It Worked for Me; In Life and Leadership
Brooks Kraft (Author photograph) New York: Harper [An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers], 2012. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. xii, [2], 283, [5] pages. Author's Note. Afterword. CLP Bookplate signed by Powell on fep. Colin Powell, one of America’s most admired public figures, reveals the principles that have shaped his life and career in this inspiring and engrossing memoir. Powell’s It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership is a trove of wisdom for anyone hoping to achieve their goals and turn their dreams into reality. A message of strength and endurance from a man who has dedicated his life to public service, It Worked for Me is a book with the power to show readers everywhere how to achieve a more fulfilling life and career. Colin Luther Powell (April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American Secretary of State. He served as the 15th United States National Security Advisor from 1987 to 1989 and as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. In 2007, he joined the board of directors of Steve Case's new company Revolution Health. Powell also served on the Council on Foreign Relations Board of directors. In 2008, Powell served as a spokesperson for National Mentoring Month, a campaign held each January to recruit volunteer mentors for at-risk youth. Tony Koltz is an American writer. He wrote The Battle for Peace with General Anthony Zinni, and Battle Ready with Tom Clancy and General Zinni. His book on American foreign policy is Before the First Shots Are Fired: How America Can Win Or Lose Off The Battlefield (2014). From a Publishers Weekly article: Hard work, straight talk, respect for others, and thoughtful analysis worked for the former secretary of state and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to this plainspoken memoir–cum–leadership manifesto. Powell distills aphoristic principles—“Get mad, then get over it”—out of anecdotes from adolescent summer jobs, military commands, diplomatic furors, and celebrity encounters. Targeting the business audiences he entertains in public-speaking events, he assures readers—his executive’s-eye view of leadership includes tips on hiring and firing subordinates, and soldierly metaphors for corporate strategizing. There’s much inspirational sense drawn from Powell’s matchless range of managerial and political experiences. Derived from a Kirkus review: With the collaboration of Koltz, Powell continues his life story. The author rose in the military to become “the first black Army officer to have a four-star troop command.” He was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the first Iraq war and served as secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. The release of his first book, My American Journey, fueled a groundswell campaign to nominate him for president in the upcoming election. However, he recognized that he was not cut out for the job despite his proven leadership strengths. He describes how, as he advanced in rank, his military training also prepared him for his role in government. He learned the importance of always focusing on the mission, being resolute in the face of danger and setbacks, not being governed by ego and maintaining a can-do spirit. A good leader, he writes, accepts responsibility for the failure of those in his command, but makes sure to reward them for their successful missions. Unlike the corporate world, the Army recruits from within its ranks, which makes recognizing potential and providing continuing education a primary concern. Powell reviews his profound disagreements with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney on the handling of the war in Iraq, while taking full responsibility for mistakes made on his watch. An inspiring and useful memoir from a significant figure in 21st-century American politics. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: Leadership, Battlefield, Performance, Potential, Mutual Respect, Powell Doctrine, Pottery Barn Rule, Iraq War, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Public Speaking, Staff Work, Success, Workplace
ISBN: 9780062135124
[Book #85466]
Price: $250.00