Into the Unknown: Leadership Lessons from Lewis & Clark's Daring Westward Expedition [Paperback]

Jack Uldrich (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0814409997 | ISBN-13: 978-0814409992 | Publication Date: April 23, 2004

"If life is an adventure, no one will ever live it more fully than Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the rumored Northwest Passage, Lewis and Clark instead discovered a seemingly endless land whose very existence foretold a future America infinitely different from what had been imagined. May 2004 marks the beginning of a two-and-a-half year bicentennial celebration of their incredible journey and its significance to the history of America. Against staggering odds, these unique men inspired such absolute loyalty in each other and in their group that they are still widely regarded as the most successful leadership team in American history. Today's leadership adventures unfold in the rugged terrain of business, and who better than Lewis and Clark to lead us through its toughest challenges? Their story resonates with business leaders of our time because they had to: * Think strategically * Make tough and timely decisions * Surround themselves with good people * Manage resources * Motivate the team * Deal with different cultures * Assimilate information from many sources * Balance long-term goals against short-term realities * Learn from their mistakes * Try new approaches Most importantly, they had to persevere and change course in the face of adversity. Their lessons will inspire business leaders to take their teams to new adventures of great discovery."

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.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

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

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

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

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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (April 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814409997
• ISBN-13: 978-0814409992
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #902,013 in Books (See Top 100 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

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

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let the Corps of Discovery Guide You, February 9, 2006

By 

Monty Rainey (New Braunfels, TX) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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

This is not a re-hash of the events of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. In his book, INTO THE UNKNOWN, author Jack Uldrich has examined the management principles used over 200 years ago by the great exploration, and has brilliantly applied those same lessons to todays business world. To help business leaders navigate their way through the rugged terrain of modern business, Uldrich presents Lewis and Clark as examples of leaders who were able to take their team through the roughest environments and the toughest challenges.

The challenges these two captains faced and those confronting the leaders of today are more similar than most might expect. The advancements of technology and knowledge itself are propelling us faster and faster into the unknown. What better leaders are there to turn to that those who have successfully faced unknown challenges?

Uldrich focuses on 10 core principles which Lewis & Clark used to make the Corps of Discovery a success and shows us how those same 10 timeless lessons can inspire business leaders to take their teams to new adventures of great discovery in any era.

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

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

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.