- Written by Judy Chapman
- Published in Guidance
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"Knowing Your Value" by Mika Brzezinski

Going through several detours in her career, she finally became co-anchor on the morning political show, Morning Joe. As the show became successful, she was aware that she was being paid considerably less than several of the other men on the program. Joe Scarborough, for example, the key host of the show was getting paid 14 times what Mika was earning! If you ever watched the show you will know that was not fair or reasonable. The salary gap bothered Mika big time. On various occasions, she would approach the "top brass" with little results. Even Joe realized Mika was underpaid. One year he shared his year-end bonus with Mika. Finally, she concluded that she could not continue to work for a company that did not value her fairly. Getting tougher and smarter in her salary negotiations has brought her much closer to where she thinks is reasonable.
This is an excellent read. Her point that women often put more value on being liked than being paid their value is frequently a stumbling point in negotiations. Every working woman who has to swim with the sharks can learn from this book. What makes the book important is that Mika takes the blame for accepting these conditions. She doesn't try to hide behind excuses. It is the ultimate book on personal accountability.


Judy Chapman
Judy Chapman founded Garden State Woman, Inc. in 1998 and the Garden State Woman Education Foundation 501(c)3 in 2007. In recognition of the need for women everywhere, including New Jersey, to take firmer control of their futures and their families’ futures - in a world that is still not equally balanced between the opportunities and rewards provided men and women - for equal efforts in many aspects of their personal and professional lives.
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