2008-05-29 23:48:20 -
www.sokolblosser.com - Maxwell PR Molly Cooney-Mesker, 503-231-3086 molly@maxwellpr.com A compact new book published by one of the wine industry's most successful women shares how being both charming and uncompromising, kind and steadfast, profitable and socially responsible can help small business owners gracefully manage challenges head on.
Susan Sokol Blosser knows what it takes to achieve the right balance. A
pioneer of Oregon's highly acclaimed wine industry and co-founder of Sokol Blosser Winery, she expertly captures 30 years of experience in her new book Gracious & Ruthless: Surprising Strategies for Business Success. Little in size, but big in ideas, the 55-page book is packed with practical advice from someone who has lived the challenges of running a business and not only survived, but thrived.
Both nurturing and tough, Susan commiserates with the aches and pains of the entrepreneur but doesn't hesitate to demand excellence in all circumstances. "If your neck hurts from lying under the bathroom sink to repair a leaky faucet, your shoulder aches from hunching over a computer, and your mind is numb from designing a new sales strategy, you epitomize the small business owner," Susan reflects in her self-published book.
The Oregonian's award-winning political cartoonist Jack Ohman contributed lighthearted, self-deprecating illustrations of Sokol Blosser to accompany her straight-forward advice on such topics as dealing with workplace gossip, knowing when to let go, keeping your cool and being authentic.
"We face the same challenges as larger businesses, but without a staff of specialists to support us or the funds to cushion us against blunders," said Sokol Blosser. "Our businesses may be small, but collectively we form the core of the economy. This book is written for those hard working individuals who are taking the plunge and willing to pour their energy enthusiasm and savings into something that gives life purpose and meaning."
Fellow business owners have endorsed the book as a must-read for entrepreneurs and executives alike, including Gert Boyle, chairman of Columbia Sportswear Company, who said, "Gracious & Ruthless provides open and honest insight into the ins and outs, ups and downs of starting a small business. Great advice."
Gracious & Ruthless is the capstone of Sokol Blosser's successful career and heralds the next chapter in her life as a writer. Her first book, At Home in the Vineyard: Cultivating a Winery, an Industry and a Life, was published in 2006. Susan retired in early 2008 at the height of her career, appointing her children co-presidents of the family business, Sokol Blosser Winery. An innovator in sustainability and the triple bottom line approach, Sokol Blosser has earned two Lifetime Achievement Awards for helping create a world-class wine industry in Oregon.
Gracious & Ruthless is an inspirational desktop reference guide for business professionals of all trades. It's available June 2 for $15 at Powell's Books, Sokol Blosser Winery, and at www.sokolblosser.com/graciousandruthless.
About Susan Sokol Blosser and Sokol Blosser Winery
Susan Sokol Blosser founded Sokol Blosser in 1971 with her then husband, Bill Blosser. She assumed the role of president in 1991 and under her leadership the winery has flourished. Today, Sokol Blosser wines are available internationally. Sokol Blosser Winery follows the principles of The Natural Step, a science-based framework for sustainability started in Sweden, and pursues earth friendly practices in all phases of business. Sokol Blosser is certified USDA organic and was the first winery in the country to earn the prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Susan Sokol Blosser Shares 30 Years of "Lessons Learned" with
Honesty and Wit in a Practical, Inspirational Read
