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Author Kanter once had a highly distressing day. Looking back on it for any redeeming memories, she suddenly remembered that, at some point, someone had held the door open for her. It was a revelatory moment and set her searching, and finding, life’s positives for herself and those she counsels. Here she shares engaging stories from four women she has helped. In a chance meeting, Kanter helped Stacey Kent realize her true goals. What followed was an amazing series of happenings, including overseas exploration and the chance to become a French teacher. Rhonda Ronsman faced many challenges, including a battle to overcome drinking and smoking, and writes a letter to her younger self to celebrate her victories. Born in Hanoi, Van Thanh Nguyen describes her many travels and Kanter’s assessment that she was on a “soul-seeing trip.” The author was Theresa Nemetz’s mentor at a critical time in her career; Nemetz is now a highly successful businesswoman, crediting her fresh perspective to Kanter’s mentoring approach.
Telling her own story briefly as an introduction to the contributions from those who acted on her advice, Kanter openly recalls her transition through many careers, gradually taking on the role of mentor as events in her own life turned her in that direction. Her enlivening philosophy resonates throughout. Even if all seems well, one can still search for possibilities as one experiences life’s twists and turns, since transformative intuitions may come not from failure, but from the lack of effort needed to create lasting success. She questions her mentees, hinting at new scenarios, and encouraging them to take the reins and guide themselves to new plateaus. Her insights and those of the women she aided can provide inspiration and motivation to readers, especially women, seeking to enhance their potential for success and satisfaction.