Madeleine Albright -- Dave Barry -- Tony Blair -- Terry Bradshaw -- Tom Brokaw -- Ben Carson -- James Carville -- Debbi Fields -- Robert Gates -- Barry Gibbons -- Rudy Giuliani -- Sal Giunta -- Doris Kearns Goodwin -- Alan Greenspan -- Lou Holtz -- Morton Kondracke -- Ted Koppel -- Mike Krzyzewski -- Stew Leonard Jr. -- Mary Matalin -- Chris Matthews -- George Mitchell -- Liz Murray -- Scott O'Grady -- Colin Powell -- Robert Reich -- Mary Lou Retton -- Condoleezza Rice -- Willard Scott -- Tom Sullivan -- Peter Ueberroth -- Judy Woodruff -- Lee Woodruff -- Bob Woodward -- Epilogue: Bernie Swan.
Summary:
First-person accounts of growing up and becoming successful, from thirty-four of the speakers William Swain represented as co-founder of the Washington Speakers' Bureau. Starting a business is a wonderfully naìˆve venture. Only a fortunate few will survive--and very few of those who thrive will have something special to say about failure, success, and leadership. Bernie Swain is one of those few very fortunate people. He quit his job in 1980 to start a lecture agency with his wife and a friend. By the end of their first rocky year--just as his savings were running out--Swain's first revenues trickled in. He began signing every speaker with a handshake; this proved to be the hallmark of trust that helped accelerate the company's growth. Years later, his roster of speakers would be the greatest in history since America's first agency represented a host of notables such as Mark Twain, Susan B. Anthony, and Frederick Douglass. The best of Swain's fortunes turned out to be the speakers themselves because these remarkable leaders had become his personal friends. What Made Me Who I Am captures the leadership transformations of 34 of those friends--from Doris Kearns Goodwin to Colin Powell, Terry Bradshaw to Tom Brokaw, and Tony Blair to Dave Barry. This assembly of people defines a generation. What were their most powerful influences? Defining moments? Decisions that contributed the most to their character and accomplishments? Swain captures answers to these questions and more in an inspiring, practical collection of true-life stories for leaders today. What Made Me Who I Am is also a terrific gift book for graduates and others who are just starting out in life.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.