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Ahead of Her Time: How a One-Woman Startup Became a Global Publishing Brand
Inspiring memoir by entrepreneur Judy Piatkus, who launched her startup at a time when mothers were not expected to be businesswomen and grew it into a highly successful international brand. The story of a pioneer of female entrepreneurship, values-led management and the rise of personal development publishing.
Judy Piatkus did not come from a monied background and began her career as a secretary after failing to achieve a university place. By the time she founded Piatkus Books from her spare bedroom, she was married with a disabled small daughter and pregnant with her second child. Gradually she learned how to be both a publisher and a managing director and to combine that with her family life as she had become a single mother of three. A lot of mistakes were made but she also got a lot of things right. The company prospered, thanks to the risks Judy took in tackling new subjects in the marketplace and also her approach to running the company, which focused on transparency, honesty and trust and was rewarded by the loyalty of the staff, many of whom worked alongside Judy for upwards of twenty years.
Throughout the book Judy describes her learning experience as an entrepreneur, what it really means to run a company, the many triumphs and the pitfalls, what worked and what didn't, how the company learned to reinvent itself through lean times and how it felt to finally strike gold.
Judy Piatkus did not come from a monied background and began her career as a secretary after failing to achieve a university place. By the time she founded Piatkus Books from her spare bedroom, she was married with a disabled small daughter and pregnant with her second child. Gradually she learned how to be both a publisher and a managing director and to combine that with her family life as she had become a single mother of three. A lot of mistakes were made but she also got a lot of things right. The company prospered, thanks to the risks Judy took in tackling new subjects in the marketplace and also her approach to running the company, which focused on transparency, honesty and trust and was rewarded by the loyalty of the staff, many of whom worked alongside Judy for upwards of twenty years.
Throughout the book Judy describes her learning experience as an entrepreneur, what it really means to run a company, the many triumphs and the pitfalls, what worked and what didn't, how the company learned to reinvent itself through lean times and how it felt to finally strike gold.
- GenresNonfiction
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 13, 2021
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 1, 2021
Did I know this book would hit me so hard it would become one of my reference books from the moment I started it? It is primarily targeted to the publishing industry so it might not be as appealing to other readers as it is to me, but for any hopeful out there, Judy’s words will immerse you in the hidden world of book production in a split second.
November 23, 2021
Great great book. I picked this up in the library as a new book. It interested me as I had been in business selling books I had purchased to school libraries. Wow what a great lady and so honest with the reader. It was very easy to read and I couldn't put it down. A great book even if you haven't been in business. This lady is amazing setting up this company without any real funding apart from bank loans and overdrafts. I also think that it was amazing that she could have two healthy kids and work around them. She also had a third child who was very handicapped. A great read
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April 11, 2021As someone who is looking to get into the publishing industry I found this book to be incredibly insightful. Judy Piatkus was definitely ahead of her time - I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in publishing.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.
August 23, 2022
I am unashamedly late to the party that @JudyPiatkus was Ahead of Her Time for.
A book of power and prosperity, written with heart and magic. Any business person will benefit from reading it.
Back in the 80s, this inspirational woman, publisher and author blessed me with a dinner invitation at her home to discuss a book I had written. I was a single mum in her twenties and my daughter was invited upstairs to play with Leah and watched over by her Nanny.
I had undiagnosed social anxiety and that evening must have been as excruciating for Judy and her then husband, as it was for me. She had graced me with the most amazing opportunity and I was frozen with feelings of inferiority- unable to take up the gift.
The book I was there to discuss was a novel. Judy rightfully told me that I was destined not to write fiction, but to move to the field of self-help. She offered to publish me in the self-help field but my attachment to my novel and fear of socialising crippled me and I turned her down.
Today, with the self-compassion that comes with age and wisdom, I forgive myself for this.
Judy Piatkus will always be an inspiration for me and countless other people whose lives she touched, as well as the readers of her mind-bogglingly enriching memoir.
A book of power and prosperity, written with heart and magic. Any business person will benefit from reading it.
Back in the 80s, this inspirational woman, publisher and author blessed me with a dinner invitation at her home to discuss a book I had written. I was a single mum in her twenties and my daughter was invited upstairs to play with Leah and watched over by her Nanny.
I had undiagnosed social anxiety and that evening must have been as excruciating for Judy and her then husband, as it was for me. She had graced me with the most amazing opportunity and I was frozen with feelings of inferiority- unable to take up the gift.
The book I was there to discuss was a novel. Judy rightfully told me that I was destined not to write fiction, but to move to the field of self-help. She offered to publish me in the self-help field but my attachment to my novel and fear of socialising crippled me and I turned her down.
Today, with the self-compassion that comes with age and wisdom, I forgive myself for this.
Judy Piatkus will always be an inspiration for me and countless other people whose lives she touched, as well as the readers of her mind-bogglingly enriching memoir.
April 24, 2021
‘Ahead of her Time’ is a fascinating memoir about Judy Piatkus who set up her own publishing house, Piatkus Book.
Attempting to start a career at a time when it was still hard for women to even have a career, Judy went one step further and set her own publishing house, Severn House before starting Piatkus Books. This is the story of how she built up an indie press to the huge success it became before it got bought by Little, Brown Book in 2007.
This tells the story of how her little indie press started in an office in her house with just a team of two to a team of twenty eight in a building in central London and the huge success it became.
Judy goes over the difficulties and challenges that she faced when owning your publishing house but the rewards you get too.
She was faced not only with owning her own publishing house but trying to figure out how to sustain a balanced life with a family of three. You learn a lot about her life as she was faced with going through a divorce and the choices that she was dealt with with a child growing up with cerebral palsy.
You could really feel the love she felt for her children and the sadness she felt with knowing that their marriage was no longer working. There was a couple of moments, I found myself choked up reading all about her story.
Judy was an outstanding woman who strived to do her best for her children and for the company, from ensuring her staff was looked after to author care.
She talks all about how she went from working in a publishing house to learning all about the business whilst also trying to figure out the ins and outs such as sales to marketing.
She also talks about the moments when she met the Queen and dabbled with other important people who worked in the book business.
It was such an interesting read and she goes into a lot of detail. I loved reading about such an inspiring woman. Despite the challenges she faced, she never gave up and succeeded in her dream.
I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking to go into publishing as its such an insightful read of owning your own publishing house and the insides and outs of the book business.
Attempting to start a career at a time when it was still hard for women to even have a career, Judy went one step further and set her own publishing house, Severn House before starting Piatkus Books. This is the story of how she built up an indie press to the huge success it became before it got bought by Little, Brown Book in 2007.
This tells the story of how her little indie press started in an office in her house with just a team of two to a team of twenty eight in a building in central London and the huge success it became.
Judy goes over the difficulties and challenges that she faced when owning your publishing house but the rewards you get too.
She was faced not only with owning her own publishing house but trying to figure out how to sustain a balanced life with a family of three. You learn a lot about her life as she was faced with going through a divorce and the choices that she was dealt with with a child growing up with cerebral palsy.
You could really feel the love she felt for her children and the sadness she felt with knowing that their marriage was no longer working. There was a couple of moments, I found myself choked up reading all about her story.
Judy was an outstanding woman who strived to do her best for her children and for the company, from ensuring her staff was looked after to author care.
She talks all about how she went from working in a publishing house to learning all about the business whilst also trying to figure out the ins and outs such as sales to marketing.
She also talks about the moments when she met the Queen and dabbled with other important people who worked in the book business.
It was such an interesting read and she goes into a lot of detail. I loved reading about such an inspiring woman. Despite the challenges she faced, she never gave up and succeeded in her dream.
I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking to go into publishing as its such an insightful read of owning your own publishing house and the insides and outs of the book business.
May 15, 2021
This is the story of how Judy Piatkus started and grew her company, Piatkus Books, and it is so much more detailed than I expected!
This is a real blow by blow account of how Judy first got into publishing, and then decided to create her own company, working from her spare room with a very small team for many years. I was surprised at just how upfront and honest this memoir was, from Judy discussing the finances of the business to the breakdown of her first marriage and so much more. I couldn’t believe that Judy was working on getting her company off the ground whilst raising a young disabled daughter and expecting another child - what drive she must have!
I have to be honest that this is a very business focused memoir - and it’s not written in that cheesy American motivational way which may appeal to some. Despite the aspects of Judy’s personal life which are included it can feel quite a clinical study of how she came to be a successful entrepreneur.
I would say that this is very much for people specifically interested in the publishing industry rather than those looking for motivation on their journey as an entrepreneur. If I’m honest, as someone who’s received rejection after rejection for publishing jobs recently, I found this a little depressing purely because it was such a different time to be trying to break into the industry, and whilst I may have misunderstood it sounds like it was a little less competitive than it is now! That’s just a heads up for any other publishing hopefuls feeling disheartened!
What is clear here is what an ambitious, fearless, intelligent and hardworking woman Judy is, and what a wonderful and supportive work environment she created long before flexible working was really a thing. She’s most certainly an inspiration for anyone trying to juggle family and career, not to mention anyone trying to break into a bit of a man’s world - and publishing bods will no doubt love the level of detail and history in this book!
This is a real blow by blow account of how Judy first got into publishing, and then decided to create her own company, working from her spare room with a very small team for many years. I was surprised at just how upfront and honest this memoir was, from Judy discussing the finances of the business to the breakdown of her first marriage and so much more. I couldn’t believe that Judy was working on getting her company off the ground whilst raising a young disabled daughter and expecting another child - what drive she must have!
I have to be honest that this is a very business focused memoir - and it’s not written in that cheesy American motivational way which may appeal to some. Despite the aspects of Judy’s personal life which are included it can feel quite a clinical study of how she came to be a successful entrepreneur.
I would say that this is very much for people specifically interested in the publishing industry rather than those looking for motivation on their journey as an entrepreneur. If I’m honest, as someone who’s received rejection after rejection for publishing jobs recently, I found this a little depressing purely because it was such a different time to be trying to break into the industry, and whilst I may have misunderstood it sounds like it was a little less competitive than it is now! That’s just a heads up for any other publishing hopefuls feeling disheartened!
What is clear here is what an ambitious, fearless, intelligent and hardworking woman Judy is, and what a wonderful and supportive work environment she created long before flexible working was really a thing. She’s most certainly an inspiration for anyone trying to juggle family and career, not to mention anyone trying to break into a bit of a man’s world - and publishing bods will no doubt love the level of detail and history in this book!
April 23, 2021
Life Lessons from a Legendary Publisher
Judy Piatkus is a legend in the world of publishing. At a personal level I will always be grateful to her and her team for giving me a valuable break thirty years ago. This book is a fantastic handbook for anyone who might be thinking of starting a publishing company, as well as a nostalgic treat for us old timers. But it is also much more than that. The modest glimpses that Judy gives into the challenges that she faced as a parent, reveal just how much good can be achieved by someone who does their best to do the right thing every day of their life. A matter of fact account of a fabulously successful life and career.
Judy Piatkus is a legend in the world of publishing. At a personal level I will always be grateful to her and her team for giving me a valuable break thirty years ago. This book is a fantastic handbook for anyone who might be thinking of starting a publishing company, as well as a nostalgic treat for us old timers. But it is also much more than that. The modest glimpses that Judy gives into the challenges that she faced as a parent, reveal just how much good can be achieved by someone who does their best to do the right thing every day of their life. A matter of fact account of a fabulously successful life and career.
October 3, 2023
Excellent! I appreciated the professional and personal stories of someone who was truly ahead of her time. Judy Piatkus published many ground-breaking books on subjects that have since become mainstream movements. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in book publishing, accurately reading trends, innovation, and a practical feminine-based approach to business and corporate culture. Thank you, Judy Piatkus for opening so many minds to new & healthier ways of thinking.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews