Customer Reviews

How to Think Like a Ceo: The 22 Vital Traits You Need to Be the Person at the Top

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

According to D.A. Benton, there are 22 "vital traits" which one needs to develop fully. In How to Think Like A CEO, she examines each of them in detail while providing numerous examples of the success they have helped others to achieve.

The mountain-climbing metaphor she invokes is especially apt. In a Darwinian sense, the "fittest" climbers are those who have the necessary training and equipment, of course, but also certain personal qualities (especially tenacity, composure, self-discipline, and endurance) which enable them to reach the desired "summit", whatever and wherever it may be. Most limits in life are self-imposed. Stated another way, many people under-estimate what they can accomplish while exaggerating the difficulty of achieving whatever they may desire.

In How to Think Like A CEO, Benton observes that in all her years of mountain climbing, "more critical than the summit is the internal knowledge you gain; how to deal with your own internal fears; how to be intuitive and humble and aware of every detail; and how to live fully. And most important, I've learned my goal is not just to climb up the mountains, but to give back to them." This she does by sharing so much of what she has learned.

Few who read this book will become a CEO. I suspect that few CEOs will read it. (I may be wrong about that.) Other books on the subject of leadership are far more profound. (Warren Bennis wrote many of them.) In my opinion, How to Think Like a CEO has substantial value because it enables its readers to take stock of their personal as well as professional strengths and weaknesses in correlation with the strengths of some of the world's most successful CEOs. Completing such an exercise is obviously not all that an ambitious person needs to succeed...but it can be a starting point, and perhaps a reality check from time to time later as a career develops.

Ms. Benton is a top-tier image consultant, and the first book of hers I read was Lion's Don't Need to Roar. That was a great book about projecting the "right" image. I decided to read this book because I wanted to hear her insights about the successful CEOs she has worked with.

The book presents a lot of interesting information. Twenty-two vital traits are enough to cover just about every trait, but some might be more vital than others. Obviously, any book written by a consultant to the rich and powerful has to be weighed by the need not to bite the hand that feeds you. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the anecdotes, and I always like to hear positive things about those who occupy the seats of power (mainly because I hope that good people do get ahead).

But as far as climbing the mountain of successs by learning to think like a CEO, the caption for chapter six probably sums it up nicely: "every climber is different, and it's important for you to understand those differences." Reading history is not the same as making history. Hey, and writing book reviews isn't the same as writing books, either!

This is a good book to read on airplane trips, but don't expect it to be your master plan for taking over the world. You will still have to think for yourself and do your own heavy lifting.

This book is bottom line common sense, but that is exactly what most of us in the business community leave at the door each and every morning. A must read for anyone who desires to climb the corporate ladder, or just keep your boss happy who is. The little insights into the preverbial "ivory tower" remind all of us that the person who sits up on the top floor or in the corner office is not too dissimilar to ourselves. This book brings to light what has made these individuals successful and stresses what each of us must concentrate on to follow in their footsteps. Allows reader to create a checklist of habits and traits that must be mastered as we rise up the ladder. This is also important for those who are not interested in making the journey but merely satisfying a boss who is. The metaphor to mountain climbing helps bring realism and solid examples that anyone can visualize and utilize in their everyday lives.

Forget the people who claim that this book is a rehash. They need to read it again and stop skimming chapter titles and skipping pages. Yes, a lot of this material is covered in other leadership books. There are basics that every reader of this type of book simply has to know. The author can't assume that they know, so she presents the basics.

Buy this book for the unique content: The quotes. Real quotes from real CEO's. Dozens of real life examples of what goes on in the life and in the mind of the man (or woman) at the top.

If you want to see what motivates a CEO, it's in this book. If you want to see what a day in the life of a CEO is like, it's in this book. If you want to see how a CEO handles pressure situations, it's in this book.

The quotes alone are worth the 10 to 15 bucks. The easy, specific examples of things that you can say and do to improve your situation at work are just a bonus.

As a small business owner, I would like to thank Debra for helping me to bridge the gap between my home business and my career. This book showed me how the skills that I developed as an entrepreneur could be applied to my consulting job.

What prevented the book from being 5 stars? Author self reference. I realize that 'Lions Don't Need To Roar' is a great book, and cross promotion is all the rage, but borrowing the bulk of entire chapters from 'Lions' is a bit much.

Still, a great read.

I rate this book five black holes, the opposite of stars. This book is about as thought provoking and as shallow as a Calvin Klein commercial for Contradiction. I'm certain the commercial inspired the author to write the book. Imagine a group of models whispering I'm willing to admit mistakes, yet unapologetic; I'm competitive and tenacious, yet flexible and generous; I'm gutsy and a little wild, yet modest and in control. Oh brother! I expect to see this book really soon on the bargain shelf. Definitely a dud, don't waste your time reading it.

Some people could say this is common sense. But my years in corporate America has taught me it's not common practice. Benton lays out in a clear, succinct manner what the best leaders in business or in politics do to be effective. You'll recognize a lot of the traits in yourself and a lot in people that you admire. More importantly you'll be reminded of the importance of various attributes and will be given examples of how to use this information for yourself -- to become the effective individual that you want to be.

Even if you don't aspire to being "CEO" you still have to work with one so you might as well know and understand how they think to make your own life better.

Author Debra A. Benton discusses how chief executive officers succeed. She bases her information on interviews with hundreds of major corporations' CEOs and with well-known leaders and public figures. The experiences of so many CEOs make the book fascinating. Readers will be intrigued by the many success stories. Benton also extrapolates and explains the key principles behind the success of these executives. The book is an excellent, well-written guide that includes some well-known success principles and some that may be less well-known. The short, snappy, easy-to-read style is accessible. A helpful summary at the end of each chapter captures the major principles covered. We at getAbstract recommend this book to those on the way up in management, those interested in getting into management, and those who wish to apply these principles of success in their own careers.

This book was great. Simple, easy to implement keys to success that make sense. This book helped me understand how I can tweak my inter-personal style to let my strong areas shine. Anyone who disrespects this book does not know the power of self-development, and will not benefit. It is an easy read. I plan to read it once a year to keep myself on track. Oh, and it is great for anyone who wants to advance their career, not just those who aspire to become the CEO.

The author is very personable and enjoyable to listen to. However, I think a more appropriate title would be, "How to be a near perfect CEO, if you are already a CEO." I expected this book to provide insight that might take an average person and help them to acquire the mindsets that drive profitabilty and other skills that propel one to become a CEO. I didn't find that in this book. There are some useful ideas in this book though. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I buy it if I had it to do over again? Well, maybe I'd borrow a copy from the library.

Benton never ceases to amaze me. She gives a practical, easily obtainable approach to having a more powerful effect on those around you. She reminds us of those things we often forget when we get caught up in our daily duties. I am looking forward to her next book!