When I was growing up, I was always intrigued by how successful people got to where they were. I desperately asked some business colleagues, but did not receive the answers I requested. In this search, my thirst for knowledge was never quenched, until I stumbled upon a book called “From the Sandbox to the Corner Office” that relieved me. With insights and honesty from business legends, this book explores the experiences of those who learned by making mistakes and by grasping opportunities.
About the Author
Eve Tahmincioglu is the “Your Career” columnist for MSNBC.com, the author of the book I’m holding in that picture, as well as a blogger. She understands the importance and demand for blogging as a supplement to traditional journalism and even offers a mailing list, so people can keep up with her hectic life. She’s a regular contributor to the New York Times and BusinessWeek’s SmallBiz magazine. Eve has also bought her domain name or shall I say “personal brand website.” With 20 years of experience writing about workplace issues and hosting daily newspapers from New York to Florida, Eve has seen it all and shares her experience daily.
You Think You Know Them – But You Have No Idea!
In the book, 50 executives are profiled, but I’m going to stick with the biggest and most reputable personal brands for this review.
- Richard Parsons, CEO of Time Warner: His dream job is to be a piano bar player.
- Pernille Spiers-Lopez, President of IKEA North America: Her first job as an adult was a tour guide.
- Brian Gallagher, President of the United Way: He is afraid of failure more than anything else.
- Ralph de la Vega, COO of Cingular Wireless: The person he respects more than anyone is Martin Luther King Jr.
- Christie Hefner, CEO of Playboy Enterprises: Her bad habit is rushing and her good one is trying to always be kind.
Now for lessons learned
- Parsons: “A great leader doesn’t need people revering him or her. A leader needs to develop a trust with subordinates so they can readily disclose bad news.”
- Pernille: “You have to accept that working your way up the ladder is American way of doing business. It’s not always about connections.”
- Brian: “Focus on the job at hand, not advancement, if you truly want to be successful.”
- Ralph: “If you don’t take a chance and leave your comfort zone you will not be able to advance in your career and your life.”
- Christie: “Keep your smart, on-the-ball rivals close so you can have the best team around you and learn from their expertise.”
There is way more where that came from, but I don’t want to ruin the book for you. If you have an appetite for success, you must read this book.
