Success by Instinct: Use What Animals Already Know to Boost Your Career [Hardcover]

William E. Boswell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2006

With lay-offs a reality more than ever, it is not important enough to land a position, but you must know how to maintain and progress within a job. Or, even if you are in job transition, do you know what talents, other than job experience and a degree, employers are really seeking? Many of the answers can be found in Success by Instinct: Use What Animals Already Know to Boost Your Career, by William E. Boswell. A former senior executive with BP America, and one of the company's highest ranking African Americans, Boswell presents a radical approach to career development. Instead of the usual dos and don'ts listed in job books, these 14 practical principles based on the instincts found in the animal kingdom are used by businesspeople, sportsmen, and world leaders alike to tremendous success.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compelling and simple analysis of the dilemma one confronts in the current environment...a series of solutions which are basic, elemental, and when practiced, will boost one's career." -- Robert P. Madison Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Robert P. Madison International

"A new, exciting perspective that can be embraced by anyone seeking practical advice, considering career options, encountering challenges within an organization...or seeking personal reassurance." -- Andrew A. Venable, Jr. Director, Cleveland Public Library

"Boswell has written a unique book that is at once a useful and practical guide to personal success and a fun read. Appropriately titled "Success by Instinct", Boswell draws on insights from the natural behaviors of animals, his personal experience.... and pithy sayings from writers over the ages." -- Charles O. Rossotti Senior Adviser, The Carlyle Group Former Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service

"Refreshingly free of theories and platitudes...as useful for undergraduates and professional level students as it is for university career counselors and others involved in higher education." -- Dr. Angela O. Terry Former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, North Carolina Central University

"The learnings of a successful life and nature all in one! I recommend this book to the recent graduate as well as someone navigating a career in today's complex organization. The incites are invaluable." -- Steve Percy Retired Chief Executive, BP America

From the Publisher

As one example of his lessons from nature, Boswell points out that African elephants have the size, strength, and speed to dominate their worlds. Though they recognize and accept their potential for dominance, they usually use these attributes for self defense, and lead relatively gentle lives characterized by cooperation.

In addition to applying ideas and principles from the animal kingdom to working in the public and private sectors, Boswell shares tips and experiences from his own years of working in business and government. He spent 30 years working for The Standard Oil Company and affiliated and successor companies in the U.S. and abroad, retiring as Senior Vice President of BP America in Cleveland, Ohio in 1999. He then accepted a special appointment as Director, Agency Wide Shared Services of the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. for 4 years before retiring again in 2003. His responsibilities at IRS included managing personnel, overseeing buildings, and supervising security for the agency. He was serving in that role when hijackers flew planes into buildings in New York City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001.

Boswell said he wrote this book after his retirement to identify issues that hinder success and to offer practical guidance that can be beneficial both professionally and socially. He hopes that the book will improve the likelihood of an individual's personal and/or organizational success.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 227 pages
• Publisher: Brown Books (May 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933285427
• ISBN-13: 978-1933285429
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,540,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars New Insight!, May 26, 2008

By 

K. B. Ford "book hound" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Success by Instinct: Use What Animals Already Know to Boost Your Career (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book. Combining life lessons learned in the business world with their parallels in nature provides an insightful way of imparting valuable wisdom. This is a must read for young and old - recent grads to seasoned executives!

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful And Extremely Useful Book, August 30, 2006

By 

C. D. Fowler "Retired Executive" (Upper Marlboro, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Success by Instinct: Use What Animals Already Know to Boost Your Career (Hardcover)

Mr. Boswell has found a unique way to equate the successful behaviors of animals as examples of how one can make wise chioces and thus be successful in the workplace. This is a must read for everyone, whether a seasoned employee or a new person entering the workplace.