Comments on: Entrepreneurial and Female? Discover Your Inner Samurai

By: Real You Incorporated Shows the Power of Women Business Owners

Real You Incorporated Shows the Power of Women Business Owners — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:46:40 +0000

[...] I've been studying up on women entrepreneurs. Why? Because they are one of the fastest growing segments of the business [...]

By: noelle bates

noelle bates — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:43:31 +0000

thanks holly! i will be picking up this book!

By: Susan L Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai"

Susan L Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai" — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:23:51 +0000

Jina, I really like your turn of phrase, “fears riding in the back seat.” It’s not about working through your fears (takes too much effort); it’s not about pushing through your fears; it’s about, as you said, taking your fears out of the front seat. That leaves room for what it is you really want to ride shotgun with you. In my book, I call that reaching beyond your fears. Not ignore them. Reach beyond them to what it is you really want.

By: Joe Buhler

Joe Buhler — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:48:35 +0000

I completely agree with Kurt Haug’s comments. As a thirteen year resident of Japan, I encourage Americans to be careful about using terms out of their original context even though it might be tempting to do so. Even the term “inner samurai” is not something I think appropriately reflects what bushido is about. I might add that most non-Japanese are not able to fully grasp the concept of bushido and even if they could, would not be able to live their lives by following that code today.

By: Yvonne DiVita

Yvonne DiVita — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 13:26:08 +0000

This is an outstanding look at Susan’s book. I profess I am the publisher, and proud of it. Holly really gets to the nitty-gritty of it. I have learned much from Susan and her writing, and I share with others freely because this idea of an Inner Samurai has real power to it. Holly, thank you for showcasing the upbeat nature of this book and why it should be on every entrepreneur’s reading list.

By: Jina Daigle

Jina Daigle — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:08:56 +0000

I, too, love the way Holly draws out the essence of Susan’s book and quickly points potential readers to the very things that would attract them to want “more”. In my life coaching practice I have found, time and again, that vision and courage, combined with strong awareness and action of intuition (Inner Samurai inklings and knowing)can give most people the added boost of energy to begin the steps toward their goals. They learn to move forward “with” thier fears riding in the back seat, rather than trying to remove the fears beforehand. Eventually they find the fears they thought to be mountains were just molehills behind the magnifying glass of their own making. Susan gives us, through her book, all we need to know to get our fears OUT of the driver seat and she inspires us to be strong drivers towards our most desired destinations!!

By: Susan Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai"

Susan Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai" — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:28:14 +0000

Thank you, Kurt, for your balanced and informed comments. As you said, there are some aspects of samurai culture, even the word itself, that carry baggage that is not of benefit to the modern entrepreneurial world. The essense of “bushido” is what my book is conveying to women entrepreneurs, and it is this essense that could, perhaps, be setting the stage for a new model of warrior. An inner vision warrior.

By: Kurt Haug

Kurt Haug — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:24:53 +0000

By the way, there ARE no female samurai,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onna_bugei-sha)

but there ARE many famous female ninja, including heads of powerful ninja clans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunoichi)!

Women ninja marketers, ganbare!

By: Kurt Haug

Kurt Haug — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:17:22 +0000

Sounds like a great book, and I will definitely check it out. I’m sure it has valuable insights for men as well…

I would point out that I think a “samurai” metaphor for ANYTHING entrepreneurial is misguided, if well intentioned. The class system, warfare tactics & strategy, and isolationism inherent in a “samurai” orientation are pretty much what we entrepreneurs are fighting AGAINST. As a 25+ year tech veteran (largely focused on Japan), former Japanese translator, Chairman of a Japanese corporation and President of the American Electronics Association (AEA) Software Committee, I’ve seen the glaring downside of the vestiges of samurai culture in global business.

I have long held that if you want to use an “asian warrior” metaphor, the “ninja” is a far better model for entrepreneurs and “new marketing” (including Web 2.0) types. In fact, I’ve taught university-level classes on (and “maintain” an admittedly inconsistent blog on) the topic of “SHOUNINJUTSU– The Fine Art of Ninja Marketing.”

http://shurikensystems.com/wordpress/2007/07/15/what-is-ninja-marketing/

Kudos for apparently addressing the need (especially, though not exclusively) among women entrepreneurs to exercise the inner strength, confidence and discipline represented by “bushido” and the samurai ethic. As I said, I look forward to reading the book. Just consider that some aspects of samurai culture carry baggage you may not want to lug around on an entrepreneurial journey…

By: Mary Ellen Whitaker of Voiceofclarity.com

Mary Ellen Whitaker of Voiceofclarity.com — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:38:39 +0000

I actually helped edit Susan’s book. I got to learn all about my Inner Samurai during the process! Until I read Holly’s review, though, it didn’t occur to me that this book is a great resource for those who are marketing to women entrepreneurs, not just for the women entrepreneurs themselves. Thanks for the new perspective, Holly!

By: Dana at Nine Tomatoes

Dana at Nine Tomatoes — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:16:09 +0000

I love that drawing on the cover of Susan’s book! She used all the methods and theories she writes about to help me discover that I wanted to draw it. Then she helped me transform my vision into a successful business. I just had to say “Yes!”

By: Carol McClelland of Green Career Central

Carol McClelland of Green Career Central — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:08:21 +0000

I felt the same way about Susan Reid’s book! I read it while away on a long weekend getaway. It was a very nurturing experience to step away from my computer (and recently launched site/business) to take a breath and reconnect with my inner samurai.

Susan shares so much of her personal story that you really do feel as though you KNOW her. Her descriptions of how she felt as she walked away from her “job” and into a new entrepreneurial life are so rich with feeling and experience.

Although my new venture isn’t my first business, Susan’s stories reminded me of my first business and gave me compassion for what I’m experiencing in my recent launch. Creating a strong relationship with your inner knowing/inner samurai is such a key to business success.

Thanks, Susan! And thank you Holly for reminding me how good it felt to read Discovering Your Inner Samurai.

By: Susan Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai"

Susan Reid of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai" — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:11:03 +0000

Wow, Holly! That’s the best book review I have read on my book, to date! Not only can I tell you read the book, I can tell that you read it, took it in, and made it your own. Mi viaje es tu viaje. Thank you!