The Fearless Fish Out of Water: How to Succeed When You're the Only One Like You

Roffer, CEO of entertainment branding firm Big Fish Marketing, has long felt like a “fish out of water” in the office place (a convenient metaphor, to be sure, but also smart marketing). Instead of conforming to corporate culture, however, she learned to achieve success by turning “uniqueness into an advantage.” From her own experience and others’, Roffer draws seven “career-tested steps” to help anyone facing the daily problem of feeling “left out, undervalued, unheard, ineffective, or misunderstood.” Unsurprisingly, finding and accepting yourself is the first step; later steps encourage risk taking, open-mindedness and trusting one’s instincts. At first glance, chapters entitled “Find a Few Fish Like You” and “Swim in Their Ocean Your Way” seem counter to the book’s thesis, but are rooted in solid strategies: identifying what gives you comfort “so you can anchor yourself in your own uniqueness,” and observing closely the office ecosystem. Thoughtful, motivating and compassionate, Roffer does an excellent job laying out the give and take of corporate culture—and how not to get taken. (Feb.) (Publishers Weekly, February 23, 2009)