The creator of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" details the one-year experiment with saying "yes" that transformed her life, revealing how accepting unexpected invitations she would have otherwise declined enabled powerful benefits.

Thinking outside the box resulted in the best night of my life. Until I discover the man I spent it with is my new boss. Attending a secret party where clothes are optional wasn't a life goal of mine. But when the exclusive invitation ends up in my mailbox by accident... well. Who wouldn't be curious? It's not like I'm going to do anything. The handsome stranger I meet has different plans. One glance across the crowded party, and an hour later we're stretched out on silk. Our night together is glorious. No names and no regrets. But I'd forgotten there's always a price to pay for pleasure. I find out the cost when I start my internship. Because who is the new venture capitalist CEO? Tristan Conway, aka my handsome stranger. Powerful, determined, intriguing... and single. Oh, and he wants to see me in his office. Thinking outside the box got me into this mess. Now if I could just stop thinking about the boss...

When to say yes, when to say no to take control of your life.

Twenty years of improv comedy experience. Eight years speaking to companies and associations on applying improv to business and life. All boiled down to one big idea, contained in two little words: "Yes, And!" If you want to learn a simple technique that will transform your business, career, organization, relationships, and life, this is it. Rather than focusing on hundreds of different ideas and techniques, this book hammers home the one idea that thousands of audience members have resonated with: The simple power of saying, "Yes, And" instead of, "yes, but." What is, "Yes, And"? "Yes, And" is the attitude that builds great relationships, at work or at home. "Yes, And" is the approach that leads to creativity and innovation. "Yes, And" is the key to great leadership, sales, and customer service. "Yes, And" is the only way to take action and achieve your dreams. "Yes, And" is the thought process that allows you to improvise with the unexpected. "Yes, And" is the tool that helps you to break past limitations and embrace possibility. "Yes, And" is the mindset that lets you reduce conflict and stress in your life. In a nutshell? "Yes, And" is a little two word phrase that supports a big idea that will transform your business, career, and life.

From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together

Whether he's leading a company or leading the call for a better nation, storied New York businessman and philanthropist Bernard Schwartz believes in the power of optimism. Bernard Schwartz has dined with world leaders, cut a multi billion-dollar deal on the back of a napkin, and led a Fortune 200 corporation. From humble beginnings that saw his family moving regularly from apartment to apartment to take advantage of new lease discounts to his dramatic rise to CEO of a major aerospace innovator, the author's story is a narrative on the importance of character, intelligence, and a lot of good luck. In a time when stories about corrupt CEOs and unethical banking practices flood the news, Schwartz offers the notion that doing the right thing is a more rewarding road to accomplishment, and that when applied for immoral purposes even the sharpest skills will likely lead to a fall. As Americans today await the return of economic stability and politicians wage battle over the future of government programs, opportunity seems out of reach. But Schwartz, who grew up in Depression-era Brooklyn, believes that there are steps we can take as a nation to bring about a recovery and even growth. As a child, he watched men dress for work each day whether they held a job or not. He remembers the widespread deprivation that filled everyday scenes and the streets with breadlines. But he also recalls a hopeful people; a citizenry united in the pursuit of education, homeownership, proprietorship, and community improvement. Today, he champions investments in job creation, infrastructure, technology, and innovation as the means to get us back on track. With measured insight on the role the federal government can play in creating pathways to prosperity, the author discusses how the United States can again be a land of opportunity for all. In this inspiring example of a life well lived, Bernard Schwartz invites readers to look at their own opportunities, their own ideas, and even their fellow Americans and Just Say Yes.

Hazel Clarke had lost her job, her best friend, her home, and the man she loved. Now, three months later, she is back trying to piece together her life. Hazel has sworn off the seductive charms of Hollywood's leading men after being betrayed by her last two boyfriends. Unfortunately, she'll have to face her past and all the drama that comes from living in Hollywood and working as the personal assistant to the handsome and famous actor, Nick Sterling. Can Hazel trust that Nick is different from the men who've broken her heart, or will the ghosts of her past doom their romance before it even begins?