No Greatness without Goodness: How a Father’s Love Changed a Company and Sparked a Movement

I hate to admit it, but most of the time, it takes an awful lot to keep me reading a book. There are so many other things biding for your time, responsibilities nipping at its heels, and unless a read is truly worthwhile and relevant (or entertaining), one could be forgiven for necessary prioritization that might leave many business books abandoned. Fortunately for all of us, No Greatness Without Goodness has a resoundingly relevant message, not just for businesses, but for anyone who believes that the attitudes that we assume every day, and the actions that we make as a result, can make a difference for the greater good.

Randy Lewis is himself an inspiring individual. A former senior vice president at Walgreens, this is largely the story of how he helped institute changes at Walgreens, a company that already had a history of values and inclusion, to hire more people with disabilities of all kinds. This was not charity, nor was it a PR stunt to muster media attention, but an honest-to-goodness conviction that the biggest difference one would be able to make for a person with disabilities would be to enable them to do for themselves, coupled with the belief that they couldn't just get the work done, but that they could excel at it if someone would just given them the opportunity.

This is also the story of a father's love for his son, and his willingness to do whatever it would take to understand and love him, despite society's tendency to overlook, shun and outright ignore those with disabilities, those who come across as "weird," as Lewis mentions. Through his love for his son, he realized the need through his own experience, for those with disabilities to be included and allowed to be everything that they're able to achieve, without being held back by ignorance, prejudice and fear.

Ultimately, this is the kind of book that forces you to sit back and examine yourself a bit as you go along. Like Randy Lewis himself mentions, a lot of times, he's not the person he wants to be, the first thing he would do in consideration to people (if he considered them at all), was to assess them, to judge them. Through the challenges of raising Austin, he changed, understanding became the ultimate goal, and you simply can not understand anyone else while you're actively assessing them from your own point-of-view. It's impossible to read this book and not examine yourself as you do it, and if you digest it as you go along, you may just find yourself changing as well. In a day and age where the most common news of corporate officers generally has to do with crimes and unfettered greed, the story Randy Lewis tells of Walgreens is refreshing and definitely relevant.

In theory, we live in a country where individuals with disabilities are treated equally and with respect. But in practice, our society falls woefully short. Instead of accepting the status quo, Randy Lewis chose to use his considerable sphere of influence to create a workforce where those with specials needs do not just survive but thrive. And he did this in a way that maintains profitability for his company (Walgreens) while cultivating a culture of respect for every employee. Words are inadequate to describe just how inspiring Randy Lewis' book No Greatness Without Goodness is. His journey is an uplifting story of how he was able to successfully merge the business needs of a corporation with the often overlooked human needs of the special needs community. This is a fast and fulfilling read and the courage, leadership and determination of Lewis and the employees with disabilities that he has helped will leave you in awe.

I adored this book. My uncle suffers with Multiple sclerosis and I hate seeing people treat him differential just because he does not look like everyone else and he cannot talk. I admire Randy for standing up for his son Austin and creating a wonderful avenue that people with disabilities can use to be productive citizens and at the same time allowing them to keep their self esteem in tact by providing for themselves at least on a small level.

This is a book for anyone who believes that one person cannot make a difference-because you can if you put your mind and heart to it. Every single person has a purpose in life that God has destined us to carry out, Randy found his through his son. What could have crippled this family, Randy used to to give his son strength, purpose, pride and above all showed him unconditional love and acceptance.

The only thing I really hate is the Special Wage Certificate Program, which permits nonprofits and companies to obtain a certificate that allows them to hire disabled workers "based on their abilities" at whatever wage they find appropriate, with no minimum. I am not saying that Walgreen's does this at all, it is just one of the injustices that are still out there that really upset me when I hear about companies taking a great thing and exploiting it for basically free labor.

I can easily suggest this book and have done so on many occasions already. One person can change the world if they have the courage to stand up and let their heart speak. I can easily suggest this book and have done so on many occasions already. One person can change the world if they have the courage to stand up and let their heart speak. A disability does not make you useless, even though sadly so many in our society view people with disabilities as just that-useless, instead a disability makes an individual unique and equipped with skill sets that are utilized differently, but they are not incapable and I have yet to meet a person with a disability that did not want to work and be productive and live a "normal" life.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book from Tyndale Publishing in exchange for my honest review and opinion that I have given.

Are the disabled really disabled? Have we given them a fair chance to compete and to work at an equal footing? What if a Fortune 500 company offers them a chance to work like any other ordinary person? This is what Walgreens did. Under the leadership of former Anderson Consultant turned Walgreens employee, Randy Lewis made it a corporate goal to have representation of disabled people from 0% to 10%. Motivated by his love for his autistic son, Austin, spurred by his desire to pave the way for society to accept more people regardless of their abilities or disabilities, Lewis learns to defy all odds to attempt to make a difference in the lives of disabled people by first making a difference in the attitudes and expectations of society, beginning at Walgreens.

The path was definitely not easy. Filled with initial disappointments and despair at the discovery of Austin's condition, there were moments in which the family could have called it quits. Fortunately, Lewis was able to see a glimmer of hope through simple provision of opportunities. The language of business is money. The tool of management is mission. The opportunity to serve provides the meaning. Lewis weaves all three together to incorporate as much meaning as possible in a world drive by profits and mission statements. Yet, the path to success is not easy. The first attempts were failures as not many shared Lewis's passion, let alone vision. Thankfully, the failures do not dampen his resolve. It strengthens, especially when he witnesses results and the way disabled people like his son becomes more purposeful and respected in earning a living instead of expecting handouts. Step by step, Lewis shares his ups and downs, and how he learns from mistakes, gets encouraged by results, and eventually, moving Walgreens forward as an exemplary leader in the area of hiring disabled people up to a third of the organization. What follows within the book are powerful principles put into action, to usher in humility in businesses and to cultivate a deeper respect for all humanity in society.

So What?
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The world tells us that there are people who are able and others who are disabled. Whether it is a different use of terms or not, society generally looks down upon people with physical challenges. Some people desire to do good but do not know how. Others want to help but are powerless or unable to afford it. Moving down the pecking order only increases the challenges of desiring to help. As I reflect on the book, I have several thoughts.

First, leadership is critical to any paradigm changes. Without the leadership of passionate people like Lewis, it is hard to imagine anything like the Walgreens transformation from 0 to 10 percent employment of the disabled. We notice how the years of training as a consultant have shaped Lewis's leadership skills. We also note his great ability to build relationships with his peers, his subordinates, and his superiors. Such things are core essentials to leadership. Filled with many management and leadership principles, this book sure looks like a leadership primer for businesses wanting to strike a balance between for-profit and non-profit endeavours.

Second, mission and vision must be broadened. I agree with Lewis about the need to see mission and meaning as one integrated whole. After all, when they feed on each other, the effect is viral. I particularly appreciate the point about the need to expand the vision if the mission needs to be expanded. Often, we stop our tracks the moment we see our mission falling off the rails. If something is important enough to be done, the associating devices need to be changed to get that done. Of course, I know about mission creep and the need to stay on target with limited resources. For that, I can suggest

Third, the book encourages us in the way that good businesses can be both profitable and charitable. For the best troops are not just those with the right skills and competence, they are the ones with the best hearts. Of course, without competence, success will be difficult. With heart, success will eventually come, but for with heart, success has already come.

Fourth, the book's title is rather apt. We have often seen literature and popular books that trumpet greatness as the next big thing. Jim Collins's book "From Good to Great" and Steven Covey's "The 8th Habit" are two prime examples of the next big challenge. The trouble is, it may create an unwitting assumption that the earlier levels are simply checked off and forgotten. You need all the previous underlying good works in order to sustain any greatness.

Finally, I ask myself whether the Walgreens' project is more fantasy than reality. For one, Walgreens did actually prove that it is entirely possible. They have graciously shared their expertise and best practices with competitors. As far as shareholders are concerned, there will always be nagging questions about what-ifs and other scenarios where more money could have been made. That said, we need to tell ourselves money is not everything. We cannot be slaves to money so much that we forget our fellow human beings, regardless of abilities or disabilities.

Indeed, equal opportunities for all must be extended literally to all. Otherwise it will be mere words without action. I am grateful that Randy Lewis' personal encounter with his son's autism has created a good work out of something potentially disheartening. Add to that the wise counsel and support from management and friends, this Walgreens experiment is something that touches all hearts for years and years to come. It has touched mine and I hope yours too.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade
This book is provided to me courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Randy Lewis is a former Senior VP at Walgreens--a fortune 50 company. As the father of a son with autism, Randy had a special place in his heart for people with disabilities. Unlike others, perhaps, he decided he would do something about it. Lewis convinced Walgreens to do something unprecedented: hire 10 percent of the distribution center workforce from amongst the disabled population. And what's more, Walgreens would hold them to the same standards and pay them the same wages as their other employees.

Lewis asks, "Why have power if you're not going to use it for good?"

The story doesn't end there. The distribution centers in which the people with disabilities made up over 33% of the workforce became models of efficiency and teamwork for the whole company. When senior executives from other Fortune 500 companies learned of Walgreens' success, they implemented programs of their own.

Indeed, there is no true greatness without goodness. This is an inspirational book about an inspirational man.

Randy Lewis has written compelling book that has three overarching themes: faith, a father's love for his son, and business ethics. Lewis' son Austin was born with cognitive deficits, eventually diagnosed as autism. The book unfolds initially with a narrative of he and his wife's dilemmas and pain as they adjust to life with a special needs child, while managing the ups and downs of family and work life, while raising three children. Lewis' fears about his son's ability to provide for himself and achieve some level of autonomy leads him to suggest a new initiative as his role of vice-president of Walgreens corporation. The initial idea of hiring special-needs individuals to work for the corporation leads to challenges, triumphs, and an unwavering commitment to find a place for disabled individuals in America' workforce.

The book's format is somewhat confusing, with quotes and underlying principles highlighted at the end of chapters and with sidebars. The trajectory becomes a bit disjointed as it morphs from personal saga, business practices to vignettes highlighting individuals who were successfully employed through Walgreens' initiative. Ultimately, a Walgreens' distribution center became a lynchpin in Lewis' initiative, and the trials and tribulation that went into this program are exhausting and exhilarating as you learn all the steps (and missteps) that went into the first corporate-led workplace staffed by people with disabilities on a large scale. Ultimately, the book is an affirmation that everyone wants the ability to be a self-sufficient, autonomous individual. How to do so safely, and successfully, varies for each circumstance, person and family. Randy Lewis has not painted a rose-colored picture of building and maintaing an inclusive workforce; the challenges are huge, but the payoffs are immense e for society and the individual. His updates about Austin at the book's close (Austin is employed by Walgreens) including his calendar which has only two entries every month; "payday" and "payday," illustrate the book's message poignantly.

No Greatness Without Goodness tells the story of former Senior VP Randy Lewis (retired in 2013) who was so moved by his son's future dealing with autism that he integrated disabled workers into the Walgreens distribution centers - quite successfully with sometimes 40 to 50% of the workforce consisting of disabled employees.

THIS is the example more corporations need to follow - how to integrate virtually everyone of various abilities into the workforce. Kudo's to Randy and his son for influencing such a positive model within Corporate America.

Ever read a novel and wish it were a true story?
'No Greatness without Goodness' reads like a gripping novel, and the best part, it IS a true story.

Randy Lewis wants everything for his kids that all parents want...a happy life filled with opportunities.

As a CEO he knows better than most the corporate culture of favoring cookie cutter employees.
When it becomes clear that his own son, diagnosed with autism, will face certain barriers that go along with NOT being from the mainstream cookie cutter, he sets out to create change.
For the sake of his own son, and every adult son and daughter that faces challenges in the workplace.

And it goes way beyond that.
Part story, part philosophy, part education, and even a little self help.
Mr. Lewis' journey is not without failures.

But the prevailing message of hope, humanity, and dignity will stay with you long after the last page is read.

Very heart-felt and inspirational. I definitely want to share this book with friends and family because it has such an important message about how working together can help everyone be more successful.