Own It!: Be the Boss of Your Life—at Home and in the Workplace – Take Charge with No-Nonsense Expertise for Business Success

by Tabatha Coffey

From the straight-shooting breakout star of Bravo’s Tabatha Takes Over and author of It’s Not Really About the Hair, Tabatha Coffey shares the secrets of her success in Own It!

On television, Coffey is known for using tough love to overhaul failing businesses and help owners take charge of their future. In Own It!, Coffey takes her trademark no-nonsense style and business expertise to the page to provide small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to “own their lives” with the keys to success. Combining her own experiences with those of everyday people who have faced challenging transitions, Own It! will help readers reach their goals.

Genres: Business, Self Help, Nonfiction, How To

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 21, 2014

About the author

Tabatha Coffey is an Australian hairstylist, salon owner, and American television personality. Her participation as a contestant on the television show, Shear Genius, led to her own television show, Tabatha's Salon Takeover, which airs on the U.S. cable television network, Bravo, and on FOXTEL's pay television network, Arena in Australia.

Reviews

[William C. Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have told people for years that every MBA candidate should be required to watch at least one season of Tabatha Coffey's show "Tabatha Takes Over." The issues that she addresses when she walks into a hair salon or other business are the same issues common to all businesses, large or small. Business schooling has become so theoretical and specialized that it often misses practical fundamentals, which Tabatha deals with head on in her direct common sense approach. In "Own It!" Coffey brings her approach to book form and I now believe it should be required reading for every MBA candidate, as well as entrepreneurs, business owners and anyone else in the business world.

[Lee Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tabatha Coffey is a role model to me. I have been a fan of hers since "Shear Genius," and I will continue to follow her anywhere. That's why it's such a shame that her style and passion don't translate very well to print.

This would be a great self-help book...for someone who'd never read a self-help book before. All the advice is boilerplate--yes, it's good advice, but nothing I haven't heard a thousand times before, and expressed better. Without seeing and hearing her deliver the advice, there is just something missing.

Much of the advice here is business-based, and a good deal is salon or other small business focused. It is easily applied to all aspects of life, though.

Another detriment is the format: there are boxes, case studies, bullet points, and Cosmopolitan level easy and dumb quizzes in every chapter. That's just too busy!

I love Tabatha, but I'll stick to the TV shows from now on.

[Iroquois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always liked her show and seeing her observe and then advise salon owners how to fix their businesses, like a Gordon Ramsey of beauty parlors:)
Her book is a simple breakdown of her business philosophy from her shows, in book format so you reference it easily and take it from there.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had the thought that you are meant for more? Want your job to be your passion? Can you really turn your passion into a money maker? Let Tabatha Coffey, Star of Bravo’s hit television show, Tabatha Takes Over, set you straight and help you discover for yourself.

Within the comfort of your own home, you can get your hands on Tabatha’s school of hard knocks, straight forward, personally designed advice, with the reader in mind. Whether you already have a business, are thinking of starting a business, or at a place that you need that extra help to save a struggling business, Own it!- Be the Boss of Your Life- at Home and in the Workplace, has the answers you’ve been looking for. From office etiquette, to fact seeking interview questions, Tabatha Coffey takes a contemporary approach to everyday business problems that block owners from the success that they are destined to have.
Through the easy to read tips and highlights, Tabatha teaches you how to own your own successful business. Asking yourself hard questions and learning the difference between a passion that can support you, versus a passion that is meant to relax you.

Once you’ve made the decision to start, Tabatha walks you through a business plan highlighting a market analysis and mission statement. All, while helping you design who you are, as well as how to present your business in a concise professional manner that is enticing to potential investors, or even clients.

Take a walk in Tabatha’s high heels, through her style empowerment makeover. Along the way, she teaches you the basics on self-branding, business branding and money sense. Learn how to tackle negativity and scrutiny from others and walk away with the confidence you need to succeed.

Highlighted with Case Studies, Mind Your Own Business sections, Chapter Highlights, and Tabatha’s Final Take Down, all easily found and designed to reinforce what you’ve learned, or be a quick refresher for when you really need it. Own It! is an easy to use, reader friendly book with the no nonsense approach and advice for any person looking for the secrets of obtaining success in their own business endeavors, as well as their personal lives.

you can find more of my reviews and giveaways in my newspaper column For the Love of Books-Dixon's Independent Voice, or the online newspaper: http://dixon.patch.com/blogs/for-the-... / and my horror book reviews in the magazine Dark Discoveries.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was going to be about taking control of all aspects of your life. Really it was just a book about starting your own business and literally being your own boss. That being said, she gave lots of great advice for business owners. Should I ever start my own business, I'd definitely read this again.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be more self-help than it was. It ended up being mostly business advice with a few things that also apply to personal life. It wasn't necessarily a bad book, just advertised wrong. If you're starting your own business (especially a salon) this is worth a read. No nonsense get to it guide to being the boss.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, kinda basic. I am a fan of Tabatha and I read her first book and really enjoyed it. This seemed like an obligatory second effort with some good tips, but not much else that hadn't been covered before. It was a small and easy read, so I don't feel it was a waste of time.

[Aytan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straightforward, easy to read, full of advice and many real-life cases to learn from. I enjoyed reading every line of it and find it very useful.

[Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Own It! is a great, simple and empowering read. I love Coffey’s no bull approach because it’s very similar to mine, and it gets things done! This book includes exercises to get people in this “own it” mindset. It can be very repetitive, same idea different face. This book will have more of an impact for those who don’t own anything at all. For the rest of us, I don’t think there is much insight or of use besides humor and reinforcement. My favorite part of this book is Coffey breaking down the acronym for B.I.T.C.H. I now use it all the time!

[Tom Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good, basic, straightforward, no nonsense, book about basic business ideas. It is probably aimed at soul proprietors and individual small businesses. People with very little business experience. Advice makes sense, but there is nothing groundbreaking here.

[Nahed · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Audiobook on Storytell app and it’s amazing experience that I couldn’t resist not finishing the book at one shot.
Feeling like couching session or chatting with a Successful senior stakeholder that expanding my views to business and management.

[Lamees Alrasheed · Rating 4 out of 5]

she really give it to you, there is no sugar coating here!!

i like it and i think it's what we need sometime. but i think it is more for business.

[Traci D'Antonio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely love Tabitha! In fact I’ve paid to meet her in person! She is gorgeous and lovely. I just am not a tough love person.....

[Vicki Marmillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her TV shows and this book was exactly what I anticipated. It was really informative and I recommend it for anyone that is at a crossroad about their job, or their life in general.

[Alyssa Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for hairstylist and buisness perspective

[Yana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for business owners.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very practical advise from someone who has probably seen it all.

[Lia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh! She's brutally honest with her opinions and so is my opinion of this book. She gives her perspective and repeats it quite often with different examples, but with the same conclusion. I love her tv shows, however.

[Angélique Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fulfilled all my expectations! Except that I wished it had been longer and with many more details.
If her on-screen persona can seem rude, full of expletives and bitchy, I truly believe that Tabatha Coffey's real character is the one of a perfectionist who always strives for the best, setting high standards for others, but most of all for herself.
The format of this book is simple: each chapter is devoted to an area of one's private or professional life that would need improvement, and not least of all a long honest look, followed by dozens of responses to professional questions, asked to her by followers and fans. Real-life situations are used to illustrate each point, and every chapter contains an homage to Tabatha's mother, Norma, the strong woman who shaped her into the successful person she is today.

I must confess that I really love Tabatha's character. I discovered her while flipping through Norwegian TV channels one afternoon and I caught a re-run of her Salon Takeover on FEM. I was immediately hooked and, with Gordom Ramsay's and Hellstrøm's kitchen takeover programmes, it's the only reality show that I've ever followed. I believe some of the situations are staged, and the language is over-the-top, but the advice is always relevant and, in the end, fair and profitable, as she takes over places of business.

I believe that Tabatha has come to an age and a stage in her career when she can really work on developing a brand, not only as a stylist, but also as a motivational speaker or coach. The advice she gives is honest and proactive, and the complete opposite of the behavorial patters that most people have interiorised, i.e. passing the blame, wallowing, being nasty instead of tough, not being in tune with themselves,... Of course, you'll surely appreciate the book better if you read it thinking about Tabatha's voice... It really reads like she's taking over our life, for the duration of a couple of hours, but if you put her advice in practice, the benefits will last for many years.
I particularly appreciated her take on reputation and branding, as well as the emphasis she puts on work-life balance, which is my personal struggle.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I start my review of this book, let me start by saying that I’m a huge fan of Tabatha Coffey’s tv show. I’ve watched it since it first started, and it gets better every season. Tabatha is confident, straight-forward, doesn’t put up with nonense and gives good simple advice.

This book reads exactly like she talks on the show, so it’s no surprise that I highly enjoyed it. The only difference between the book and her show is that (1) she’s talking directly to you the reader, and (2) there are lots of personal snippets and anecdotes mixed into the advice. This personal touch makes the book much more entertaining.

The book really boils down to a lot of basic common sense advice. But sometimes you need to be reminded of those things. The book covers business and personal things to help you “own it”. For instance, there are some great sections on the preparations you should do if you want to start your own business. Since I’m not interested in starting a business, I found the personal sections more applicable. All of it was solid advice though.

Overall, this was a great book full of great advice. The strength of personality that came through in the writing was amazing, and was the best part of the book. If you’ve ever watched her show and wished she could talk to you, this book does just that. Just be prepared to follow through with action because this book almost demands it.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reader, I am biased - I am a huge fan of Tabatha's show and her work on the show. In this book, Tabatha offers some solid pieces of advice. The formatting of the book is excellent. I was able to skip around and read the parts that I found relevant. Overall, I "read" the book (237pgs) in two sittings, about 2 hours total. It's a fast read to find the bits that fit your life. The book is really focused on business owners, but I feel that everyone, even hermits, could use some of the advice. Also, the end of each chapter presents a bullet point summary. I really appreciated the topics Tabatha chose to cover, and I especially found the interview questions to be helpful.

[Connie Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tabatha, wish her show would return to Bravo. It's a good read for anyone that's starting their own business and a boss trying to deal with their employees in an effective manner. She says the things we all wish we could say, like telling one of the employees that work in one of her "take over" salons that she looked like an f-ing disco ball, lol. Tabs has some great solid business advice, very quick read!

[Linda Marini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to guide you to focus on the issues that should take priority when you are thinking of starting a business, have started a business or are currently running a business.

BONUS - As I preordered this on Amazon and downloaded it the day it came out, I only paid 10 cents for this book! It pays to follow your favorite authors and preorder!

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mothers alike

Tabitha Coffey's "Own it!" was a fresh reminder of things my mother taught me. If you did not like something, change it instead of whining that your discontent is someone else's fault. If you do something wrong, fess up to it and make it right. The sad part is that as simple as the lessons are the more difficult they are for quite a few people in this world.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Tabatha, so naturally I enjoyed this book. She had lots of great tips and I love the stories she told about her personal experiences. The only down fall was it was mainly geared toward business owners or people in management positions. I would have liked to see it geared more towards home and personal life. Otherwise, it's a great read!

[Phillip Guillory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a long-time fan of Tabatha Coffey, having watched Tabatha's Salon Takeover from early on. This book reads easily and very much in her voice. Some solid advice to be had and enjoyable throwbacks to the show (though without naming names, for I suppose copyright reasons). Also appreciated the business insights as my own career progresses in new ways.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabatha Coffey has a 'cut to the chase' attitude which is refreshing to read. She is tough, but also recognizes how important constructive attitudes and behaviors are to both inner and material success.

[Bobbi Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight shooting Tabatha Coffey nailed it in this book! She shared her wisdom and knowledge as a small business owner and coach as well as providing an insight into her personal life. It was an awesome read!

[Dru Pagliassotti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came to this book with no idea who Tabatha Coffey was; I just liked her hair and the cover statement, "I have made grown men cry like babies." Alas, if Coffey indeed has that power, you won't find it in this rather tepid collection of anecdotes and advice.

[Lynn Cornwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book would be interesting to those that like her tv shows that are new to the workplace. For those that have been in the business world for a while, this is too repetitive without any new information. I really like Tabatha and her shows--just didn't think the book was helpful to me.