It is becoming increasingly clear that the effects of work and life stress are costly both to the individual and to the organization. Everyone experiences work and life stress, yet many people are more stress resistant (hardy) than others. Several factors appear to be quite predictive of the stress resistant employee. These include the perception of stress; the practice of good daily health habits; the expressing of less Type A behavior; satisfaction with social support networks; and an involved, committed, and empowered outlook. Hardy Type A persons can be distinguished from less hardy Type A's by their internal, rather than external, commitment to aspects of work and life. Previous research suggests that for working women, even if it is possible to "have it all," something may have to go and that may be the women's health. In a study of 350 employees, professional working women reported significantly lower overall health habits than their working male counterparts. Professional working women reported significantly more work and life stress and a less optimistic outlook on life than did men. Health promotion programs with targeted and specific outcomes may produce better success than those trying to be everything for everybody. Companies committed to employee health promotion may wish to succinctly define what organizational and individual outcomes they are targeting and structure their programs and interventions accordingly. (ABL)