Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics
The same skills and strategies can propel an aspiring executive to the top of any organization, be it the Podunk High School Student Council, the Acme Xylophone Corporation, or the government of the United States of America. The student council president may be an unpaid volunteer, and the Acme CEO may bark out orders in an office that is rectangular, not oval. But the paths that lead to those positions are remarkably similar to the trail that ends so gloriously at the front door of the White House. Author G. Scott Thomas spent two years examining the lives of nearly two hundred presidential candidates—winners and losers, the famous and the obscure—with an eye for the tactics and qualities that served their careers well or damaged them beyond repair. He has distilled their experiences into a comprehensive guide to success, Advice from the Presidents.

Thomas's book offers a wealth of advice, quotations, and anecdotes that are pertinent to any up-and-coming young man or woman. Which strategies for advancement are effective and which are doomed to fail? Which personal traits should be emulated and which are detrimental? Presidential candidates have learned the answers the hard way, earning the education of a lifetime in the gritty, cutthroat arena of national politics, a field as competitive as any to be found in corporate America. And now, for the first time, their valuable knowledge will be made available to ambitious executives and eager students across the country. Readers will learn the seven time-tested steps that can transform a would-be chief executive or U.S. President into the real thing: Decide upon your long-term goal. Develop your skills and interests. Polish your image and your people skills. Organize a network of mentors and helpers. Control your inner demons and your opponents. Maneuver to improve your position. Succeed with grace and serenity.

In this book, readers will follow the career paths of famous American politicians. There have been smart presidents and unintelligent ones, honest and dishonest ones, diligent and lazy ones. But all of these master politicians have remarkably different skills and personalities but had one thing in common. They all followed the same seven-step career plan detailed in Advice from the Presidents. And so can any ambitious person in any walk of life.

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Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics
The same skills and strategies can propel an aspiring executive to the top of any organization, be it the Podunk High School Student Council, the Acme Xylophone Corporation, or the government of the United States of America. The student council president may be an unpaid volunteer, and the Acme CEO may bark out orders in an office that is rectangular, not oval. But the paths that lead to those positions are remarkably similar to the trail that ends so gloriously at the front door of the White House. Author G. Scott Thomas spent two years examining the lives of nearly two hundred presidential candidates—winners and losers, the famous and the obscure—with an eye for the tactics and qualities that served their careers well or damaged them beyond repair. He has distilled their experiences into a comprehensive guide to success, Advice from the Presidents.

Thomas's book offers a wealth of advice, quotations, and anecdotes that are pertinent to any up-and-coming young man or woman. Which strategies for advancement are effective and which are doomed to fail? Which personal traits should be emulated and which are detrimental? Presidential candidates have learned the answers the hard way, earning the education of a lifetime in the gritty, cutthroat arena of national politics, a field as competitive as any to be found in corporate America. And now, for the first time, their valuable knowledge will be made available to ambitious executives and eager students across the country. Readers will learn the seven time-tested steps that can transform a would-be chief executive or U.S. President into the real thing: Decide upon your long-term goal. Develop your skills and interests. Polish your image and your people skills. Organize a network of mentors and helpers. Control your inner demons and your opponents. Maneuver to improve your position. Succeed with grace and serenity.

In this book, readers will follow the career paths of famous American politicians. There have been smart presidents and unintelligent ones, honest and dishonest ones, diligent and lazy ones. But all of these master politicians have remarkably different skills and personalities but had one thing in common. They all followed the same seven-step career plan detailed in Advice from the Presidents. And so can any ambitious person in any walk of life.

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Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics

Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics

by G. Scott Thomas
Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics

Advice from the Presidents: The Student's Guide to Reaching the Top in Business and Politics

by G. Scott Thomas

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Overview

The same skills and strategies can propel an aspiring executive to the top of any organization, be it the Podunk High School Student Council, the Acme Xylophone Corporation, or the government of the United States of America. The student council president may be an unpaid volunteer, and the Acme CEO may bark out orders in an office that is rectangular, not oval. But the paths that lead to those positions are remarkably similar to the trail that ends so gloriously at the front door of the White House. Author G. Scott Thomas spent two years examining the lives of nearly two hundred presidential candidates—winners and losers, the famous and the obscure—with an eye for the tactics and qualities that served their careers well or damaged them beyond repair. He has distilled their experiences into a comprehensive guide to success, Advice from the Presidents.

Thomas's book offers a wealth of advice, quotations, and anecdotes that are pertinent to any up-and-coming young man or woman. Which strategies for advancement are effective and which are doomed to fail? Which personal traits should be emulated and which are detrimental? Presidential candidates have learned the answers the hard way, earning the education of a lifetime in the gritty, cutthroat arena of national politics, a field as competitive as any to be found in corporate America. And now, for the first time, their valuable knowledge will be made available to ambitious executives and eager students across the country. Readers will learn the seven time-tested steps that can transform a would-be chief executive or U.S. President into the real thing: Decide upon your long-term goal. Develop your skills and interests. Polish your image and your people skills. Organize a network of mentors and helpers. Control your inner demons and your opponents. Maneuver to improve your position. Succeed with grace and serenity.

In this book, readers will follow the career paths of famous American politicians. There have been smart presidents and unintelligent ones, honest and dishonest ones, diligent and lazy ones. But all of these master politicians have remarkably different skills and personalities but had one thing in common. They all followed the same seven-step career plan detailed in Advice from the Presidents. And so can any ambitious person in any walk of life.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780313356636
Publisher: ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date: 06/30/2008
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
File size: 426 KB

About the Author

G. SCOTT THOMAS has been a journalist for over thirty years, specializing in stories about business and demographics.The author of over one hundred articles for national magazines like American Demographics, Savvy, and The Wall Street Journal, he has also written seven books, including The Rating Guide to Life in America's Small Cities, Leveling the Field, and The Pursuit of the White House (Greenwood).

Table of Contents


Preface     xi
Cast of Candidates     xix
Deciding     1
Ambition, when under control, is a good impulse     4
There's nothing wrong with wanting recognition     7
A healthy ego is fine, but egomania is dangerous     10
Don't shape your career to please someone else     11
Excessive caution can destroy your chances     14
Your competitors are only human, so don't be awed     16
Women must work harder and be tougher     17
Minorities must work harder and be tougher     20
Health problems don't have to be impediments     22
It doesn't really matter where you grew up     24
If you want the top job, make the top effort     26
Developing     31
A college education (Ivy League or not) is essential     35
Emotional intelligence is as important as IQ     37
Get out and experience all that life has to offer     40
Develop and demonstrate leadership qualities     43
Don't become a dull and dreary workaholic     45
Learn the blessings of patience     48
If your family gives you a leg up, say thanks     49
Personal wealth can certainly come in handy     52
Assume jobsof greater and greater responsibility     53
Always keep your bandwagon on the move     57
Polishing     61
Break out of your shell, but don't go too far     64
A good (or bad) speech makes a lasting impression     67
Invigorate your career with a touch of stagecraft     70
Reach people through their funny bones     72
Don't be shy about blowing your own horn     75
Write for publication, or have someone do it for you     77
Looks do matter, so spiff up your appearance     79
Establish a positive reputation, and keep it     83
If you want to be a leader, you must exude strength     85
Organizing     89
Find somebody who can teach you the ropes     93
Hire the best staff you can, and get out of its way     95
Expect your loved ones to work alongside you     98
Count on friends for help and a fresh perspective     101
Keep expanding your professional network     104
Collect chits from anyone you can     106
Make alliances with anybody who can help you     108
Controlling     111
If you don't have to speak, keep your mouth shut     115
Stay upbeat, humble, and as cool as possible      118
Avoid controversy and extreme statements     120
Maintain your flexibility to keep up with the times     123
Don't obsess about popularity or margin of victory     126
Don't give a potential rival an inadvertent boost     128
If you have an addiction, battle it fiercely     130
Don't let your temper get the best of you     132
Mollify (or ignore) potential enemies when possible     134
If an enemy attacks, defend yourself vigorously     137
Certain enemies can actually help you advance     139
Maneuvering     143
Subtlety and charm are the keys to manipulation     146
If danger lurks, shift the onus to someone else     149
Spin your negatives into positives     152
Tell the truth whenever you can, but lie if you must     154
Labels can only weigh you down, so avoid them     157
Cut ties with any ally who becomes a liability     159
If success hinges on making a deal, make it     162
If the rules are slanted against you, change them     166
Succeeding     169
Realistic analysis is always better than blind faith     173
A resilient spirit can overcome any setback     176
You can still reach your goal at an advanced age     179
Intelligence and skill do not guarantee success     181
Timing will often be beyond your control     184
Acknowledge the importance of pure, blind luck     186
Don't fall victim to jealousy and envy     190
Conduct yourself with grace, especially in defeat     192
Exult in your success, and do the best job you can     195
Recognize when it's time for you to leave the stage     198
Don't lose track of what's really important in life     200
Notes     205
Bibliography     217
Index     227
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