Home > Go Girl Go > 'Excerpts from the Book'

Lynette “Polly” McFadden – Excerpt from the Book – Go Girl Go!

February 11th, 2010

1 Lynette cLynette “Polly” McFadden – Harcourts Real Estate

Lynette, known as Polly to her friends, is a vibrant Maori woman successfully operating several Harcourts real estate offices in the Christchurch area.  A working class background hasn’t stopped her from becoming one of Christchurch’s hottest businesswomen.  Not content with her own success, she shares her positive energy with all around her, inspiring others to succeed and grow into whatever they wish to become.

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Louise Rutten – Excerpt from the Book – Go Girl Go!

February 3rd, 2010

Louise RutterLouise Rutten -Inkspot Digital Ltd

Louise is the driving force behind Inkspot Digital Ltd – an Auckland based IT / Animation / Entertainment company leading the world in computer animation. This small youthful company works alongside big players such as Microsoft and shows the world what a couple of Kiwi’s can achieve when the put their minds to it. For Louise, the secrets to success don’t lie behind a university degree or loads of investment capital – success comes from lots of hard work, personality, and undying belief in your idea.

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Jane Lucas – Excerpt from the Book – Go Girl Go!

January 20th, 2010

2 Jane Lucas bJane Lucas – BJ’s Health & Fitness Centres Ltd

Jane started her career as a farmer’s wife teaching a few local ladies aerobics in the country.  Thirteen years later she’s recognised as a successful businesswoman, owning and operating three health & fitness centres in the Nelson / Marlborough region.

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Mary Murray – Excerpt from the Book – Go Girl Go!

January 12th, 2010

14 Mary cMary Murray – Paradisos Cafe

Mary was a fulltime mother and housewife for all 24 years of her married life until her husband announced he was having an affair.  Left with nothing when he left, with no experience or business acumen whatsoever, Mary took on the cafe her husband had been in the process of starting, complete with thousands of dollars worth of debts, and made a go of it.

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Introduction from Go Girl Go! – The Book

December 9th, 2009

Introduction – From the book Go Girl Go! ñ Real Stories of New Zealand Women in Business
This project started back in 1999 through my own frustrations as a newly self-employed writer.  After completing a journalism course by correspondence Iíd decided I didnít want to go and work for a newspaper or a magazine ñ I wanted to freelance.  This seemed easy enough and I was sure it was the answer to my dreams of freedom.  I started writing and soon I had a few regular contracts and I was surviving, but only just.  The hardest part was not the writing but the business side of it ñ knowing what to charge for my work, getting agreements from people, sorting out taxes and accounting procedures.  I bluffed my way through blindly for months not wanting to ask anybody for help for fear of confirming to them that I really didnít know what I was doing!
One day I came home to my partner frustrated and upset.  I felt I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing and said to him ìItís so hard.  You canít just go into Whitcoulls and buy a book on it.î  ìThatís your answer,î he said.  ìWrite a book for women about getting started in business.î  That upset me even more, how was I supposed to write a book for the rest of the world when I didnít know what I was doing myself?  ìThatís easy,î he said.  ìGo and talk to successful businesswomen and ask them how they got started.î  My initial reaction was ëwhat a cheek!í ñ How rude to ask these successful women to share their secrets!  But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea.
When I first sent twenty letters out to successful business women I knew of in my area, I expected about five to be interested in my project.  I hoped for ten.  Eighteen of those women were happy to be interviewed ñ the response was overwhelming!  The first thing I learned through this project is that most people are happy to help you ñ you just have to be brave enough to ask!  I took my search nationwide and was met with the same enthusiasm.  After interviewing about sixty amazing women, all with fantastic stories to tell, I realised I had to stop, it was getting harder and harder to choose which stories to include in this book.
I have endeavoured to select fifteen stories as vastly different from one another as possible, incorporating different types of businesses, age groups, ethnic groups, geographical locations and personal circumstances.  A big thank you to all the women who took the time to share their experiences with me.  I learned from each and every one of you.  Now I hope others will be inspired and motivated and learn from the stories shared in this book.
Enjoy!
Jacqui
Excerpt from Go Girl Go! ñ Real Stories of New Zealand Women
Link to Buy the book

Go Girl Go - The Book by Jacqui ThomasThis project started back in 1999 through my own frustrations as a newly self-employed writer.  After completing a journalism course by correspondence I’d decided I didn’t want to go and work for a newspaper or a magazine - I wanted to freelance.  This seemed easy enough and I was sure it was the answer to my dreams of freedom.  I started writing and soon I had a few regular contracts and I was surviving, but only just.  The hardest part was not the writing but the business side of it - knowing what to charge for my work, getting agreements from people, sorting out taxes and accounting procedures.  I bluffed my way through blindly for months not wanting to ask anybody for help for fear of confirming to them that I really didnít know what I was doing!

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