Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times

Easy Read Motivational Interesting Personal Narrative

I enjoyed learning about the many different large businesses Huntsman was involved with and how his personal code of ethics was not tarnished as he made his money.

He sets a good example for anyone to follow. His personal insight into the Nixon problems was enlightening.

Very easy to read and fast. Informative, yet entertaining.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Nice guys don't always finish last.

I really enjoyed the book Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times, New and Expanded Edition by Jon M. Huntsman and found myself reflecting on its messages even as I considered decisions in my own life that illustrated his point. The book emphasizes that nice guys don't always finish last and that's a great message and especially poignant one in times like these.

In summary, this inspiring book highlights the importance of always doing what's "right." Through personal stories and plenty of real-life examples Huntsman lays out his theory that when you operate from a position of integrity and consistently make decisions in line with that, things work out as they should.

I personally appreciated the timely reminder of the importance of being a trustworthy individual who behaves honestly and ethically, even when it is tempting to shirk that responsibility. Truly, all you have left when you look in the mirror at the end of the day is your character, reputation, and the confidence that you have behaved properly.

We all KNOW what is right, but sometimes, instead of owning up to it, we'll make excuses or try to rationalize decisions. Compromising our integrity like that almost always leads to problems down the road.

Huntsman talks about how each of us has a "Moral Compass" and that since deep down we realize what is right, we should use it, as it generally serves us well. When we conduct ourselves in the right way, doors open in the end - even if parts of the journey can seem more difficult.

He also focuses on the importance of giving back, that honesty and generosity go together. So often, when we aren't feeling generous, we don't behave properly. Selfishness can distance us from integrity. In fact, Huntsman has put his money where his mouth is: all author royalties from this book go to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.

As I was reading the book, I was dealing with a situation that highlighted for me how easily we can be tempted to make the wrong decisions. We were in the process of renting our home and one potential tenant showed up offering a big cash payment up front to rent our home for one year. He was asking for discounts in return for the advance rent and was making claims of how he'd buy the house at the end of the year. He didn't seem trustworthy and we didn't like how he conducted himself in our limited dealings with him.

I wasn't confident that he would be a good steward of our home and I didn't feel completely comfortable with him, but that much money all at once, right after Christmas and right before tax time, was appealing.

At the same time, we also were considering another family that we found to be endearing, but for whom the house could be out of reach for purchase. We expected that they would pay their rent and honor the lease and really appreciate the opportunity to live there, but knew that it wasn't a slam dunk that they'd buy the house.

In the end, we turned down the pile of cash in favor of providing a rental home for some genuine and wonderful people. We realized that it might mean finding different buyers at the end of the rental period, but went with our gut and did what we felt was the right thing.

That situation reinforced for me that the most expedient or appealing choice right now is not always the correct one. This is true in business and in life and I highly recommend this book as a refresher for anyone who endeavors to live their life by higher principle

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

The basics - without this - nothing gets accomplished.

An easy to read yet interesting review of the basics...of how to live with our fellow human beings - applied to every day life and more specifically the business world. This is not "new age feel good" but advice for how to live in the 9-5 world. Keep a copy of this book close to you at work. Give one to your children - especially the high school/collage age ones. The wisdom in this book applies to everyone, but might be too late for some who have moved down the path of ethical misconduct. If we would follow the advice in this book, our world would be in great shape.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Why bother with the sample?

I got the sample of this book to see if the writing style and basic philosophy were things that would be understandable, versus just the rsmbling statements of someone with more time and money than common sense. However, I still can't tell you about it, bevause the entire 'sample' is nothing but the publishing info, table of contents, dedication page and foreward. Um, ok, why offer a sample at all? I guess that's why he is wealthy - never give away what you can sell. So, it sounds like it has the potential to be interesting, but he didn't want to share even 2 or 3 pages of the actual writing with potential customers. Good luck on your book, but the sample was completely useless.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great, simple wisdom

Great little book offering simple, direct guidance about the importance of "doing the right thing", living by the golden rule, that if everyone followed would result in a better world. Should be required reading especially for those wishing to run for President or Congress.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Up to the Hype

Not Up to the Hype, July 9, 2009
By Michael Gooch "Author of Wingtips with Spurs:... (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This is not a review but rather an opinion.

For me, this book contained a plethora of celebrity blurbs, forward, etc. and then didn't deliver near to the expected level. While it shows the author is well connected in high circles this does not always translate to a great book. In fact, some of the celebrities are mentioned in the book thereby paving the way for the blurb. In my mind, that is a little like cheating.

At times, I felt I was reading an ode to the author that he had penned himself. When you publicly champion certain virtues and attributes, this gives me the impression that you possess each one. While we know that no one can possibly reach this goal, it therefore becomes an exercise in vainglory. I also found the book too preachy for my liking. It is not a news flash that we should conduct ourselves and our business dealing in a moral fashion. A more helpful book would have been Huntsman's views on what to do with the immoral once they are weighed and measured. There was too little corrective action steps and too much preaching to the choir.

For a book that utilizes a large font and is approximately 6" X 5" it is a very quick read. Indeed, several pages are taken up with a single quote.

While there is nothing new in this book, I can give it three stars for its value in serving as a reminder to all. While my opinion may sound rather negative, it really isn't. I just feel like people should know what is behind the hype.

A five star book of this ilk is Further Up the Organization: How Groups of People Working Together for a Common Purpose Ought to Conduct Themselves for Fun and Profit by Robert Townsend.

I hope you find this review helpful.

Michael L. Gooch, SPHR

1 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended!

No matter what business you¿re in, these principles apply to your work and your life. None of them are new - honor, fairness, honesty and respect are as old as time - but this is a refresher course that reinforces what you already know about morality and ethics. Author and successful business leader Jon M. Huntsman can cite himself as living proof that you don¿t need to compromise your core values to become a success - or even a billionaire. If you¿re a leader or aspire to be a leader in any field, this quick read is well worth your time. We recommend it to help you focus on values that the modern world often tramples. The message is sweet, simple and clear: stick to your beliefs staunchly, even if it costs you in the short term, because character, integrity and long-term results are what really count.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a philanthropic guy!

I learned who Jon Huntsman was years ago, watching Glenn Beck on CNN. This gentleman is amazing! Im excited to read this book, as he is such a generous individual but he doesnt want publicity...He is for sure leaving a legacy with his family. I can't wait to see what happens in the next couple of decades.

Great book

Simply amazing,we should all want to be better people.

This was a good read and more people should hold themselves to this level.

I found this bood inspiring and a very good blue print to how someone should operate inside and outside the board room. The more I read the more I felt Jon Huntsman influence upon my own thoughts. It's a quick read and yet very valuable - of course like most things, you get out of it what you put into it. Put Jon's principles into action and you'll find such an amazing result!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An important read !

When you loose sight of your existence, whether due to your "career" pressures or "whatever" - this is an important read to remember how any form of success in your life should be "painted".

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing, life-changing book

Mr. Huntsman is an amazing person and after reading this book I feel compelled to tell as many people as I can about him. Everyone should read this book. His thoughts on leadership, integrity, courage, and fair play are invaluable to the business world and every day life. I will read it over and over again!

Integrity and Strength of Character -- What is Missing from the Workplace in 2009!!!

There were a few stories Jon Huntsman narrated in his book, which had a profound impact on the employee, leader, and human being I aspire to be.

1) Mercy and being Merciful: Winning the prize but being viewed as predatory and without Mercy in the end by all who watched.

2) Integrity & Covenant: I gave my word and my seal (handshake) on this deal. It took a while to pen the deal, prices went up, but my word does not change. If it does, then I fundamentally change the Respect and Trust my employees, family, and I have in myself.

3) Lawyers: Advisors period. Although he did not reference it, Michael Corleone made this very clear to Tom Hagen, when he was making the critical decisions and pivotal moves in GF II. "I trust you and know you want to help, but you are a Concigliere, not an Enforcer." Play your position on the team, REAL WELL. Accept the fact, CERTAIN people and positions were never meant to do more than one thing.

4) Loyalties, Tributes, and Allegiances: There is a whole generations of people who only know about Watergate as a "political blemish" in a President's legacy and America's history. Jon provides an insightful and VALUABLE look at a lesson I learned my first semester of graduate school: know when gratitude for a job or opportunity definitively ends and irrevocable damage to one's integrity begins. If you did not earn it through your honest actions, then it is a "debt" - whether emotional, financial, or sexual, expected to be repaid.

Thank you Jon Huntsman for the following words of inspiration:
"Adversity introduces a Man to himself."
"He proffered blind loyalty to Nixon and demanded the same from his staff. I saw how power was abused and I didn't buy in. One never has to."
".Whistleblowers, individuals who usually are neither disloyal nor disgruntled employees. They were frustrated about an internal warning system that wasn't operational or valued."

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