Success Without the Sugarcoat strips away the polish and clichés often associated with leadership and growth. Instead of promising shortcuts or glossy frameworks, the book offers raw, practical insights into the realities leaders face every day, messy, unpredictable, and deeply human.
Each chapter addresses a core truth: visibility matters more than perfection, language shapes leadership, the right circle accelerates growth, listening outperforms talking, clarity anchors chaos, and integrity lasts longer than quick wins. Together, these lessons show that success isn't about chasing highlight reels, it's about persistence, resilience, and the courage to show up honestly.
What makes this book different is its unfiltered approach. The chapters are concise, direct, and paired with "Ready to Poke the Bear" prompts, practical challenges designed to move readers from reflection into action. These exercises push professionals to examine their habits, shift their perspectives, and apply the ideas in real time, whether leading a team, building a business, or navigating personal growth.
Rather than presenting theory or one-size-fits-all models, Success Without the Sugarcoat emphasizes that leadership is a practice. It evolves through daily choices, small risks, and the willingness to step forward even when things are uncertain. The book's tone is candid and unapologetic, making it as much a field guide as it is a mirror for entrepreneurs, executives, and change-makers who are ready to embrace the unpolished side of success.
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Jodi-Tatiana Charles is an award-winning marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and global business leader with extensive experience driving growth and transformation across media, technology, energy, and nonprofit sectors. She is the founder of LCG Brands Consulting, a global marketing and business development firm with subsidiaries including Necto Publishing, La Capoise Arts, and the "Minding Your Business with Jodi-Tatiana" podcast. Through these platforms, she has guided clients on five continents in achieving brand expansion, visibility, and measurable growth.She has held high-profile leadership roles including Interim Chief Marketing Officer of The Endowment, a $1.6 billion philanthropic foundation, where she led a full-scale rebrand, strengthened communications capacity, and produced a comprehensive retrospective documenting impact. At the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, she served as Director of Small and Diverse Business Engagement, expanding partnerships and resources for underrepresented businesses. At MassChallenge, the world's largest startup accelerator, she enhanced global visibility and media engagement for high-impact early-stage entrepreneurs. Earlier in her career, she served as Deputy Press Secretary for the Governor of Massachusetts, and held senior media positions at NBC Universal, CBS Radio, NECN (NBC/Comcast), and iHeartMedia, producing content and campaigns for nationally recognized platforms.Her business impact has been recognized globally, including honors from Forbes Next 1000, the Go Global Awards for Professional Services and Marketing, and the MassChallenge Mentor Lifetime Achievement Award. She is also a sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, and advisor to accelerators, corporations, and nonprofits worldwide.Through strategy, creativity, and execution, Jodi-Tatiana has built a career defined by helping organizations adapt to disruption, amplify their message, and achieve sustained growth and influence.