By Jean Hollands

Jean on the Job

I have just returned from New York and my meeting with Diane Sawyer for our first promotion of my new book, “Same Game, Different Rules: How to Get Ahead Without Being a Bully Broad, Ice Queen or Other Ms. Understood.” Readers tell me they are curious about how this all works.

We -my colleague Suzann Manteufel and I - were flown to New York, wined, dined, and housed at the Millennium Hotel, across the street from the stage entrance to ABC’s “Good Morning America.” An escort picked us up at 6:45 a.m., and we embarked on our foray into show biz land. They’d told us to come camera ready, which I just can’t ever be. There are always these lines and bulges that won’t seem to avoid the camera. So they picked at my hair and said my face was as good as it gets.

Then we waited in the green room. Julia Roberts and people like Colin Powell get their own private waiting room. There were no major guests on with us; the editor from McGraw-Hill was there and the publicist from Elle magazine, where the first article appeared and prompted the producer’s call. I came with the requested Bully Broad Membership certificate for the producer, Sue Carswell. She loved it. She is one. She says most producers are. By the way, we “in” people just call “Good Morning America” GMA!

Diane Sawyer is not a bully broad. She was great and sweet and took pictures with us. She wore a lacy blouse and business suit to show it can be done - power and vulnerability in one executive woman. She is renowned in the industry for getting what she wants, but doing it with the very grace that in my book I beg women to show. They had taped our Bully Broad Group. In five minutes it was over. We were exhausted.

We were escorted back, with a piece of paper explaining that they are always worried NBC’s “Today” show will steal away one of the guests from the hotel lobby.

Katie Couric and company were just down the street. McGraw-Hill has a high-rise blocks away. The theaters are everywhere, and Central Park is gorgeous. New York is clean: no rubbish, no sleeping homeless, no graffiti - at least on Times Square and Broadway.

We are now being called to interview with “Dateline NBC,” the New York Times and People magazine. Better order my book now, even though it isn’t in stores until after Aug. 19. McGraw-Hill says after 10,000 preorders they will start to advertise.

I must say, though, they are pretty impressed with “Good Morning America.” They told me only 5 percent of major authors get that show. Thanks for your support, our town!

Jean A. Hollands, CEO, Growth and Leadership Center, was voted Business Woman of the Year in 1986 and 1996. Write to GLC, 1451 Grant Road, Mountain View 94040.