Most Popular Books by Rachel Bertsche

"All new moms should shove a copy of The Kids Are in Bed in the diaper bag between the asswipes and Aquaphor! A perfect guide on how-to not morph solely into someone’s mom and retain your badassery in a world of Disneyfication and baby sharks.” —Jill Kargman, author of Sprinkle Glitter on My Grave and creator of Odd Mom Out Picture it—it''s 8:30 p.m. You close the door to your child''s room just as you hear your partner closing the dishwasher, and now it''s time for an hour or two of glorious freedom. What do you do? Read the book you''ve been waiting to crack open all day? Chat on the phone with a friend, glass of wine in hand, or go out with pals and share a whole bottle? Or, like many modern parents, do you get caught up in chores, busywork, and social media black holes? In an original survey conducted for this book, 71 percent of parents said their free time didn''t feel free at all, because they were still thinking about all the things they should be doing for their kids, their jobs, and their households. Rachel Bertsche found herself in exactly that bind. After dozens of interviews with scientists and parenting experts, input from moms and dads across the country, and her own experiments with her personal time, Rachel figured out how to transform her patterns and reconnect to her pre-kids life. In The Kids Are in Bed, other parents can learn to do the same, and learn to truly enjoy the time after lights-out.

For fans of The Happiness Project and The Year of Living Biblically comes a pointed look at our fascination with celebrities, as one woman strives to remake herself in the image of her favorite stars. What woman hasn’t seen pictures of Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, or Beyoncé and wished she had their clothes, their abs, their seemingly flawless lives? For Rachel Bertsche, these celebrities are the epitome of perfection—self-assured and effortlessly cool. Yet lately, between juggling her career, her marriage, and her dream of becoming a mother, Bertsche feels anything but put together. In Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me, Bertsche embarks on a quest to emulate her Hollywood role models—while sticking to a budget—to see if they really hold the keys to happiness. While trying to unlock the stars’ secrets, from Sarah Jessica Parker’s wardrobe to Julia Roberts’s sense of calm to—maybe one day—Jessica Alba’s chic pregnancy, Bertsche learns valuable lessons. A toned body doesn’t come easy or cheap, avoiding social media can do wonders for your peace of mind, and confidence is the key to pulling off any outfit. But can she immerse herself in the A-list lifestyle and still stay true to herself? And will her pursuit of perfection really lead to happiness? Praise for Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me “If you’ve ever had a celebrity girl crush, stick Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me in your beach bag. Bertsche is your people.”—Associated Press “[A] super-fun social experiment.”—PureWow “Bertsche ups the ante. . . . The well-researched information on celebrity culture provides food for thought.”—Booklist “What makes Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me work is Bertsche’s honesty. . . . [She] is funny, creative and, more importantly, manages to stay sane.”—Boston Herald “An entertaining memoir about a woman’s attempt to model her life on those of stars.”—Tampa Bay Times “A worthy narrative.”—The Boston Globe “Bertsche blends elements reminiscent of Julie & Julia and The Happiness Project in this ‘self-improvement journey.’ . . . The process not only provides Bertsche with fruitful writing fodder but also prompts readers to examine their outlook on perfection, self-acceptance, and aspiring to be one’s very best self.”—Publishers Weekly Praise for Rachel Bertsche’s MWF Seeking BFF “Written with verve, insight, and humor . . . Bertsche writes cleverly, but not glibly, about the challenges young women face today.”—Chicago Tribune “[A] charming, funny chronicle.”—People

When Rachel Bertsche first moves to Chicago, she’s thrilled to finally share a zip code, let alone an apartment, with her boyfriend. But shortly after getting married, Bertsche realizes that her new life is missing one thing: friends. Sure, she has plenty of BFFs—in New York and San Francisco and Boston and Washington, D.C. Still, in her adopted hometown, there’s no one to call at the last minute for girl talk over brunch or a reality-TV marathon over a bottle of wine. Taking matters into her own hands, Bertsche develops a plan: She’ll go on fifty-two friend-dates, one per week for a year, in hopes of meeting her new Best Friend Forever. In her thought-provoking, uproarious memoir, Bertsche blends the story of her girl-dates (whom she meets everywhere from improv class to friend rental websites) with the latest social research to examine how difficult—and hilariously awkward—it is to make new friends as an adult. In a time when women will happily announce they need a man but are embarrassed to admit they need a BFF, Bertsche uncovers the reality that no matter how great your love life is, you’ve gotta have friends.

The only official guide to the kick-a** world of Netflix’s Emmy Award-nominated and globally beloved show Cobra Kai. Rachel Bertsche’s The Kick-A** Book of Cobra Kai is a celebration of the superfans—an essential companion to the show acting as a master sensei ready to guide readers through the karate-crazed San Fernando Valley. The legacy of The Karate Kid and Cobra Kai continues with never-before-seen photographs and illustrations as well as interviews with Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso), William Zabka (Johnny Lawrence), Martin Kove (John Kreese), Xolo Maridueña (Miguel Diaz), and Mary Mouser (Samantha LaRusso). The show’s creators present an unprecedented look inside the making of Cobra Kai and the writing, directing, and production of this beloved franchise that has grown from scrappy underdog to a global phenomenon. Hear directly from the show’s crew and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into fight choreography from the stunt team; journey with the set designers through the Valley, from the magical retreat of the Miyagi-do dojo to the humble strip mall that houses the Cobra Kai dojo; and learn from the composers how the bada** soundtrack for the show was conceived. And MUCH MORE! Remember: Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy.

The popular actress shares funny stories about her misadventures with romance to offer offbeat advice on navigating the bizarre, chaotic, and ultimately worthwhile challenges of finding love.

Traducere de Adina Cobuz E ora 20.30. Tu închizi ușa de la camera copilului, iar partenerul tău pune mașina de spălat vase, semn că urmează o oră sau două de libertate deplină. Ce faci? Citești o carte? Stai de vorbă la telefon cu un prieten, cu un pahar de vin în mână? Ieși cu prietenii? Sau, ca mulți părinți moderni, te lași absorbit de muncă ori de gaura neagră din ecranul telefonului? Într-un sondaj realizat special pentru această carte, 71% dintre părinți au declarat că timpul lor liber nu e, de fapt, deloc liber, pentru că se gândesc încontinuu la lucrurile pe care ar trebui să le facă pentru copii, serviciu sau casă. Autoarea s-a lovit și ea de această problemă, dar, după zeci de interviuri cu oameni de știință și experți în parenting, a învățat cum să-și schimbe obiceiurile și cum să revină treptat la viața dinainte de a avea copii. „În această carte, Rachel Bertsche ne învață cum să ne bucurăm de timpul liber după ce copiii merg la culcare.Rachel Bertsche, jurnalistă și mamă a doi copii, îi încurajează pe părinții de pretutindeni să găsească (sau să-și facă) timp și pentru sine… Cartea oferă o serie de recomandări clare, care ne pot ajuta să reducem așa-numitul „deficit de fericire“ care apare după ce avem copii.“ — Publishers Weekly „Acest ghid bine structurat și foarte util vine cu o nouă abordare în materie de parenting: timpul liber al părinților devine o prioritate.“ — The Chicago Tribune „Ca părinți, suntem prinși într-un vârtej continuu; cu greu reușim să avem grijă și de noi. Cartea aceasta ne învață, în stilul ei amuzant și bine documentat, cum să ne oferim câteva clipe de relaxare.“ — People

A missed promotion, measly pay, a truly horrible boss: some signs make it easy for an employee to know it''s time to leave a job. But sometimes the signals aren''t so blatant--especially when it comes to project managers. Making the decision to leave an organization is often easier said than done. This article identifies five red flags common to project managers when wondering if it''s time to take the next step. These five signs often signal it''s time to leave a company: changes in company direction; budget cuts; dead ends; communication holdups; and work-life imbalance. Each sign that is discussed includes a tip to consider before leaving. Accompanying the article is a sidebar listing three signs a company isn''t doing enough to retain talent.

Creativity is no longer just the province of artists, writers and musicians. Organizations grappling with rapid technological change and sudden strategic challenges -- which is to say, most -- see it as a survival skill. According to a 2017 PwC report, CEOs rank creativity as one of the top five most important skills in an employee. And 77 percent of them say it''s difficult to recruit individuals who excel at creative and innovative thinking.

According to PMI''s Pulse of the Profession® research, engaged sponsors drive project success. Both project managers and sponsors can reap the rewards of building a stronger relationship by applying seven strategies that emphasize communication before project kick-off and throughout the life cycle.

Eight common causes of project cost estimating errors and how to avoid them--from relying overmuch on past costs, to embracing public-sector optimism, or dealing with executive pressure for unrealistic timelines--"A Low Tolerance for Error" offers solutions to these common pitfalls.

In the context of building the right talent mix across the portfolio, ensuring long-term practitioners stay on the job proves to be a sound strategy, even though job-hopping is the new normal. Portfolio managers offer tips on how to keep experienced project managers committed to their positions by providing them with new opportunities such as leadership roles in improving business practices, by keeping abreast of their aspirations, and by maintaining a balance of diverse projects.

"Starting Out Right" profiles four early-career project managers who share how they began their careers, offering practical insights from the front lines. Through volunteering, attending and organizing conferences, cultivating mentorships and gaining valuable on-the-job experience through internships, they landed project management positions in financial services, telecommunications and media, engineering and software.

According to 72 percent of participants in a 2014 Economist Intelligence Unit research program sponsored by PMI, talent management will become increasingly important to strategy implementation and execution in the next three years. "This Way Forward" surveys the steps smart companies are taking to expand the pipeline of talent, such as social media recruiting, trainee programs for recent graduates, and alternative interviewing strategies.

Faces go blank, mobile phones come out, and people start checking email and Facebook. These are the telltale signs of a presentation gone wrong. This article provides presentation skills tips to help you make your next presentation a success. Following these tips will help you hook your audience from the start: Cater to the crowd; stay on message; illustrate the point; be consistent; keep it short; create pass-along value; and practice, practice, practice.

Today''s volatile economic climate has prompted a conservative financial mind-set for project managers in many sectors. The always-important task of controlling the budget has become a primary focus on virtually every project. This article discusses how communication and control may help project managers strike a balance between managing costs and meeting goals. It overviews how increased competition and savvier customers are creating a need for cost management that''s defensive or conservative from a project''s start. Then it details one of the first steps when taking on any project: understanding costs and identifying risks. The article describes how to provide an accurate assessment of realistic goals at the outset of the project, specifically noting how to set an accurate project cost baseline and how to ensure consistent tracking against the budget throughout the project''s execution. It also examines the final component of a defensive project strategy: the allocation of contingency reserves. The article discusses successfully monitoring costs and maintaining a strict budget. Accompanying the article are two sidebars: The first identifies three areas for cost cutting; the second looks at three drivers of project success.