A modern day parable teaching the joy of generosity, service, and relationships. In the tradition of the best-seller The One Minute Manager, authors Ken Blanchard and fast-food entrepreneur S. Truett Cathy (Chic-Fil-A) create a parable that demonstrates the virtues of generosity. The Broker is a young man on the way up the corporate ladder who has found a niche for making money through high-tech investing. His imposing home, his chauffeur-driven limousine, his deep-sea fishing boat, and his rubbing shoulders with leading New York executives create the illusion of success, yet deep inside he is restless and feels insignificant. He reads an article about The Executive, the CEO of a very large and successful company, who claims the greatest joy in his life is his ability to give to others. This piques The Broker's curiosity. He thinks he might get a competitive edge by meeting with The Executive. The Broker is impressed by all the antique and collector automobiles in the first floor lobby of The Executive's office building. 'He must really worship cars,' he tells The Assistant. 'Not at all,' The Assistant says. 'He displays these extraordinary machines to inspire us--to remind us that each of us is unique.' The Broker's worldview continues to be shaken and turned upside down as he talks to The Executive and hears the principles that form his life. The Executive describes the plan he has developed that turns giving into a tremendous pleasure. He calls it The Generosity Factor--a way to give time, talent, treasure, and touch to those in need. The advice The Broker receives and the relationship he develops with The Executive provide a pleasant surprise and a unique twist on what it means to truly succeed--whether in business, at home, or in life.
Few people have influenced the day-to-day management of people and companies more than Ken Blanchard. A prominent, sought-after author, speaker, and business consultant, Dr. Blanchard is universally characterized by his friends, colleagues, and clients as one of the most insightful, powerful, and compassionate individuals in business today. Ken is one of the most influential leadership experts in the world and is respected for his years of groundbreaking work in the fields of leadership and management.
Dr. Ken Blanchard is the cofounder and Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California. In addition to being a renowned speaker and consultant, Ken also spends time as a visiting lecturer at his alma mater, Cornell University, where he is a trustee emeritus of the Board of Trustees.
Ken has received many awards and honors for his contributions in the fields of management, leadership, and speaking. The National Speakers Association awarded him its highest honor, the "Council of Peers Award of Excellence." He was inducted into the HRD Hall of Fame by Training magazine and Lakewood Conferences, and he received the Golden Gavel Award from Toastmasters International. Ken also received The Thought Leadership Award for continued support of work-related learning and performance by ISA--The Association of Learning Providers. Ken has been inducted into Amazon's Hall of Fame as one of the top 25 best-selling authors of all time. The business school at Grand Canyon University bears his name. In addition, Ken teaches students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego.
Born in New Jersey and raised in New York, Ken received a master's degree from Colgate University, and a bachelor's and PhD from Cornell University. An avid golfer, Ken belongs to the Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland.
