#BookClub – The Tale I Told Sasha

Earlier this month, Abbie found a great blog that detailed out five “kids” books every business person should read.
So, our team divvied them up and read each one to glean any and all business advice and lessons within. Abbie’s, titled The Lost Thing, is detailed here.
My book, titled The Tale I Told Sasha, focuses on neither a person actually named Sasha nor the telling of a tale. Seriously, I googled it after I read it to make sure I wasn’t crazy. It is actually a story of a girl who obtains a yellow ball from her mother in their plain, dull, small home. Somehow, and with no transition paragraphs or pages, the narrator speaks of a clock in the home, which doesn’t keep time but apparently the face opens into a secret realm that both the ball and the girl walk into – must be a pretty big clock face to fit a full-sized child!
Through the clock face (or looking glass – does Alice in Wonderland know about this book? Is it a copy? Something to think about.), the girl finds a magical land with butterflies, bread crusts (eww – mold!), red balloons and apparently a boy (Is this boy trapped in there? Does he need saving? Neither the author nor the girl in the story seemed too concerned, but I want to know where his parents are!) who gives her directions to find the yellow ball. Turns out, a “keeper of the keys” had it the whole time (Thief! Are there police in this magic realm?), and when he throws it back, it goes back through the clock and brings the girl back to her home.
The morale of the story – I think – is that even seemingly dull and plain people, places and things can hold great adventures.
However, here are the business lessons I learned from the book:

• Be clear – careful of overuse of metaphors and flowery language. Try not to confuse your readers or audience if at all possible.
• Be transparent – or at the least, make your subject and headline fit your story or message.
• Make connections – this book did not seem concerned with transitions or tying up the story in a neat package, but in business, these things matter.
• Don’t be afraid to speak up – this book wasn’t for me, and I have no problem saying this, nor telling clients when I don’t agree with a strategy or message they suggest.

Now, since Abbie found the blog that told her about these books, I am trying something out on my own – here are my suggested readings for those looking to glean some business insight and inspiration from non-traditional business books:

• Lady Boss by Jackie Collins – the tale of Lucky Santangelo’s rise to power isn’t always pretty, but she gets the job done, and mostly on her terms. This is part two in a series that has been going on since the 90s – nearly every book in it is a riot, but this is the best read for the business-minded.
• The Witching Hour by Anne Rice – sure, the family business is witchery, but ya gotta hand it to a family who stays in business something like 200 years.
• The Lies Chelsea Hander Told Me by Chelsea Handler – because to be successful, it isn’t always about being a perfect – nor is it always about being good and doing what one is told. Actually, I recommend reading ANY of her books.
• Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling – speaking of being successful on one’s own terms, it’s also okay to feel jealous, excited and even a little silly in your rise to the top.
• Bossypants by Tina Fey – but those who read our blog already know why this book rocks for business. If new to the blog, just click here.