Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft: Excerpt
In her honest and engaging debut memoir, Worthy: From Cornfields to Corner Office of Microsoft (January 23, 2024; paperback), former Microsoft executive, Jane Boulware, shares her story of growing up poor in the corn fields of rural Iowa where her future was predictable and expectations were low, stay on the good side of the church and the law, in that order. Jane knew that in order to change her circumstances, it was going to take hard work and a determined spirit!
But Worthy is more than just a tale of personal triumph and achieving millionaire status by the age of 40. Blending humor, introspection, and grit, Jane confronts societal norms and the demands of corporate America once arriving at that level. Diving deep, she shares not only her successes but also her personal struggles and a season of life where she battled with bulimia. Jane also challenges the conventional belief of success as an end goal, proposing its true essence lies in how many we empower and uplift along the way.
Beyond sharing her unconventional path from poverty to success, Jane has a loftier goal. All proceeds from Worthy will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of America’s Youth of the Year scholarships!
We’re delighted to share this excerpt!
Introduction
Truth is, I was never meant to be successful and did so while no one was looking. Too scrappy to fail, too stubborn to give up and too scared to let others down, Worthy is a journey of grit, wit and learning self-worth is not defined by what others say, expect or have, but by what you make, claim and give of what you got. These stories are what I got to give.
Born the fourth kid in a one-bedroom house, my path was forged long before me: get married, make babies and stay on the good side of the church and the law, in that order. The law did me no favors, but a gnarly nun did, securing a $320 scholarship to a future I didn’t know existed. I left for college before my folks knew I was gone, selling dad’s used carpeting and mom’s prayers to pay my way.
Penniless and married at 20 years old, I had an MBA at 24, first saw the ocean at 25, commuted to South America each week at 31, brought two sons into the world by 35, was a millionaire at 37, and was one of a select few Microsoft executives at 40.
Along the way to the corner office, I’ve been hit on, spit on, shot at, yelled at, a zero and a hero. I’ve been called a bulldog, a bitch, brilliant and inspiring all on the same day. Dismissed and underestimated by many, often myself, I sought relief through addiction, found support from the least expected, and hope when it mattered most.
I’ve learned on the journey I am worthy as I am. I didn’t have to earn it or prove it. No one gave it to or took it from me. I didn’t become it. Worth didn’t come in a Tiffany’s box, a graduate degree, a bank statement, or a title. I didn’t lose it with failure or get more with success. I am worthy as I am. And so are you.
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About the Author: From the cornfields of Iowa, Jane Boulware defied expectations to lead billion-dollar businesses and rise as a top Microsoft executive. By 52, she’d launched three major ventures, navigated the US’s largest merger, and left a trail of influential leaders behind her. Passionate about empowering others to recognize their worth, Jane now dedicates herself to mentoring, board service, and cherishing outdoor moments with her family. All proceeds from her book WORTHY are committed to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Youth of the Year scholarships. She lives in Bellevue, WA.
For further information visit www.janeboulware.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeboulware/
https://www.facebook.com/janeboulware4
Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing
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