A Message from Garcia: Yes, You Can Succeed [Paperback]

Charles Patrick Garcia (Author), Jaime Escalante (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471755834 | ISBN-13: 978-0471755838 | Publication Date: April 21, 2006

Success can be measured in various ways, but ultimately, success is defined by the person striving to achieve it. Charles Patrick Garcia knows this well. Throughout his career, from Chairman of the Cadet Honor Committee at the U.S. Air Force Academy to White House Fellow to CEO of the nation's fastest growing Hispanic-owned business-Garcia has learned how to succeed, and now he wants to show people from all walks of life, at any age, how to do the same in both business and life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A decorated military officer and founder of the Sterling Financial Group shares the secrets of success that made his company the fastest growing Hispanic-owned business. As a recent law school graduate, Garcia was on the brink of accepting a clerkship for a judge, when he took the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator Test (he suggests a variety of personality tests to discover potential). The test results convinced him that he would be happier going into business. According to Garcia, the key to success is finding out what you are passionate about and pursuing it. In order to accomplish this, he recommends a number of less-than-original strategies such as adequate planning and preparation, hooking up with successful people, finding a mentor and persevering despite setbacks. Laced throughout this manual are anecdotes that describe the author's considerable accomplishments (he is a former White House fellow) and those of others who have used the tools described here to realize their dreams. He draws heavily from the military and the Republican political establishment to illustrate his ideal of success (e.g., William Bennett, Ronald Reagan, Army Major General Loeffke, Jeb Bush). Since Garcia has achieved success, those just starting out in business may be inspired to try his techniques, but many others will be put off by a relentless positive style.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

A decorated military officer and founder of the Sterling Financial Group shares the secrets of success that made his company the fastest growing Hispanic-owned business. As a recent law school graduate, Garcia was on the brink of accepting a clerkship for a judge, when he took the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator Test (he suggests a variety of personality tests to discover potential). The test results convinced him that he would be happier going into business. According to Garcia, the key to success is finding out what you are passionate about and pursuing it. In order to accomplish this, he recommends a number of less-than-original strategies such as adequate planning and preparation, hooking up with successful people, finding a mentor and persevering despite setbacks. Laced throughout this manual are anecdotes that describe the author's considerable accomplishments (he is a former White House fellow) and those of others who have used the tools described here to realize their dreams. He draws heavily from the military and the Republican political establishment to illustrate his ideal of success (e.g. William Bennett, Ronald Regan, Army Major General Loeffke, Jeb Bush). Since Garcia has achieved success, those just starting out in business may be inspired to try his techniques, but many others will be put off by a relentless positive style (Oct.)
Forecast: Wiley is pushing this book, and is heavily concentrating on the Hispanic readership. (Publishers Weekly, October 13, 2003) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471755834
• ISBN-13: 978-0471755838
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,477,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Management Must Read, October 20, 2003

By 

Tom East (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Message from Garcia: Yes, You Can Succeed (Hardcover)

I would recommend this book for two reasons. One, I am responsible for motivating a team of employees to make my company a success, and Garcia offers plenty of business related insights that can help me. I can't wait to share the four success strategies with my people. The second reason I like this book is more personal: I don't want to be stuck here in middle-management-limbo all my career. My goal is to eventually become a CEO, I have an idea for my own company and this book is giving me the personal strength and the professional techniques that can help me visualize achieving that dream. A Message From Garcia offers some very powerful advice on setting goals and meeting them. I have read many books on success and this one takes the genre to a new level. Kudos, Garcia! This is the holiday gift I am giving to my entire staff and my boss. And his website, successcompass.com is amazing...check it out!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Message, October 20, 2003

By 

Josh Campbell (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Message from Garcia: Yes, You Can Succeed (Hardcover)

What can I say about this book? I loved it! In less than a year I will have to face the "real world" armed only with a bachelor's degree and my own resourcefulness. A Message From Garcia makes it clear that I have everything within me that I need not only to find a job but to build a life that I love. You wouldn't believe how glad I was to receive this message. So many of my classmates are frightened about the economy and discouraged about their job prospects. Sometimes I get discouraged, too, listening to their negativity. I guess I am still nervous but now I realize that achieving my dreams is a realistic goal if I'm willing to work hard, think creatively and not give up. I don't usually write reviews like this, but I felt compelled to say that this book is definitely worth reading. It gave me hope at a time that I really need it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great combination of reason and belief, January 29, 2004

By 

C. Sumner (Clearwater, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Message from Garcia: Yes, You Can Succeed (Hardcover)

There is a story in this book that really touched me. It's the story of Charles Garcia's little daughter Olivia, who was having trouble making friends at school. Her Dad gave her a "magic bracelet" and told her to wear it when she introduced herself to new people. Guess what? It worked-the first day Olivia tried it, she came home and reported that she made three new friends! Of course the "magic" in the bracelet was only in the little girl's mind - but it was, nevertheless, real. Being a teacher for more than 20 years, I've seen how easily children grasp the concept of belief, while adults continue to find reasons and make excuses for why things won't work. This story beautifully conveys the fact that we only need self-confidence and the ability to believe in ourself in order to succeed, whatever our goals may be. It's a theme that Garcia repeats throughout the book, illustrated by many real-life stories of people who pursued their dreams and caught them. Read this book if you need a little extra push - you will come away from it convinced that you can do great things.