The idea behind this fun but thought provoking read is never consider yourself to be ordinary, never think of yourself as invisible and most of all always consider yourself as an adventurer. Be someone who is ready to embrace change especially as you get older, be prepared to experiment with colour and most of all “Never Succumb to Beige”.
Not succumbing to beige is about wearing your metaphorical high viz vest with flair and panache—being true to who you are and what you bring to the world. Each chapter will make the reader stop, think, reflect and hopefully see that life is a journey not all about pleasing other people but pleasing most importantly yourself. The content is drawn from the authors own colourful life, traversing the joys of schadenfreude, strategic giftbuying, the value of teeth, and lessons to be learnt from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Frances Manwaring explores ground rules and tactics for avoiding the beige word. Along the way she shares her wisdom and philosophies, with reference and deference to legends like George Eliot, Cleopatra, and Coco Chanel.
Self-deprecating and revealing, perceptive and funny, Frances Manwaring’s writing, like the non-beige approach to life itself, will lead you to unexpected and exotic destinations. A delightful and entertaining read about blazing a colourful trail through life.
About the Author:
Becoming co-owner and managing director of creative agency Moxie in 2010 was a
natural extension of a career focused on helping great ideas reach the world.
Other career highlights include co-founding several businesses, including a
pioneering technology start- up and holding senior management and governance
roles in four countries across several sectors. Frances is an essayist at
heart—a bit of a word nerd and loves entertaining people through her eclectic
observations.
She has written magazine articles, Sects & the City, a column on business networking; The Anger of Princes; a novelette about the final days of Anne Boleyn (a degree in Medieval History explains this interest); and created an exhibition and short book, Food Futures: The Face of Tomorrow. She also ghost wrote an autobiography for NZ’s top real estate agent a few years ago. Most recently, she launched a book drawn from her professional practice, Brands with Moxie: Eight Steps to a Winning Brand.
Originally from the Scottish Highlands, Frances was London-based for 14 years before moving to New Zealand in the mid-nineties, and now lives in Wellington.