Doing Business in a Palm Beach Taxi

"Doing Business in a Palm Beach Taxi" is a true fun-filled story of two women in South Florida building a multi-million dollar business on a $50 investment. It became a reality when women were not even allowed to have their own credit cards or bank loans. This is my story, of a fabulous life spiced with humorous southern childhood memories, and, later, claiming my financial freedom on the island of Palm Beach among the rich and famous. I was a music teacher, and women were at the forefront of change... Haphazard Designs Inc. was launched in 1976. The story is remarkable in its content of women working together, learning business principles and practices through dogged determination to succeed. It is a tale of laughter and tears, persistence and patience, and of the endurance required in its steady uphill struggle by women on the rise. The lessons learned are universal and to be shared by all.

Building a million-dollar business on a fifty dollar investment is the dream of many; and yet, for us, two women from south Florida, it became a reality during a time when wives were not even permitted to have their own credit cards, much less get a bank loan. My story of running a manufacturing business with sweat and tears and no experience is spiced with southern humor and plenty of courage. Haphazard Designs, Inc. was launched in 1976. The story is remarkable in its content of women working together, learning business principles and practices through patience, endurance and dogged determination to succeed. We were on the forefront of change…

Suzanne Bonner Briley was the first woman graduate in the school of music at Florida Atlantic University. She was born in Macon, Georgia, growing up with an ambition to become a great pianist. Suzanne became a music teacher, single mother with two children, and found her way to her first million dollars on a fifty dollar investment sewing cushions. Briley has appeared on national television, listed in "Who's Who in American Women," and "Who's Who in Industry and Finance." She is a newspaper columnist for Current newspapers. This is her first book. Growing up in an eccentric family filled with practical jokes and music making, gave my life a different perspective. What fun! Most likely, the freedom and challenges of finding my way to financial freedom sprouted from those creative days of piano playing, pranks, spontaneous ideas and vision. After finishing school, I set off to see the world, marrying, having children, studying piano in Holland and finally becoming the first woman graduate in the school of music at Florida Atlantic University. Later, as a single mom teaching in Palm Beach, Florida, writing for a newspaper and sewing cushions, I found myself among the rich and famous with my own need to become financially free.