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The Entrepreneurial Cat

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The Entrepreneurial Cat

13 Ways to Transform Your Work Life

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Text available

What's inside?

To the Entrepreneurial Cat, those annoying mice from "Who Moved My Cheese?" are just lunch.

Editorial Rating

5

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • For Beginners

Recommendation

When an author such as entrepreneur Mary Hessler-Key shares her byline with a feline, you know what kind of book you’ve got. Yes, Hessler-Key has written a cute book, but it does have some sound advice, inspired - she says - by her cats. She noticed that Sheba and Jasper possessed qualities that every entrepreneur could use, and then captured their lessons, which are appealingly illustrated here. Before you write this off as a little ball of fluff, look at the thought-provoking questions that accompany her cat-inspired tips. You can read the book in no time and devote as much effort as you want to the intriguing questions, which will tell you more about yourself than you might think. getAbstract categorically recommends this book to anyone - entrepreneur or not - whose life could benefit from considering a cat’s worldview, including being curious, acting instinctively, grooming carefully, hunting persistently and keeping a watchful eye on both the mice and the dogs.

Summary

Avoid a "Catastrophe"

Your cat, or the next nearest feline available to you, has some useful lessons to teach you about how to approach life, work and aggravation.

While you’re losing sleep over what everyone else thinks and wasting precious energy, creativity and peace of mind in the process, remember that cats never worry about what others think. Part of their charm is their "cattitude;" they revel in their independence and you should, too. Choose a business or career that enables you to express your talents. Do only what you love to do and do it well. Delegate everything else you possibly can: Find a dog to fetch the sticks. Ask yourself:

  • What do you enjoy doing that other people may find boring or even frustrating?
  • When you read a newspaper or a magazine, what ideas capture your attention?
  • What do you do naturally that you assume everyone else does, too (even if they don’t)?
  • What common themes do you see in the answers to the above questions?
  • If success were guaranteed, what would you do in life?

Be Curious and Find the Right Niche

Cats are always prowling for opportunity. They explore their territory...

About the Authors

Mary Hessler-Key, Ph.D.,  owns Mary Hessler & Associates, an organizational development consulting firm. A speaker and facilitator, she is executive director of Inc. Magazine’s Magazine’s Eagles CEO Program, where she works with entrepreneurs from fast-growing companies. Jazzie the Cat lives in Tampa, Florida with the author.

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