Book Review: Escape from Cubicle Nation

Pamela Slim’s blog, Escape from Cubicle Nation, was one of the first ones of its kind.  Back when I entered the blogosphere in 2006, Pam had already established herself as an authority on all things entrepreneurship.  She’d hobnobbed with the likes of Guy Kawasaki and Seth Godin.  I wanted to know more about her.

When Pam had me as a guest on her podcast a few times, she told me her story.  Pam had spent the better part of her career traveling across the U.S. doing trainings for large corporations and had been self-employed from a relatively young age.  In a quest to answer audience questions about self-proprietorship, Pam interviewed hundreds of experts and corporate prisoners turned free agents.  The result was her blog, and then her brand new book that has been two years in the making – Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur. 

If you’re looking for nuts and bolts, you won’t be disappointed.  Escape from Cubicle Nation tells you exactly how to break out of Corporate America and start your own business.  But it does more than that.  It discusses – in depth – the emotional and financial difficulties associated with being on your own.  Throughout, Pam’s own struggles and triumphs are revealed for her readers so that she comes across as the genuine person she is rather than an impartial author who’s just there to report the facts.

The book sparkles with Pam’s personality.  Among my favorite gems:  “set up a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup by looking for a peanut butter friend who would be perfectly served by a chocolate bar,” “form a high council of Jedi Knights,” and “get jiggy with it at unexpected times.”  You’ll love it, I promise.

Comments

[Kris Plantrich]

Hi Alexandra! Thanks for the great review. I keep seeing her book mentioned and commented about on twitter and FB and I've got it on my list to read.

I think I'll move it up on the list and try and get a hold of it this weekend.

Thanks,

Kris Plantrich
ResumeWonders

[John]

After reading this and the Tax Trial article I think the US IRS needs to lighten up a little on free enterprise as the more small operators that start up and create jobs the sooner the US will bounce back.

Remember it's the big corporations (not all of them) and the banks that got the US into the mess it's in. This disease is not only contained to the US but global.

[Alexandra Levit]

@John: I TOTALLY agree.

@Kris: So glad you're going to pick up the book. It really is an excellent read.

[bob]

Alexandra, hello! Thanks for the great review.
http://loadingvault.com

[Alexandra Levit]

@Bob: You're very welcome. :)