Bethenny Frankel - Business Is Personal: The Truth about What It Takes to Be Successful While Staying True to Yourself

WELCOME TO MY WORLD.

Youre holding in your hands a business book, but its not typical for the genre. It doesnt look back in reflection after a storied career has ended. Im at a critical juncture and evolutionary moment in my working life, and Im not done yet, not by a long shot. Im an idea hamster, addicted to innovation. Its in my DNA. Its not always easy being a person who is constantly thinking, but its the way I activate myself.

Business is Personal is about how I got to be where I am right now, which is a good and hard-earned place. However, the journey has not been without challenges. Even today, I continue to look for ways to work smarter, leaner, and more streamlined. I struggle with balance, a word youll see a lot in this book. I can find myself in a constant battle with the weeds, and admittedly, I do sweat the small stuff. Many people define themselves by how crowded their calendars are, but thats not for me. I want to be unshackled so I can use my time wisely to create and give back in ways that are meaningful to me.

Im the get-it-done, dont-complain-or-explain type, but I also think about existential questions like what is the meaning of life, and what path should I travel now that my fiftieth birthday is in the rearview mirror?

Ive come far enough in my professional trajectoryIve written and published ten books (all on my smartphone); hit the cover of Forbes in 2011; and developed several successful product lines, cementing my credibility as a bona fide business personto have valuable insights to offer about how to succeed as an entrepreneur and as an independent person in a crazy, unpredictable world. Many of my businesses were hits, but others werent. Early in my career, my healthy baking business, BethennyBakes, had challenges getting off the ground. A company called Princess Pashmina, which sold affordably priced luxury shawls, was successful until it wasnt. I am also the founder and CEO of Skinnygirl, a global lifestyle empire, featuring products for women that offer practical and stylish solutions to everyday problems. My product portfolio includes several food and drink products including coffee, popcorn, and preserves; apparel; shapewear; supplements; and cookware. I have also created Bethenny, an elevated brand that includes products like sunglasses. My charitable organization, the B Strong Initiative, provides aid in the time of crisis in the United States and across the globe. I have learned many lessons from all of these efforts, and Ive evolved from young, single, and broke to a mature businesswoman and philanthropist.

I truly believe that success is achievable for anyone who wants to put in old-school effort and hard work. Business is Personal gives you tools that are applicable to so many life situations, and as the title says, business is personal. Work, love, life: its all intertwined. By my sharing my mistakes and victories I hope you come away with a renewed feeling of pride for what youve done, and for what you can do to take advantage of your assets and talents. I use many examples in this book that come from my life as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and businesswoman.

I dont want you to feel that because you have not achieved a certain level in your career or size in your business that these examples dont apply to you, because they do. I began where so many people start: from scratch, with nothing, and building a business brick by brick. I was in my late thirties and still could not afford a taxi in Manhattan. I would bounce checks and see insufficient funds notices at the ATM. Im a late bloomer, so I know for a fact that you can start succeeding anytime. The tools and stories in this book will help you do this.

Business is Personal is also filled with insights from a wide variety of business moguls and game-changers whom Ive had the privilege to talk to, including Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg; actor Matthew McConaughey; entrepreneur Mark Cuban; former senator and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton; journalist and novelist Candace Bushnell; tech journalist Kara Swisher; shoe designer Steve Madden; Panera Bread CEO Niren Chaudhary; finance expert and TV host Jim Cramer; actress, author, and entrepreneur Suzanne Somers, and others. Their advice and insights alone are worth the price of admission!

In the stories I share, I reveal what it takes to be successful in business while balancing the rest of your life. Whether its spending time with my daughter; scheduling her day and our time together; planning a trip with my fianc, Paul; or just making room for a personal recharge, balance requires deliberate thought. Im a perfectionist to a fault, and I like a neat and tidy environment. I accept this aspect of myself and have built a life that supports it. Someone else might be super successful and work extremely hard but they probably have a junk drawer in their kitchen. I dont have a junk drawer in my kitchen, and I dont have a junk drawer in my business or life. Admittedly, its hard to keep up with me, if Im being totally transparent. But thats okay. It works for me. You must find what works for you.