What Makes the Great Great: Strategies for Extraordinary Achievement

From Publishers Weekly African Americans seeking high levels of success and accomplishment must never let negative influences such as poverty and racism infiltrate their souls, exhorts Kimbro in this inspirational self-help manual. More than a highly personal, conversationally written pep talk, it uses the success stories of black achievers in many fields?Maya Angelou, broadcasting magnate Percy Sutton, track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, chocolate-chip cookie tycoon Wally "Famous" Amos, Soft Sheen hair-care multimillionaire Ed Gardner, among others?to illustrate nine mental strategies said to underlie high achievement. These "stones of greatness" are deep-seated spiritual beliefs, a guiding vision, passionate commitment, character, competence, willingness to take risks, self-confidence, discipline and an I-can-do-it attitude. Professor of entrepreneurship at Clark Atlanta University, Kimbro (Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice) dispenses motivational pearls of wisdom with rhetorical flourishes. Included is a detailed career profile of the top 100 black managers in the U.S. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. From Library Journal Best-selling author of Think and Grow Rich (Fawcett, 1991) and Daily Motivations for African-American Success (Columbine, 1993), Kimbro is a professor of entrepreneurship at Clark Atlanta University. Although his latest work is also directed at African Americans, his thoughts and advice can, and should, be used by anyone interested in getting ahead in the business world. The general text describing the assets needed to get ahead is followed by the "Kimbro Executive Profile" of America's top black managers, meant to educate and inspire by example, and by African American consumption patterns, which should help entrepreneurs to target markets. Beyond its overt purposes, Kimbro's book will also enlighten those less familiar with black success stories in America. This interesting motivational work is a solid choice for all public libraries. -?January Adams, Franklin Twp. P.L., Somerset, N.J. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Dennis Kimbro, PhD, is the author of Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice and Daily Motivations for African-American Success . A tireless educator, public speaker, and business consultant, he has written for numerous newspapers and magazines and has made many appearances on programs ranging from Today to the PBS special The Legacy of Achievement with Dennis Kimbro . He is a professor at Clark Atlanta University School of Business. Dr.xa0Kimbro is married and the father of three daughters and has three grandchildren. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. There is a quality of personality that many successful people share.xa0xa0No matter how they may differ, there is an attitude a quiet assurance based on self-knowledge, that says in effect: "I've been tried in some tough situations, and I've passed the test.xa0xa0I know who I am. " The successful share a special power.xa0xa0They conduct their affairs with a sense of purpose.xa0xa0Their priorities are clear and they orchestrate the events of their lives with a masterful touch.xa0xa0High achievers move smoothly from one phase of their lives to the next. No motion is wasted. In the ancient African tradition of sharing oral history, the great told vivid examples of greatness to which future generations could aspire.xa0xa0They demonstrated the attributes that make men and women heroic.xa0xa0In other words, what makes thexa0xa0greatxa0xa0great.xa0xa0There is a condition or circumstance that has greater bearing upon the happiness of life than any other.xa0xa0What is it? It is one of the most common things in the world and within your reach.xa0xa0If this secret were for sale, oh, how rich you would be! A sunken ship, a buried treasure, an unsolved mystery. Why are these objects so appealing? Because within you is an innate desire to solve the mystery that leads to your own personal hidden treasure.xa0xa0Only the wise can guess its contents.xa0xa0Some might say it is health, or money, or special relationships--but you may possess all of these and still not be content.xa0xa0You may have fame and fortune and yet allow happiness to elude your grasp.xa0xa0Yes, there is one thing more necessary to a happy, fulfilling life than any other What is it? What makes the great great? This secret of wealth and success has remained hidden for thousands of years.xa0xa0Since time began, humanity has searched--mostly in vain--for this precious key.xa0xa0It has been found, only to be lost again, scores of times.xa0xa0The prophets and mystics of all races have had some inkling of its great powers. Every race, group, and culture has had its wise men and philosophers, its men and women of genius and vision who glimpsed the truth that is buried in the spirit.xa0xa0But it remains for those who possess an open heart and an open mind to discover this great truth in its entirety and then to demonstrate to others how they might use it to their benefit.xa0xa0Make no mistake about it: The accomplishments of a few can be achieved by you whenand only when, you are ready! It stands to reason that in His name,"The things I do shall ye do also, and greater things than these shall ye do. " What makes the great great? The question was placed before Percy Sutton, owner of New York's famed Apollo Theater.xa0xa0Here is a man who is clearly in charge of the direction of his affairs; an individual who was raised to see himself as one of those blacks whose accomplishments would become symbolic beacons lighting the path for those of his race.xa0xa0He counseled, "lf you have but one wish, let it be for an idea. " What makes the great great? Have you found the key? Try asking Robert E. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, the only black-owned nationwide cable system.xa0xa0Who would know better than he? Johnson is a man whose hopes and dreams have been singed, but he rose again and again to see another day. "Life is a grindstone," he flatly states. "But whether it grinds you down or polishes you up depends upon what you are made of. " The Reverend Jesse Jackson concurs.xa0xa0He spoke openly and honestly regarding success and achievement: "You may not be responsible for getting knocked down, but you're certainly responsible for getting back up!"When the annals of black business history are written, Henry Parks and the Parks Sausage Company will likely be listed as major contributors.xa0xa0To Black America, Parks was a legend, a model of self-initiative and fierce racial pride.xa0xa0Starting with "every nickel I could scrape together," he launched a shoestring operation--grinding out sausage in a converted Baltimore dairy.xa0xa0He couldn't possibly succeed, but he did! At last count, Parks Sausage had more than $20 million a year in sales.xa0xa0Without hesitation, he stood to make his point. "ln one hand I have a dream, and in the other I have an obstacle.xa0xa0Tell me, which one grabs your attention?"No barrier could be erected to shut out Patti LaBelle's voice; she believes she was made for the place that she fills.xa0xa0When asked for the secret, LaBelle recalled her father's advice.xa0xa0Since her childhood she could never be caught without a song in her heart or a melody on her lips. "'Sing loud!' my father always told me,'just in case someone is listening.'" Talent helps, but greatness has more in common with nerve than it ever will with ability. What a great lesson Reverend Ike taught his race on that hard, dusty Central Park bench! Toiling in the face of poverty since leaving his native South Carolina, for three months Frederick Eikerenkoetter--Reverend Ike--ate dog food out of cans while reading his Bible and planning for better days.xa0xa0He delved into the book to precious pearls.xa0xa0He prayed, not to base more, but to be more; not for fame, but to be transformed. Now, for more than twenty years, his name has been synonymous with spirituality and prosperity.xa0xa0I asked him for the key to greatness, and he took me off in a totally different direction. "Open up a can!" he suggested. "The world belongs to those who say I can." What makes the great great? When asked, Mae Jemison, America's first black female astronaut, was a bit philosophical, choosing just the right metaphor to convey her point. "Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God's gift to you, style is what you make of it." George Halsey maintained a coiled intensity ready to spring into action.xa0xa0A former insurance clerk who now holds the highest pin Amway has to offer, Halsey rendered his thoughts: ."Learn to meet hard times with a harder will.xa0xa0If you'll work two years of your life like others won't, you'll spend the rest of your life like others can't."You can judge how great a people will become by examining the quality of the relationships between its males and its women and children.xa0xa0By this measure alone, a people will either rise or fall.xa0xa0This is the test that predicts fame and fortune. What makes the great great? Few people are as qualified as Dr. Alvin Poussaint to discuss the great spirit of the black struggle in America.xa0xa0One of eight children, this noted psychiatrist inherited no opportunities and acquired nothing by luck.xa0xa0His good fortune consisted of untiring perseverance, an acumen for science and medicine, and the Old Testament taught by loving parents who dared to venture past the tenth grade. Dr. Poussaint peered through the window of his Harvard office and established a point of reference. "Morality and values begin at home.xa0xa0If Black America is to continue its greatness, it must take care of its children."Quincy Jones struck the same note: "Greatness occurs when your children love you, when your critics respect you, and when you have peace of mind." For more than forty years, he has built a remarkable career as a musician, composer, television and film producer, and multimedia entrepreneur.xa0xa0His name is synonymous with talent and genius. Cornell West, the best-selling author and college professor, when asked for the root of greatness, repeated the question, paused for a moment, and answered in the manner of a man close to his God: "lf you want to be great, you must serve willingly and love greatly."Oseola McCarty's lined, brown hands, now gnarled with arthritis, bear mute testimony to a lifetime spent washing and ironing other people's clothes.xa0xa0Less evident is how this quiet, eighty-seven-year-old black woman managed to donate $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi--a school she could never attend.xa0xa0Though faced with poverty and ignorance, she never backed down. "They used to not let colored people go to school there, but now they do, and I think they should have the money." What makes the great great? This tiny, gentle woman replied in a barely audible tone: "Do as much as you can for as many as you can." Now McCarty has left a name that can never die. It's not what the successful do, but what their lives promise, that gives hope to our race.xa0xa0Ann Fudge's family is the passion of her life.xa0xa0As the highest-ranking black woman in corporate America, she stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best and the brightest Wall Street has ever produced.xa0xa0Without batting an eye, Fudge reveals the source of her strength, demonstrating that she is in full possession of the secret.xa0xa0According to this powerhouse, if you're searching for greatness, look no further than your own home. "The first real test of leadership," she says, "is maintenance of the family unit."Captain Bill Pinkney speaks of faith. "Everyone fears something.xa0xa0Though worry and trepidation may crowd your thoughts, there's always room for faith.xa0xa0So if you attempt something great and you find your knees shaking, try kneeling on them." Death wins no victory over such men. Wbat makes the great great? Do you know? The overwhelming majority will never recognize the difference between greatness and mediocrity, between happiness and pleasure.xa0xa0They will never sense true fulfill... --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Part vocational pep rally, part how-to book, "What Makes the Great Great elaborates on the inspiring message bestselling author Dennis Kimbro put forth in his first book "Think and Grow Rich--A Black Choice. In "What Makes the Great Great, the author explores the strategies and thought processes of successful African-Americans. Through dozens of interviews and the inspirational stories of people like John H. Johnson, Publisher of "Ebony magazine, Condoleeza Rice, Provost of Stanford University, and Ann Fudge, President of Maxwell House Coffee, Dr. Kimbro outlines the nine strategies that determine success. According to Dr. Kimbro, being great depends on a commitment to making dreams come true: "All high achievers make choices, not excuses." He believes we all have the seeds of greatness in us, and his book gives readers the tools to discover and nurture those seeds, showing hem how to motivate themselves to master every aspect of their lives. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. From Booklist Kimbro believes that far too many people "regularly underestimate their capacity for accomplishment," especially African Americans, because they often confront a system that tells them they are of little value. To help remedy this situation, Kimbro has produced a book for African Americans that examines nine common qualities and traits that lead to greatness. Using examples and anecdotes about scores of successful people, Kimbro argues that some of the more important marks for greatness are possessing a deep spiritual belief, believing that one can get things done, having the vision, passion, and courage to take necessary risks, plus the integrity to deal fairly with others. Much of the book is also aimed at getting people up and over those mental roadblocks they're so fond of erecting. Inspiring and uplifting, it rises above the usual self-help tomes and will certainly be useful to African Americans and to anyone else in need of such support. Brian McCombie --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. From the Publisher "I read Dennis Kimbro's book just before the 1996 football season began. It certainly put me in a positive frame of mind to feel that we could do the impossible mission. I'm sure it will have the same effect on you."--Lou Holtz, head football coach, University of Notre Dame "A four-star winner! Kimbro's book is alive with the scientific principles that will lead you to success--using the gifts and powers you already have. It's riveting, realistic, and supercharged with exciting stories of black achievers who discovered the real secret of wealth and success: Whatever you fix your mind on, you will become."-- Success magazine "Like the Olympic torch, this brilliant rekindling of timeless truth can lead a generation frustrated by discrimination and its resulting self-doubt out of the vicious circle and into the `victor's circle.' I have always believed that true wealth is an internal quality and that real success is color-blind. Dennis Kimbro has reignited this wisdom for all of us to share at a time when none of us can afford to drop the baton!" --Dennis Waitley, author of The Psychology of Winning --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. From the Inside Flap Part vocational pep rally, part how-to book, "What Makes the Great Great elaborates on the inspiring message bestselling author Dennis Kimbro put forth in his first book "Think and Grow Rich--A Black Choice. In "What Makes the Great Great, the author explores the strategies and thought processes of successful African-Americans. Through dozens of interviews and the inspirational stories of people like John H. Johnson, Publisher of "Ebony magazine, Condoleeza Rice, Provost of Stanford University, and Ann Fudge, President of Maxwell House Coffee, Dr. Kimbro outlines the nine strategies that determine success. According to Dr. Kimbro, being great depends on a commitment to making dreams come true: "All high achievers make choices, not excuses." He believes we all have the seeds of greatness in us, and his book gives readers the tools to discover and nurture those seeds, showing hem how to motivate themselves to master every aspect of their lives. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. Read more