The Great Ones: The Transformative Power of a Mentor [Hardcover]

Ridgely Goldsborough (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2009

A business fable on the power of mentors and essential keys to success in business, life, and relationships

When it comes to personal and professional success, few relationships prove more vital and powerful than that of mentor and student. Unfortunately, most of us seldom gain access to a thoughtful mentor who can help guide us to success in whatever we do. In the format of a business fable, The Great Ones reveals the importance of mentors and the pivotal difference a great mentor can have on one’s life.

This parable follows a wise old man as he shares his pearls of wisdom with a young boy about to go out into the world on his own. Through these poignant and sometimes painful lessons, the boy learns to navigate life’s minefields, develop sound judgment, apply the law of accumulation, cement the value of giving your all, assess risk and reward, and much more. In the end, he unlocks the treasures within that we all need to become a  “Great One”.

• A business fable that teaches critical and needed skills for life-long success in business
• Reveals the ageless power of the mentor/student relationship
• Perfect for anyone seeking to succeed in their chosen field who can benefit from a personal mentor
• A classic guide for novice and veteran entrepreneurs looking to get to the next level

Life—and business—wrought with endless ups and downs, calls out for the wisdom of a dedicated mentor and friend to help you get through them successfully. The Great Ones acts as the perfect success guide for anyone on the path to business achievement.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

When it comes to success in life, there are few relationships that will have a greater transformative impact than that of a mentor. No matter what you do for a living, what industry or career track you choose, finding someone who has walked the path before you can help you reach your goals and avoid pitfalls in your quest for long-term success.

Unfortunately, thoughtful mentors seldom declare themselves and must be sought out, often in the most unlikely places. The student must seek and find the mentor—not the other way around, and mentors can come from anywhere, even from the pages of a book like this one . . .

The Great Ones is a delightful and enlightening fable that reveals the importance of mentors and the pivotal difference a great mentor can have on one's life. For young entrepreneurs and business leaders, it imparts valuable lessons on the fundamentals of success, both professionally and personally.

In it, a wise old man shares his hard-earned pearls of wisdom with a boy about to sprout wings and fly into the world on his own. Through a series of poignant and sometimes painful lessons, the boy learns to navigate life's minefields, develop sound judgment, apply the law of accumulation, understand the value of giving his all, assess risk and reward, and—ultimately—win at the game of life. In the end, he unlocks the inner secrets that will eventually transform him into a Great One himself.

Life—and business—fraught with endless ups and downs, call out for the wisdom of a dedicated mentor and friend to help navigate them successfully. If you don't yet have a Great One of your own or don't know where to start your search, The Great Ones provides deep insight on life's most important lessons.

From the Back Cover

Praise for THE GREAT ONES.

"With masterful storytelling reminiscent of Hemingway, Ridgely Goldsborough educates, enlightens, and inspires with his great new fable, The Great Ones. You won't be able to put this one down and you'll enjoy every entertaining lesson along the way."—Dr. Joe Rubino, author of The Self-Esteem Book

"I loved this story! Ridgely offers a beautiful parable about the power and magic of having a mentor who fans that sputtering little flame of self-respect."
—Maya Frost, The Mind Masseuse

"The Great Ones exemplifies, in a glorious way, the rags-to-riches tale—of the spiritual range—of a young boy who transforms his life by the touch of a mentor. We should all be so blessed as to have such a person in our lives...or to become one."—Lucia De Garcia, President, Élan International

"Goldsborough's beautiful fable un-conceals one of the Universe's most valuable lessons—the power of taking one's life in their own hands. I couldn't put it down."—Russ DeVan, CEO and founder, Success by Design, Inc.

"Ridgely's book showcases the immense value of a mentoring relationship, in the context of a fable that tugs at our heart strings and leaves the lessons indelibly engraved in our hearts, where they will forever live. Powerfully told."—Shep Hyken, CSP, CEO, Shepard Presentations, LLC

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (November 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470485949
• ISBN-13: 978-0470485941
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,183,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read for so many!, April 14, 2011

By 

LROD1965 - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Ones: The Transformative Power of a Mentor (Hardcover)

Wow is all I can say. I am a father of 2 precious kids. My son Luka is 4 1/2 and my daughter Lauryn is 6 1/2. Even though Mr. Goldsborough says on the cover of his book that this is "A Business Fable", I think he should change it to "A Life Fable"! I often found myself in the role of the boy, I saw my own father in the role of the boys father, and I saw myself as the old man. This book has that ability to touch you in so many ways and at the end, as I fought back my own tears and emotions, I read where Mr. Goldsborough wrote, "If this book accomplishes anything, I hope that it will inspire you to find your own mentors, learn from them, and embrace the philosophies of The Great Ones". Well Mr. Goldsborough, I hope you know that your book does that but at the same time, so much more!

It has inspired me to be that mentor for both of my children! Who better than a father to mentor their own children? This book is a must read for any parent, for any aspiring entrepreneur, and any young person who feels lost within their current home situation. My daughter is in Kindergarten and has already become an excellent reader. I am inspired to write her first letter to her and send it through the post office so she can feel what the boy felt in the book when the old man wrote to him for the first time. I will treasure this book, but most of all, it will be one of the first my children will read for as Mr. Goldsborough wrote, "That is why it is crucial to read of the Great Ones and learn their philosophies". This book is definetly a "Great One"!

Lou Rodriguez

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great Ones will change your life!, November 29, 2011

By 

Freda Chaney "Freda Chaney, D.D." (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Great Ones: The Transformative Power of a Mentor (Kindle Edition)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ridgely Goldsborough's book! The humility with which Ridgely shares the story of the little boy who grows up in an abusive household tells you something about his own character. Ridgely realizes that adversity trains one for life, and that mentors are guides who help us apply our life lessons by guiding us in the right directions. Ridgely's protagonist is one who seeks, questions, and eventually finds his own answers for his life. Read it, let it sink in, then pay it forward!