Author Interview: Margaret A. Heffernan
I had purchased Margaret Heffernan’s book, Women on Top (formerly known as How She Does It) because it discusses the topic of how women entrepreneurs can work in any environment and find the ways to gain respect, support and acceptance.
When I read the book, I wanted the opportunity to share with my readers
T: Please give us a bit of background about you (where you grew up, where
you were born, and if you have any siblings)
Born in Texas, grew up in Holland, went to Cambridge University. I have
one sister, 5 years older than myself who is a psychotherapist.
T: For those whom are beginning writers (or those whom wish to write but
are apprehensive, what is your advice?
For years, people told me I should write. I didn’t, because I felt there
was nothing urgent I wanted to say. I started to write when there was
something I had a burning desire to communicate. It is very hard to make
a living as a writer and I don’t think anyone should do it unless they
have that burning desire, a great deal of discipline, and both some
money and some experience of life under their belt. At risk of sounding
highly unromantic, I think the first responsibility of any individual in
the developed world is to be able to support him or herself economically.
T: When did you start writing?
When I worked at the BBC, I did a lot of casual writing - working on
scripts, often writing them or writing bits of them, writing promotional
articles etc. But I started to write full time in 2002.
T: Please let us know your inspiration for the book?
I felt that there were a lot of issues around women’s careers that
weren’t being discussed, that many women and men had become blind to. As
I watched women struggle in traditional corporations, I felt that their
pain wasn’t being acknowledged or taken seriously but that it was
important and trying to tell us all something about the nature of
business today.
T: Can you share a few tips from the book?
1. Take money seriously. If you don’t, you become dependent which is
inherently infantilizing. Taking money seriously does not have to mean
it dominates your life but it does mean you need to understand your own
wants and dreams and that you have to take responsibility for achieving
those. No one succeeds alone, of course. But no one succeeds without
taking responsibility for themselves.
2. Acquire skills. Everyone has hopes and dreams and ideas but nobody
pays for those. With skills, you have something concrete and practical
to offer which means you get taken seriously. Confidence doesn’t come
from pep talks; it comes from achievements. And confidence is
self-generating. The more you have, the more you get.
3. Don’t think that having kids is an impediment. It is only if you let
it be. Most mothers work. Being a mother isn’t a license to quit the
professional world! One of my interviewees put it beautifully. She said
that for both her husband and herself to work was like a diversified
portfolio: it meant that, if one of them became ill, was laid off,
encountered some set back, it wouldn’t be catastrophic. They were equal
partners in the project of their family
T: So, what is on the horizon for you and your writing?
I’m working on several things at the moment. I’ve been commissioned by
the BBC to write 2 plays about Enron. This was my idea (silly me!) and
I’m looking forward to exploring the many issues which that business
disaster raised. The characters are great and the ideas are important.
I’m working on a book about business resilience - why and how some
businesses thrive in volatile times.
And I’m nursing an idea for a novel which I’m afraid to talk about….
T: Here is a question just for fun—what is your favorite food and why?
I guess I’d have to say bread. Which is a shame because I only have to
look at it to put on weight. But I live next door to a farm shop that
sells the best bread in the world.
T: How can others get in contact with you and purchase your book?
Both my books are available on Amazon.com. I always answer emails from
readers and my email address is in both books.
Thank you again Margaret for taking the time to share with us about your journey.
