A Book Review: Empty Mansions

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Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
By: Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
  1. If you care about something, you'll make it happen to every detail
    • Throughout her whole life (until age 104) Huguette love dolls and doll houses. Not as playthings, but as ornate beautiful pieces of art. She commissioned so many detailed projects and would politely reject things if they weren't right like the width of a door. It doesn't matter what it is that you're passionate about, but it shows when you fawn over every bit of it.
  2. Honestly, it's not the wild west anymore
    • It's sad but true, the world just isn't like the goold ole' days of striking gold in a mine, or banking as an entrepreneur. In the book, Huguette's father first got rich by buying eggs and carrying them across country to winter Montana. The land isn't free, information moves fast, and the economy is global. To become a millionaire, it take a similar brain but a different application. It's tough!
  3. Always be polite
    • One of the things that didn't surprise me in the book is in her old age, Huguette threw money at problems to solve them, even a friend's health. But what was a bit surprising to me in the book was everyone said she was so generous. Not just with gifts of large sums, but even when saying no and sending something back that "wasn't good enough", she was always warm and friendly. I'd like to be remembered that way too.


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A consultant in the software sector, I love to write about the challenges and opportunities that I run across on a daily basis with clients, colleagues, and even friends. There's inspirational lessons to be applied to business practices everywhere!

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So if you want to be happy at work like I am, then thanks for being a reader! I am a consultant that travels constantly and is always working with new people. I love what I do! I'm formally trained with an MBA and BS Engineering. At home and in my free time, I like to drink beer, travel, garden, read, hike with my dog, and play board games.

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