By Dan Neal, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 12, 2004

Barbara Taylor Bradford's novels often tell of strong women who overcome great obstacles to achieve amazing success. She knows what she's talking about. Her books have sold more than 70 million copies, been translated into 40 languages and been turned into 10 TV movies or miniseries. Her writing has made her one of the highest-paid women in the world, with an income last year of $7.36 million, according to the London Mail.

How does she do it? First, organization.

"When I see someone whose house is sloppy or whose office is sloppy," she says, "I see someone who's got a sloppy mind."

Second, she adheres rigidly to her "Six D's of Success": Desire, Determination, Discipline, Dedication, Drive and Distractions to be avoided.

But what's really paid off is a tried-and-true standby: hard work.

Though she hasn't needed the money for years, Bradford, 69, says she still works five days a week from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. ("Writing is a clear expression of thought," she says, "so really what I'm doing half the time is staring at the wall, thinking.") She takes an hour off for lunch, and she accepts no calls while working. ("My girlfriends know not to call me till after 5!")

"You've got to be ambitious, competitive even, if you're going to succeed," she says.

dan_neal@pbpost.com

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