsense memoir of Gert Boyle of Columbia Sportswear fame. It's not earth shattering and I feel like her son Tim was a bit left out in her memoir for the rise and success of Columbia Sportswear....living in the PNW - its definitely a success story for women and the outdoor industry!

[Nathan Albright]

[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Carpe Diem Press in exchange for an honest review.]

As someone who enjoys reading both corporate histories well-stocked with entertaining advertising photos [1] as well as memoirs of success despite a difficult life [2], this book was a refreshing look at an eventful life from the busy “ChairMa” of Columbia Sportswear Company, Gert Boyle. Coming off as a fierce but loveable Jewish mother, deeply involved in the life of her family, tenacious, and loud and outspoken to the point of caricature, and also blessed with a strong social conscience, this book is a love letter to the Pacific Northwest and a fitting explanation of why Columbia has been able to survive the death of her late husband and the fickleness of changing fads and clothing habits: they never give up, never forget that their employees and customers are human beings and worthy of respect, and never forget to keep growing and keep showing themselves as human as well.

This book manages to combine a chronological approach to the life of the author with some added material that add a bit of spice to the account and that make it humane and even deeply humorous. The book begins with a foreword from former Oregon governor and US Senator Mark Hatfield, followed by a preface that talks about the moment the author transitioned from a housewife to the president of a struggling outerwear company upon the death of her husband from a heart attack in December 1970. The book then looks at Gert’s childhood as a German Jew going to school at a Catholic girl’s school in the shadow of Hitler’s Germany, only escaping as a result of the quick thinking of her parents, which led them to settle in the Portland area, where her father then bought a hat company and changed its name to reflect the river that runs through the area. The author then discusses her college experience, marriage to an Irish Catholic, and her life as a housewife. After the death of her husband, Gert is candid about the difficulties she and her son Tim faced in keeping the company afloat, and is quick to show off (and give credit to her marketing firm) for the success of her company’s campaigns to brand themselves around her as “one tough mother.” After discussing the success of her life, her company, and her family, she closes the book with a tasty apple pie recipe. The book is full of black and white photographs and copies of various marketing posters and still shots of television commercials, adding an artistic flair to an exuberant memoir.

This is the sort of memoir that brings credit to everyone involved. Ma Gert Boycle comes off as being humorous and tenacious, with a heartwarming story of an immigrant made good, who only had two spend a couple of weeks as a thirteen year old first grader upon her family’s arrival in the United States. She also shows herself as generous-spirited not only in donating the proceeds of the book to the Special Olympics and the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia counties, but also in the fact that she gives her able co-writer, Kerry Tymchuk, credit as a co-writer. The photographs add a sense of lightheartedness to the book as a whole, as well as touching family photos, and so everyone who has a part on this book has something to feel proud of. This is the sort of book that would likely fit well snuggled inside one of the pockets of a Bugaboo parka as someone is enjoying a slice of Gert’s Finger Apple Pie, a real winner, just like its author and the Columbia Sportswear Company as a whole.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[Bridget]

A very quick read with several good life lessons. There's an introduction from her son and he relates several of his memories to lessons that she talks about in the book. Parts of this are very funny, but overall I do wish that she would have chosen several more lessons or examples that individuals could apply to everyday life or business.

"One Tough Mother: Taking Charge in Life, Business, and Apple Pies" is the autobiography of Gert Boyle, the formidable chairwoman of Columbia Sportswear. In this candid and inspiring account, Boyle shares her life story, detailing the challenges and triumphs she faced in building and leading the successful outdoor apparel company. The book provides valuable insights into her business philosophy, resilience, and the personal qualities that contributed to her remarkable career.

[Cheekey]

This is a must read. It's a quick autobiography of Gert Boyle, how her family started with a shirt shop in pre WWII Germany and ended up becoming one of the largest manufacturer's of outdoor sportswear. Gert doesn't mince words, but nor is she cruel. She is a very fair woman and did a tremendous job of saving Columbia Sportswear and making it was it is today. I loved this book. And her recipe for Apple Pie! :)

[Beth]

I read this a while ago, but thought of it again after Gert foiled attempt to kidnap her, she really is one tough mother! This book is a quick, fun read, and she has had an interesting life. I love the "Gertisms" that they also use in Columbia Sportswear ad campaigns, such as "Blue hair? Maybe. Blue toes? Never." I submitted my own Gertism to the company and they sent me a free jacket! My winning Gertism was "Ravaged by time, but not by the weather."

[Susan]

A quick read of the history of Columbia Sportswear and its CEO who after the death of her husband took over management of the then $800,000 annual sales and 40 employee company with her son. They then turned it into an over $1 billion in annual sales and 2000 employee internationally recognized company.

[Katherine]

I don't generally read business bio's, but my husband read this book and suggested I read it since it was about a woman, running a Portland business, who also was a mom. It was an extremely quick read - give it 90 minutes and you are done. In truth, that is all I would be willing to give it. Nothing profound or life altering. Just interesting.

[Michelle]

This was a quick and easy read. Entertaining? Yes. Inspiring? Kind of. For being a kid of the NW, I don't know how I missed the majority of Boyle's rise with Columbia, but it's great that this tough mom never gave up. This is more like 'the little engine that could' than any business book I've read. Good stuff.

[Melody]

Very enjoyable but not very deep autobiography from Columbia Sportswear's Gert Boyle. She's had quite an interesting life, and has faced all sorts of adversity with grace and grit. It's a quick read but well worth picking up.

[Cienna2000]

I always enjoyed the One Tough Mother commercials and enjoyed getting to know about the amazing woman in them. Ma Boyle is an inspiration to women and girls every where, when life changes suddenly take hold of the reins and hold on. I only wish I could have met her in person.

[Louise]

Ha! She is the epitome of a Northwest woman.

[Amanda]

This is the story of Gery Boyle who took over Columbia Sportswear when her husband died. It was interesting, and had some funny parts.

[Dana]

Great quick read. Learned a lot about how women can grow from dispair. And, Gert has an awesome personality!