How far would you go to keep a promise? In 1980 as Nancy’s sister Suzy lay dying of breast cancer, Suzy asked her to promise to help women become more aware of the disease that was silently taking the lives of thousands of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, partners and friends.
In 1982 Nancy Brinker kept her promise by founding Susan G. Koman for the Cure.Promise Me – How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer by Nancy G. Brinker is a powerful story of love, purpose and determination. Promise Me shows all of us how a simple promise can become an unstoppable mission to change the world.
I thoroughly enjoy reading about how women, like you and me, can take an idea or a purpose and grow it into a business, an organization or a life-altering cause. Promise Me is the story of two sisters from Peoria, Illinois who grew up believing that they could make a difference by finding a cause, standing behind that cause and taking positive action. Even as youngsters, Susan and Nancy Goodman believed they had the power to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
I read this book in two nights – I couldn’t put it down. It is a dual story – the life story of two devoted sisters and the life history of cancer. Fascinating reading!
I decided to review this book through my eyes as the Business Coach of BellaOnline.com. I read it looking for the lessons as a woman in business.
Lessons from their mother Eleanor Goodman:
- “When you see a wrong, right it.”
- “Instead of dwelling on all the things you can’t do.” said Mother, “figure out what you can do. What you will do.”
- “The objective is helping people, not separating them from their money.”
- “Don’t judge a book by its cover. Every person should be treated with the deference and respect you would show your best customers.”
- “Focus, focus, focus. Begin with the end in mind.”
- “Go where people aren’t and do what’s not being done.”
I could go on and on with the pearls of wisdom and business lessons cleverly disguised as stories and life lessons. There are so many business and life lessons in this book – it should be a must read for all women in business!
Why listen to the author Nancy G. Brinker? She is the founder and CEO of the Susan G. Koman for the Cure, served as U.S. Ambassador to Hungry, White House Chief or Protocol, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is the Global Ambassador for Cancer Control for the World Health Organization. And, is a breast cancer survival herself. That’s impressive!
I particularly appreciated the list of resources for families dealing with breast cancer available in the back of the book.
I highly recommend Promise Me – How a Sister’s Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer and will even go out on a limb and call this a MUST READ for women who want to not only learn more about combating breast cancer but also understand step-by-step how to take a passion (a promise) and turn it into a successful and thriving business.
As a woman who lost a dear friend to cancer, I appreciate and applaud the promise Nancy made and kept to her beloved sister Suzy.
Below is an offsite link to Amazon.com where you can also watch a video from the author Nancy Brinker - it is very touching and well worth watching.
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Sharon Recommends:
Here is an offsite link to Amazon.com where you can read more about Promise Me and purchase it and share it with your friends: Promise Me: How a Sister's Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer
Disclosure: I was given this book to read and review. All reviews are solely mine. As an affiliate of Amazon.com I will get paid on any purchase through the links within this article.
