Once upon a time, in a land not far from here, Jane lived an entirely different life. She rose early each morning, showered, donned appropriate attire (dictated by others), and drove her little car for a 40 minute commute to an 'office' wherein she performed certain duties assigned to her by others. The location of this office was in a technology start-up in Jane's home town.

Jane was in charge of sales and marketing in this office, in this start-up, in her home town. Jane had many ideas and made hundreds of contacts for 'the others' who controlled her daily tasks. During Jane's time working for 'the others', she was fortunate to notice a box of books about to be thrown out, located in the hallway leading to the parking lot. In this box (of course Jane shifted through it...it was a box of books!), Jane discovered a marvelous book...an inspirational book...a book that inspired Jane to change her life.

When 'the others' dismissed Jane, (though no reason was given, Jane knows it was because 'the others' had run out of funds and despite Jane's best efforts to lead them down a more profitable path, they chose to stay stuck where they were) Jane decided to be a peacock in a land of penguins.

That was what the book Jane culled from the heavy box in the hallway of that incubator convinced Jane to do. That book, A Peacock in the Land of Penguins carried an even more compelling subtitle:"A Fable about Creativity & Courage." It was this subtitle that caught Jane's eye. A book about creativity and courage, "what a find!" she thought.

And she was right. BJ Gallagher Hateley and Warren H. Schmidt, authors of the 157 page book, weave the tale of Perry the Peacock, and how he came to be in the land of the Penguins, where it was well-known that, "If you want to be successful, be like us." That, so the Penguins told all their little Penguins, "is the way we do things here." Certainly, this assured the older Penguins that the pecking order would never be disturbed. And, isn't that just dandy?

Perry Peacock did not think so. He was "bright, colorful, and noisy." Yet, in an effort to fit in, Perry folded his tail and wings, and kept his head low, and tried to observe the proper Penguin ways. This, of course, did not work for long. Perry was not a Penguin, and the harder he tried to fit in, the more he discovered that while he could pretend to be like the Penguins, in his heart of hearts, he was still a Peacock, and each passing day that he passed as a Penguin, only made him increasingly unhappy.

As the fable goes on, Perry plans to bring other colorful, exotic birds to the land of the Penguins. Perhaps this was his attempt to gather reinforcements. Unfortunately...yes, dear reader, you can predict what happened. The new birds joined Perry in his frustration because they had come to the land of the Penguins "with such high hopes and great expectations," wanting to "contribute and be successful," but they were met with "quiet criticism, stifling conformity, and subtle rejection."

In the end, Perry and the other exotic birds leave the land of the Penguins for the "Land of Opportunity" where all the birds were encouraged (think of that!) to "express themselves freely.

" The motto in the "Land of Opportunity" was: E Pluribus Maximus. (Greatness from Many.)

The moral of the story is this: the exotic birds learned, through trial and error, that the "Land of Opportunity" is not a place, it's a state of mind.

At the end of the book, the reader is treated to tips and tools on how to "build a corporate culture of creativity" and how to "capture the talent, energy, and commitment of all employees." In other words, examples of how to teach "penguins to fly."

This book is for all entrepreneurs. For all innovative thinkers. For men and women who have been beaten down by corporate bullies intent on an agenda that serves only them, not the company as a whole. Jane has tried the Penguin way. She would rather be a Peacock. Wouldn't you, also, dear reader?

Show your true colors. The world is waiting to express its awe. If a Penguin gets in your way, politely and gently, nudge him or her aside. Then give a little wave as you go on your way.

What's not to like about that?