Leadership Wisdom

Discover the timeless, inspiring wisdom of leadership from the sage masters of literature and other outstanding leaders written over the centuries right up to the present day. Bob has selected over 70 poems, prose or speech passages, and curious verse, each with an insightful leadership message. He combines these pearls with bite-sized chunks of engaging commentary from his own vast leadership experience. Then he closes each entry with practical applications that each reader can use immediately. You’ll hear from an amazing array of poets, presidents, prime ministers, political leaders, social activists, soldiers, educators, journalists, business leaders, the Bible, religious leaders from many faiths, Native Americans, a lyricist, and relatively unknown authors. This treasure of wisdom will activate your creative right-brain and then challenge your logical left-brain. The Foreword written by noted leadership authorities, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, captures it well: “This is an inspiring book … an informative and practical book … a book full of the author’s personal reflections, which stimulates you to think deeply … an antidote to the hubris of know-it-all executives and authors … a fast-read book; however, read it slowly, and savor it to the last drop. This book will surprise you with its insights and simple truths. This book is a treasure…” You’ll want to give copies to people you care about.

Bob Vanourek Bob is the former CEO of five firms from a start-up to a $1 billion NY stock exchange company, including winners of a state-level Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award and the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence. He is co-author of Triple Crown Leadership: Building Excellent, Ethical, and Enduring Organizations, a 2013 USA Best Book Awards Winner, called “the best leadership book since Good to Great.” Bob has been a contributor to many magazines and books on leadership. He has taught leadership at the university level and been a leadership coach for many organizations. Bob is a Baker Scholar graduate of the Harvard Business School and a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton. He is a certified leadership instructor from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the Phi Theta Kappa Society. Bob has been named one of the “Top Thought Leaders in Trust” each year from 2013 to 2017, as well as one of the American Management Association’s “Leaders to Watch in 2015.” Bob is a decorated Army officer and a lifelong student of leadership. He and his wife live in Colorado.