Customer Reviews

Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times, New and Expanded Edition

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jon M Huntsman is a humble & self effacing man who quietly goes about his business; and business is good. He's a self-made billionaire who knows that success is attainable through hard work, determination, and of course; through honesty, integrity and generosity.

This book captures Huntsman's vision of setting good examples for the rest of society, by consistently doing the right things. This is a man who builds trust through his actions, and helps those less fortunate with his contributions of time and money. In his mind, whatever success he's attained is irrelevent to the big picture; and that's making our planet a better place to inhabit.

I'm sure all of us, from time to time, have witnessed actions of people we once trusted that made us think otherwise; whether it be shaving a stroke off their golf game to avoid losing a few bucks, double crossing us on a business deal, or worse, sabotaging a career. Once the trust has been destroyed, everything else collapses with it.

Huntsman, on the other hand, with his remarkable philosophy on life, is a shining example that successful people are measured more by their basic core values as human beings, than their net worth. Some, if they're really good; possess the ability to do it all.

Huntsman clearly fits that bill; and we're all just a little bit better off because of it. This is a great book, written by a truly great man.

After seeing Jon Huntsman on The Glenn Beck show, I knew I wanted to read this book and find out more about the man and his philosophy. I feel the book was worth the purchase price (especially because he donates the profits from the book), but I was a bit disappointed. I guess I expected more details regarding his life growing up and what shaped him. There were snippets, but not anywhere near enough. Also expected more details of his dealings in business, the ups and downs and how his values, honesty, and ethics carried him through. There were definitely a few examples, but if you've seen him on Glenn Beck, you've heard most of them probably.

Really wanted to be able to give this 5 stars, and I would give Mr Huntsman 5 stars for his standards in life.

What a refreshing view of ethical business practices by one of the most down-to-earth men to ever be successful. Jon Huntsman is an inspirational figure who practices the basic human skill and desribes how we are born with these "sandbox" skills and ethical behaviors. Corporate America, WAKE UP!

Many ethics courses taught at business and law schools across the country for the past decade or so have focused on the idea of "situational ethics" - a Machiavellian concept that supports no objective "right or wrong" only contextual circumstances that define "right and wrong" for a specific moment in time. While that may be interesting for theoretical discussions, it has little place in the real world and business leader Jon M. Huntsman would agree. In his breakthrough book titled - "Winners Never Cheat" - Huntsman point blank states that there are overriding moral principles that need to guide our work and lives. Huntsman is chairman and founder of the largest privately held chemical company in the world. He writes that he built his career and fortune on ethical principles including accountability; integrity; addressing the needs of others; honor; sacrifice; personal responsibility and teamwork. Soundview highly recommends this book because Huntsman provides many examples where he personally made difficult, moral decisions that (he argues) always turn out to be the right decision in the long run. Every organization would be well served by reading this book and putting it into practice.

While I agree with the main messages of the book, I found the first two chapters very preachy--authoritative-sounding declarations of right and wrong with no stories from his vast experiences to back them up. Right when I was about to stop reading, it started getting a little better. In chapter 3, he starts opening up a little more with stories from his own life. That is where I believe the true value of the book lies. In the end, I was satisfied that I got to know the author a little better, and I appreciated the messages he tried to promote in the book--integrity, ethics, morality, graciousness, philanthropy, pride of work, etc.

I also appreciated his explaining of the difference between playing hard ball in negotiations vs. integrity in negotiations. It's not necessarily about nice guys vs. mean guys. It's about operating with integrity and ethical behavior.

Like Huntsman, I have seen a lot of people who lack integrity and trustworthiness in business. It is refreshing to see successful people promoting honesty and integrity.

In the end I was glad I read the book, and I got value from reading it.

Jon Huntsman says a whole lot in 206 small pages. He reminds us that there is no victory when there is no integrity. The behavior in corporate America the past few years should make this book a mandatory read for every executive and every board member of every company. We've been confusing valuable with value for too long and Jon Huntsman's message is a reminder that not only is integrity the right path to follow, it is also the most profitable path to follow!

I think this book is terrific. It is perfect for the times that we are in where greed and self indulgence is so rampant. If we all did business the way that John Huntsman conducts his business we would not be in the financial shape that we are in!

This well written book will leave you feeling good and wanting to be a better person. It makes a great gift too.

Are your values unwavering especially in the wake of those necessary daily critical business and even life decisions? In this book, Winners Never Cheat, Jon Huntsman Sr. shared through his personal stories the importance of not sacrificing your values and that you can still be successful.

This book goes beyond the usual writings on ethics, morality, business conduct and is really a small treatise on how to treat people. Jon Huntsman believes in adversity and how that builds character. One far reaching statement about character is "the adherence to an ethical code is best defined as how one honors a bad situation or a bad deal."

Huntsman believed that an ethical code of conduct is by its very nature a non-denominational religion because situations may be altered, basic values must not. In other words just because everyone else does it does not give you permission to walk away from your values. This type of belief creates a slippery ethical behavioral slope where one can never return to the top.

One of my new found favorite quotes is "Values provide us with ethical water wings." This is a great mental visual for understanding how to stay above the less than ethical behaviors of others.

With the passing of each chapter, Huntsman's simple words take on a life of their own. The reader can see and begin to understand the message behind the message that Winners Never Cheat. For me, this is now in my top 10 most favorite non-fictional books. This book shows you how to be The Red Jacket in a sea of gray suits.

P.S. Maybe this could have been titled that Ethical Leaders Never Cheat or Winners Never Cut in Line.

A must read for every graduate or person going into business. Integrity, simplicity, honorable man. My favorite book!