First A Dream [Hardcover]

Jim Clayton (Author), Bill Retherford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 4, 2002

This is a captivating "rags to riches" story, as a young boy discovers during the Depression that hard work and sheer perseverance are the keys to living his dreams.

First A Dream is filled with practical, easy-to-understand, no-nonsense business lessons that the entrepreneur can apply to his or her own life -- describing the qualities an effective leader must possess, the key methods to inspiring team members, and the development of culture and values that are critical to the success of a small business as well as a multibillion dollar conglomerate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" . . . a wonderful work that is both entertaining and insightful . . . there is something for everyone . . . " -- Dr. Bill Frist, U.S. Senator

"... a stimulating book that offers deep insight and practical business lessons . . . " -- Art Linkletter

"Jim found his rainbow after each rain storm . . . proved the American Dream is alive . . . " -- Dolly Parton

About the Author

Jim Clayton is Founder and Chairman of Clayton Homes, Inc. a NYSE (CMH) company lauded by Wall Street. He reported nearly 30 consecutive years of increased profit, and founded the industry's premier financial institution, servicing $5 billion in manufactured home mortgages.

Retired as CEO after 43 years in 1999. Acquiring a small bank in 1993, he transformed it into an $800 million regional powerhouse before merging it with BB&T in 2000. In his hometown, he purchased First State Bank in 2002.

On the board of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Jim Clayton, a sharecropper's son, grew up on a tiny Tennessee cotton farm in a log cabin with no electricity or running water. From those humble beginnings, he would one day become a Great American Success Story, and a perennial member of the Forbes 400 wealthiest Americans.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 440 pages
• Publisher: Fsb Pr; First Edition edition (December 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972638903
• ISBN-13: 978-0972638906
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #770,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just the Inspiration You Need, April 14, 2003

By 

Tyler Harber (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First A Dream (Hardcover)

Jim Clayton's story is an inspiration to us all. My good friend and mentor gave me this book, which proves that hard work pays off. Many lessons can be learned from Clayton who, like other great men, worked hard, worked smart, and overcame hardships to become a success in his business and in life. Clayton's story is the quintessential `American Dream' chronicle that follows a man from his humble beginnings on a cotton farm to becoming one of the most successful businessmen in America. I recommend this book to anyone who is striving to make a dream a reality--Clayton's story is just the inspiration you need.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jim Clayton is a Winner and he Tells you how to be One in this Book, January 1, 2006

By 

Kevin Kingston (ny) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First A Dream (Hardcover)

First a Dream, by Jim Clayton


Any book that would make Warren Buffett spend billions to buy a company after reading it needs to be read ASAP. As soon as I heard that Warren bought Clayton Homes after reading about how Jim Clayton built and ran the company I bought and read the book without delay. I have a long list of books that both Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger mentioned and recommend on my blog: www.bloglines.com/blog/KevinKingston

This book made a huge impression on me, in fact I ordered it for several friends and business associates to read. It really gives you the insight and motivation to build and grow a company. There are many parts of the book that I made copies of and keep in my scrap book, such as Jim's mission statement and his company's growth history. Jim Clayton is refreshingly honest about his business successes as well as his blunders. He openly talks about bankruptcies and investigations which many would have avoided.

As with many of the books I have reviewed both on Amazon and on my blog you read about and experience what it take to be a winner in business, what kind of attitude you need and how optimism plays such an important part in any business success. One might think that fate and fortune were just waiting for Clayton to come along and take them by the hand, but you can see from this book the tremendous drive, motivation, will to succeed, optimism and foresight that went into his increasable career. If you really contemplate what it take to shake off a bankruptcy after giving a business everything you have and get right back in the game and do it all over again, it's very encouraging for anyone that has had a few tough times in business.

By Kevin Kingston, author of: A 20,000% Gain in Real Estate


My Blog:
http://www.bloglines.com/blog/KevinKingston

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good read for business people and entrepreneurs, June 23, 2007

By 

Narasimha R. Vanipenta - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First A Dream (Hardcover)

I got the reference to this book from one of Warren Buffett's letters to the shareholders. Warren Buffett got a copy of this book from the interns at his company, and he got interested with the company and management, then bought Clayton Homes.

This book is Jim Clayton's life story from being a sharecropper's son to banker, philanthropist. First few chapters about his childhood and school are boring, and you might get interested starting from his used car dealer business. And then all the chapters about his life as an entrepreneur, evolution of this cars and home businesses. The story ends with Clayton Homes being bought by Berkshire Hathaway and his banking acquisitions and philanthropic activities. This book is good read for anyone with business mind or entrepreneurship qualities.