Expect to Win: 10 Proven Strategies for Thriving in the Workplace Paperback – January 26, 2010

I’ve seen Carla Harris speak twice and I absolutely loved her, so I decided to read her book. This book is about how to succeed in your professional life and instead of being one of those annoying pompous business books, this one is grounded in spirituality and universal truths. I agree complete with her advice about setting your own agenda at work, speaking up, taking risks, helping others, and coming to work each day with an expectation and determination to win.I particularly like her chapter on perception being the copilot of reality. She recommends you pick three adjectives you want others at work to use to describe you and to make sure that you very consciously reinforces those attributes every day. They of course must be authentic to who you are as well.I also loved her story about how she cultivated and image of being tough when someone told her she was not perceived as being tough enough for Wall Street! I myself was once an investment banning analyst at Goldman Sachs. Although I really liked my colleagues, I hated every minute of the job itself. However, I realized it was very important to be perceived as “busy.” So instead of sauntering leisurely from my desk to the copy room, I started walking around everywhere as if was in a rush with many important things to do. I always had an excel sheet open even if I was just waiting around and I stopped talking about how much fun I had on the weekend (although I did have to work many weekends). I was very amused when noticed a definite difference in how people perceived me after I started doing this!I also appreciated her last chapter in how her faith has kept her steady through the tumult of her career. I too have found that faith keeps you steady even when things seem to not be going your way as you know that all things coming to you in your life are there to help you grow. And I think faith gives you the confidence that you have that power to manifest your noble desires into reality.Carla Harris is officially in my list of people I would like to have dinner with one day. I highly recommend this book and thank her for the positivity she is spreading through her talks and book.

Thank you Carla, for taking the initiative to share with other women (and men, if they've got the gumption to pick up her book), the hard-won how-tos of negotiating and advancing in the business world. Wish I'd had her whispering (and shouting)in my ear when I started out in the workaday world. I had no mentor, adviser or influencer at twenty-one for business sense, and if I had, I'd be in the job I love and have tons more self-confidence - but it's never too late. Good on me for buying the book after seeing her on Tavis' show and kudos to Carla for sharing her authentic self. Sing on!

I've worked in corporate finance for close to twenty years over which time I have read many business books. This is the first practical and applicable guide to provide a strategy on how to create your brand/image at work. How we are perceived by managers and coworkers is critical to our ability to be promoted and recognized for our contributions in the workplace.

Excellent book!!!! I have recommended it to all of my friends. I wish I could give all of my staff a copy. It was concise, relevant and realistic step by step strategies to use in the workplace. I like the concept of setting professional goals and referring to them whenever you face challenges in the workplace to realign your thoughts and help you recommit to your mission. It was very honest and she shared personal examples that was very useful to apply in the workplace. I really enjoyed the specific scripts you can use when having the difficult conversations with your boss.

Many good thoughts here. It is very true that it's more about who's your buddy at work than performance. You have to play the game a tiny bit at least..or you will be shunned. Sometimes however there are unfair advantages that you can NEVER overcome-- like...being female...or not being the same ethnic background as your boss and (usually 'his') friends. Women are valued for sex appeal and deferring to men in the work place ....yes it's 2011-but this is still true no matter what folks say. So, depending on your career goals, and pace you want to move up at...button your shirt to those levels. Work hard and pray you get a good boss who is not 'typical'. This book has good tips for professional environments....but..again...underlying all the professionalism..is bias and sexual tension and unresolved power issues-...and yes- I am ticked about it...but this book will give you some great guidelines on how to cover yourself professionally..the rest is murky.

Powerful Pearls of wisdom and advice that can be applicable to all people of all professions, especially black women. Corporate America can be intimidating and quite scary but after reading this book and practicing Carla's pearls, I was recently promoted . Highly Recommend!I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs.Carla Harris at a Black History Month celebration at work and she was extremely down to earth and most importantly, her light shined. It was there, I learned of 'Expect to Win' as one of my mentors at work told me to read 'Strategize to Win' .

Loved this book...very applicable in today's work world as well. It's important to know where you stand as a woman of color in the corporate environment... Get it and read it if you want to gain insight on the power you have regarding your professional trajectory as a person of color.

Must read for anyone who wants to take control of their professional destiny.Put Carla’s pearls on your walls and read them daily.