From Publishers Weekly
Rich DeVos, cofounder of Amway and owner of the Orlando Magic, has battled illness, received a heart transplant and long advocated compassion in business. This book analyzes DeVos's life philosophy, serving up aphorisms, commentary and anecdotes about him. Williams, senior v-p of the Orlando Magic who has worked closely with DeVos for 14 years, and Denney, a business writer, clearly adore DeVos and are enthusiastic converts to his ways. "Many people have mental objections that keep them from becoming life-enhancers and cheerleaders. If you want to be successful, effective and influential like Rich DeVos, then you need to overcome these obstacles and objections," advise the authors. The secret to DeVos's success? He is a man of the people who treats everyone equally well ("the most important friends Rich DeVos has made were not the entertainers and presidents he knew, but the thousands of ordinary people who have known and loved him"). This tribute to a living legend is likely to resonate among readers looking for a positive leader who hasn't been tarnished by the Enron, Worldcom or other business scandals. But the book's overwrought enthusiasm may be unappealing for anyone looking for solid insights into DeVos's business strategies. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"Rich DeVos is a marvelous speaker who inspires people with his words. He's a remarkable salesman who knows how to move an idea in the marketplace. He's as patriotic a citizen as I have ever known. He has always believed in doing the right thing for the American people and the nation at large Every aspect of Rich DeVos's life emanates from an adherence to his Christian faith and principles."
Book Description
In a climate of unscrupulous and unethical business leaders, DeVos is a shining example of how to win the right way.
Rich DeVos, founder of Amway and owner of the NBA's Orlando Magic, possesses qualities rarely found in business leaders today: leadership, wisdom, putting others first, philanthropy, patriotism, focusing on family.
It is these qualities, along with his dedication to Christ, that have made him into the successful leader and beloved figure to millions that he is today.
This newest book in the How to Be Like . . . series focuses on one facet of DeVos's character in each chapter, exploring how that one special quality has helped him to overcome huge obstacles and achieve the highest level of success and fulfillment and how you can benefit from this example in your own life.
Author Pat Williams knows how to deliver a real page-turner by liberally sprinkling the text with quotes about DeVos from his friends, colleagues, NBA players, world leaders and others, and including sidebars that summarize DeVos's easy to follow success secrets.
About the Author
Pat Williams is senior vice president of the Orlando Magic. He has worked for or with Rich DeVos for over 14 years and has unprecedented access to the people who know Rich best. Before joining the Central Florida pro basketball effort in 1986, Williams spent 12 seasons as general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, taking them to a World Championship title in 1983. Williams is married and the father of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four foreign countries.
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