Page 29 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

10 • CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization

their career; you’ll find out darn good, practical information that works
for them so that you can incorporate it into what will work for you.
Many of the things they spoke about were as a mentor to me rather
than from a corporate or policy position. To relay relevant information,
get the full color and context of their content, but not go “on the record”
with attribution, I use, “One CEO said . . .” and more frequently I just
differentiate the quote from the body of the text like the one that follows.

D.A., you quoted me in one of your books. Although, I liked seeing
my name in print when perusing the book stores, people thought I
was speaking corporate policy when I was just trying to provide some
inside insight. Plus, I received way too many résumés with people
using my words back to me in their cover letter....You know I’m
always willing to talk to you and try to be of help to your readers,
so now I’d be grateful if it’s not directly attributed.

I agreed because my goal was (1) to have the CEOs feel comfort-
ably candid; (2) to include everything of value to be of help to you;
(3) to provide highly confidential, frank, and honest advice; and (4) to
have it feel like you and I and a bunch of CEOs were sitting around at a
barefoot beachside bar (or at lunch at the Trump) chatting as friends
thinking along with them. Some quotes are attributed because they are
a matter of public record. Regardless, it doesn’t matter which specific
CEO said what exact words. What matters is that their advice and recom-
mendations are more similar than dissimilar and strikingly doable—and
they are willing to pass it on to you.
This book will dissect and explain realistic evaluation standards for
the leadership foursome of craftsmanship, confidence, constant com-
munication, and collaboration with coworkers—all needed to be called
a “trailblazer,”...“groundbreaker,”...“firefighter,”...“rainmaker,”...
“water walker,”. . . or “slammer,” in those closed-door management
development meetings.
My goal for you reading this book is that it’s a vehicle for your steep
“free climb” up the vertical business world where there are no fixed paths
and no fixed rules. My wish is that you, my reader,

■ Evolve as a person.
■ Learn about the world.