Into the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from Lewis & Clark's Daring Westward Expedition (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "On August 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis climbed the eastern slope of the Continental Divide toward the realization of a lifelong goal..." (more)
Key Phrases: passionate purpose, equitable justice, honoring differences, Corps of Discovery, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Latching onto the idea that everything old is new again, Uldrich, a former naval officer and author of The Next Big Thing Is Really Small, puts forth Lewis and Clark as two shining examples of all that is right with leadership and management. Spotlighting the pair's many strong points, from people skills and future-thinking capabilities to optimism and an ability to see the forest as well as the trees, Uldrich (drawing on what has obviously been years of extensive research) points to modern-day companies like Coca-Cola, General Electric and DaimlerChrysler as entities that could all learn something from Lewis and Clark. Whether the "project" is a westward expedition or a hostile corporate takeover, Uldrich makes the case that the past isn't so different from the present—or from the future. The parallels between these men and today's leaders are intriguing and well thought out. For corporate types looking for tips, there is certainly plenty to digest, even if the narrative goes deeper into the history of the westward exploration than is needed for a management primer. The overriding messages are clear: mentor and be mentored; find a way to balance the task at hand with the overall future vision; maintain a confident and optimistic approach from the beginning.
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Review

"..Imagine a Ken Burns documentary with insightful analysis from Jack Welch,&you have a sense of the infomative&engaging approach Uldrich utilizes." -- Executive Insider

"The book is a fascinating blend of history and leadership insights--will help readers in their own journey into the unknown." -- Toronto Globe Mail

"With all the Lewis and Clark books coming out during the bicentennial celebration of their expedition,this is one to own" -- True West

Latching onto the idea that everything old is new again, Uldrich, a former naval officer and author of The Next Big Thing Is Really Small, puts forth Lewis and Clark as two shining examples of all that is right with leadership and management. Spotlighting the pair's many strong points, from people skills and future-thinking capabilities to optimism and an ability to see the forest as well as the trees, Uldrich (drawing on what has obviously been years of extensive research) points to modern-day companies like Coca-Cola, General Electric and DaimlerChrysler as entities that could all learn something from Lewis and Clark. Whether the "project" is a westward expedition or a hostile corporate takeover, Uldrich makes the case that the past isn't so different from the present—or from the future. The parallels between these men and today's leaders are intriguing and well thought out. For corporate types looking for tips, there is certainly plenty to digest, even if the narrative goes deeper into the history of the westward exploration than is needed for a management primer. The overriding messages are clear: mentor and be mentored; find a way to balance the task at hand with the overall future vision; maintain a confident and optimistic approach from the beginning.

Mr.Uldrich brings the journey alive,[..] Lewis&Clark as they make crucial leadership decisions that led to the expedition's ultimate success -- Dallas Morning News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; 1st edition (April 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814408168
• ISBN-13: 978-0814408162
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #792,142 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lewis & Clark -- Still Relevant!, May 3, 2004

By	Sean Nolan (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews

As a self admitted fan of Lewis and Clark, I was somewhat reluctant to purchase this book. However, after reading it, I am glad I did. Uldrich takes an utterly unique approach to their incredible journey. Rather than simply retelling the story of the Corps of Discovery as so many authors have done, the author instead dissects their journey from the prospective of leadership. I found myself in complete agreement with his ten leadership principles and the ancedotes he uses are wonderful. His method of weaving in real-world examples drives home the point that Lewis and Clark are still relevant after 200 years. If I have a criticism, it is this ... I think the author should have had a chapter devoted to the diplomatic skills of Lewis and Clark. All told, I strongly recommend this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time Well Spent, June 8, 2004

By	Jeff LaFavre (San Mateo) - See all my reviews

I recently read Jack Uldrich's previous book, The Next Big Thing is Realy Small: How Nanotechnology Will Change the Future of Your Business, and I enjoyed it so much that I asked Amazon.com to alert me when his next book came out. I was a little surprised when I received an email from Amazon.com telling me that his next book was about Lewis & Clark (I was expecting and hoping for another high-tech book.) Nevertheless, I decided to give it a read (it's a quick read) and was thoroughly delighted with it. In fact, in many ways, it was even better than his first book. Uldrich is the rare business consultant--he understands that regardless of how good or exciting new emerging technologies are, they are worthless in the hands of businesses or organizations that don't have good, strong, capable leaders. I strongly encourage any business leader or executive who is struggling to lead their organization through these technologicaly-challenging times to spend an evening with this book. I guarantee you that it will be time well spent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An adventurous profile in leadership, April 1, 2004

By	Catherine Glynn (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Lewis and Clark were an amazing team. Their story of how they reached the Pacific is not only fascinating, it is rich in lessons, and not just for the businessperson, but for people of all different professions and persuasions. (Uldrich's discussion on the importance of diversity is particularly interesting.) The author does an admirable job of drawing you into the story of the Lewis and Clark and placing their journey in the broader context of leadership. He abstracts ten well thought-out principles and makes them come alive by using real-world examples from today to emphasize the key points.

If the book suffers from anything, it is that it tends to place too much emphasis on the story itself. Overall, however, I highly recommend it.