Comebacks: Powerful Lessons from Leaders Who Endured Setbacks and Recaptured Success on Their Terms - Hardcover

Redmond, Andrea; Crisafulli, Patricia

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470583754 ISBN 13: 9780470583753

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2010

Synopsis

Gold Medal Winner, Success and Motivation, 2011 Axiom Business Book Awards

Insight from leaders who experienced major setbacks and redefined success

In tough economic times, when careers are derailed and leaders are forced to rewrite their professional plans, this book enlightens and uplifts. Comebacks features an all-star cast of ten leaders who endured setbacks-for some a public fall in the midst of media scrutiny-then reassessed and moved ahead with new purpose. Based on revealing interviews, the book presents a behind-the–headlines glimpse into the lives of leaders; how they drew upon resources, both internal and external, to move on; and the lessons that helped them redefine success. Leaders profiled include:

• Jacques Nasser, former CEO of Ford Motor Co., recently appointed Chairman of BHP Billiton, the world's largest natural resources company
• Patricia Dunn, former Chair of Hewlett-Packard, vilified for her alleged role in corporate espionage only to be exonerated from all charges, today active in philanthropy
• Jamie Dimon (JP Morgan), Herbert "Pug" Winokur (Enron Corp.), David Neeleman (JetBlue), and more

Redmond, a top executive recruiter, and Crisafulli, author of The House of Dimon, show how all leaders face adversity, but true leaders turn adversity into success.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Comebacks

Comebacks features an all-star cast of ten business leaders who have endured career setbacks—for some a public fall in the midst of extreme media scrutiny—then reassessed and moved ahead with new purpose. Based on revealing interviews, the profiles in the book provide a behind-the-headlines glimpse into the lives of seasoned leaders, showing how they drew upon resources, both internal and external, to navigate their way forward and to learn leadership and life lessons that allowed them to redefine success. Together, the ten profiles reveal that all leaders face adversity, but true leaders turn adversity into success—and redefine success through their leadership. High-profile leaders featured include:

• Jamie Dimon, renowned chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase who, at the peak of his career with Citigroup, was fired as president.

• Former HP chair Patricia Dunn who, after a corporate espionage scandal hit the company, resigned as chairman and then faced felony charges while battling cancer. Completely exonerated, she is now active in philanthropic work.

• Former Baxter International CEO Harry Kraemer who, after twenty-two years at the pharmaceutical firm, had to step down after the company scaled back its earnings forecasts. He is now a highly regarded business professor at Northwestern University and an executive partner in a private equity firm.

• Former Ford Motor Company CEO Jacques Nasser who, forced to resign from the automaker after devoting years to the company, has recently assumed the prestigious position of chairman of BHP Billiton, the world's largest natural resources company.

• Former founder and CEO of JetBlue David Neeleman who, asked to step down after a series of weather-related delays in 2007 caused an uproar among passengers and consumers, has moved on to found a new airline in Brazil.

In turbulent economic times, when careers are derailed by layoffs and leaders are forced to rewrite their professional plans, Comebacks offers introspection that enlightens as well as uplifts. Honest and soul-searching, the stories in Comebacks will resonate with anyone who is experiencing a reversal, is disillusioned by career choices, or is exploring new paths that are better aligned with their values and priorities.

From the Back Cover

Praise for Comebacks

"Andrea Redmond and Patricia Crisafulli have brilliantly captured the inside story of ten outstanding executives facing severe setbacks and how they recovered to go on to future success. The authors provide deep insights of the impact of losing your way, yet having the resilience to bounce back."—Bill George, professor of management practice, Harvard Business School and bestselling author, True North and Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis

"Comebacks addresses a topic no one really wants to discuss: how to deal with failure and setbacks. The real stories and practical advice from those who have taken their tumbles from a public pedestal will resonate with leaders, but there are important and profound lessons for everyone. I wish I had this book earlier in my career!"—Russell Fradin, chairman and CEO, Hewitt Associates

"Chronicling some of the highest profile executive downfalls of the modern era, Redmond and Crisafulli's Comebacks richly reaffirms the value of private resilience and personal networks for overcoming a career catastrophe. Here are the wrenching accounts of those who suffered the great fall—and how they recovered to lead another way."—Michael Useem, professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

"Comebacks offers outstanding insights into the personal lives of leaders whose resilience turns public failure into private success. The lessons of resilience from these renowned individuals apply to each of us who takes risks, pushes limits, and creates a future. We all need to 'come back' from disappointment and this book offers us hope and a means of doing so."—Dave Ulrich, professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and partner, The RBL Group

"Comebacks offers a rare, intimate, and honest look into the lives of leaders who have faced adversity and turned it into an opportunity for personal transformation. Anyone seeking to create a 'second act' after experiencing tough challenges will find in this book the insights and inspiration to go from setback to comeback."—Dipak C. Jain, the Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies and former dean of the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0470583754
• ISBN 13: 9780470583753
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256