Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur

Escape from Cubicle Nation definitely is a cut above most books on starting a business -- increasingly a necessary step as companies cut back and executives face age discrimination. Author Slim manages to be realistic without scaring readers and her upbeat humorous writing is delightful. Slim has studied with Martha Beck and the first part of the book reminded me of Beck's own book, Finding Your Own North Star. The chapter on "Reality of Entrepreneurship" was excellent. I like the refreshing way Slim is not afraid to criticize icons, such as those who say "follow your passion" as well as the whole MLM scene. It's about time someone said those things in a business book. I also liked the section on telling friends and family. I'm not an expert on families so I can't evaluate the suggested discussion scripts. I'd like to see even more emphasis on the challenges of losing a familiar support group and dealing with the in-between time before another one shows up. Slim rightly emphasizes the need to sock away six months of living expenses (I'd say two years). Her specific money-saving tips are excellent. Quibbles are: (1) Slim acknowledges that she spends 90% of her time with clients discussing choosing a market. In my experience, successful entrepreneurs have a gift for finding the sweet spot where what a market wants meets what they can offer. I'd have liked to see far more emphasis on market and marketing. The section on prototypes is very good but doesn't go far enough, especially with the sub-head of finding a niche. (2) I don't know any successful people who will serve as mentors without charging. You have to be prepared to pay. One of my own clients wanted a mentor for a retail business. Having been successful in one arena, he knew what to do. He found a successful business owner in another city (so he wouldn't be competing) and offered to pay a significant sum for mentoring. He never attempted to get free help. Agencies (such as the SBA in the US) and adult education courses offer help but the quality is uneven. You may get lucky or you may waste a lot of time. The section on outsourcing mentions coaches but hiring a coach can be a critical decision - on a totally different level from hiring a virtual assistant or designer. I would say that after knowing the market, choosing the right mentors is the biggest and most critical decision you can make. (3) I'd like to see more discussion of actually leaving the cubicle nation. My own clients talk about challenges like finding time to get started while you're working long hours, dealing with conflict of interest requirements (some companies have draconian policies on part time work), and shifting your mindset from employee to entrepreneur. You really need to keep your plans secret till you've gotten enough momentum for liftoff. And some people need an in-between job that brings in income without being too distracting. (4) I agree that a "live anywhere" business offers many attra

Pamela Slim makes a successful transition from blogger to author with this book which takes you step-by-step through the process of turning your dreams of independence into actuality. She covers it all - coming up with a good business idea, recruiting help and support, defining your brand, getting your finances in order, doing the dreaded marketing plan, and actually starting a business. Throughout, the author somehow manages to be both encouraging and hard-headed, always urging the reader to take small steps to make their plans real and to try things out in a small way before committing to the big jumps. As an advocate of pilot projects and prototyping, I find her advice to be both reasonable and inspiring - and she has a delightful sense of humor too! In addition to her very useful advice, the author provides the reader with many good related resources. Highly recommended for the budding entrepreneur!

Thinking about leaving the so-called "security" of the corporate world? If so, don't make a move until you read this book. You need direction. You need inspiration. You need an authentic voice from someone who's been there and done that. But, most importantly, you need to understand why and what you want to do with your future. You need a plan and this book will provide you with the tools to start building a solid foundation from which to make that happen. Pam Slim speaks from experience. She escaped from the cubicle and lived to tell about it. What better qualified person to give down-to-earth practical, applicable advice that you can use -- right now -- to start taking those first steps down the path towards your dream. Escape from Cubicle Nation is a realistic, grounded, authentic journey from anxiety to affirmation. As you read through the content-rich pages, you'll be nodding your head in agreement as you hear the stories of others who want to escape or who have already. You'll be sighing as you think about "oh, how true this is," and you'll be smiling at the light humor that Pam provides throughout as she shares her own heartfelt stories of challenge and triumph. This is a tell-it-like-it-is book. No fluff. No promises of riches, fancy cars, or overnight success. The path to success is first paved with personal introspection and careful thought, playful curiosity, guidance -- and a plan! Don't jump until you have done the homework to know where you might possibly land. Read the "guide" to make sure you've thought through the impact of your actions -- on you, your family, and your future. I wish I had a book like Escape from Cubicle Nation when I left the tech industry over seven years ago. What a difference it would have made. Not only will I use this book to remind me of what else I can be doing right now to further my own dreams, but also I'm using it with my coaching clients who are either thinking of moving from executive to entrepreneur or who've made the move, but want another perspective. And, if you've been fortunate to have escaped to the life of your dreams, there's still much value to be gained from these pages of wisdom -- that's the beauty of this book. It's like having your own personal coach that gently takes your hand and shows you the path ahead. But, still it's your decision because only you know what's right for you. And the best way to determine that is to have as much information as possible, a roadmap, if you will, to help you figure out the best way for you to go forward. There's no better time to get started than right now. Whether you've been laid off or still employed, there's great value to be gained. Delightful in every way, Escape from Cubicle Nation is this year's must-read life and career book, and will definitely become a legacy reference for all those who will have the courage to follow their bliss.

W.A.Carpenter's review here is so spot on, on target, that I cannot add anything but how I feel. (I mean W.A., you NAILED it!) I feel like Pamela Slim's words will help me to fly. Fly from the oppressive, suffocating and stifling environment of corporate America.

Just loved it. The book is well organized and well written. Its author has a background as a life coach and the book felt to me like it was presented from a life coach's perspective. I felt kinda like I probably was one of her clients and she was giving me the lowdown on so many things that have to be covered if I was to realistically stop collecting a W-2 and rejoin the ranks of the self-employed. The book is split into 4 sections and 16 chapters as follows: Part 1. Operating up the opportunities (1-4) Part 2 The reality of entrepreneurship (5-11) Part 3. Make the money work (12-13) Part 4. Making the leap (14-16) 1. I have a fancy title, steady paycheck, & good benefits. Why am I so miserable? 2. If it is so bad, then why am I so afraid to leave? 3. Detox from corporate life 4. What's really involved in moving from employee to entrepreneur? 5. What are all the ways to be self-employed? 6. How do I choose a good business idea? 7. Recruit your tribe 8. Rethink your life: Options for scaling back, downshifting, & relocating 9. Do I really have to do a business plan? 10. Define the spirit of your brand 11. Test often & fail fast: The art of prototypes & samples 12. Look your finances in the eye 13. How to shop for benefits 14. Dealing with your friends & family 15. Line your ducks in a row 16. When is it time to leave? I would have liked Chapter 9 more if the author had said unconditionally "Yes!" But she hedged her bets on both sides of the fence and did an adequate job explaining herself. I honestly cannot say I disagree with what she says in the chapter. In my humble opinion this is one of the best, if not the best, career book I've read on how to realistically approach and tackle the important life event of quitting your job and starting a business of your own. 5 stars!