Obstacles Welcome is part autobiography and part leadership
wisdom. Ralph de la Vega not only shares
his story of escaping Fidel Castro’s Cuba as a 10 year old without his parents,
but also the principles used to lead Cingular Wireless and now ATT Mobility as
President and CEO.
I am a business-book junkie and, while it wasn’t in the top 5, I really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated the visuals laced throughout the book. Each chapter includes a diagram illustrating some business process or model, such as: “The Success Framework,” “The Learning Cycle,” and “Operating Plan Elements.” Seeing these inspired me to diagram some of my own leadership challenges and thoughts.
I would have appreciated more details regarding the inner
workings of Cingular and ATT. Ralph
seems to skim the surface of major decisions and certain business
challenges. More details would have
helped better translate the principles to my work. Also, the book doesn’t cover anything about
Ralph’s faith or make connections between faith and leadership. I would have
liked some of that.
Overall I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for practical management and leadership wisdom. I’d also recommend it for those looking for a compelling story about overcoming adversity as an immigrant and ethnic minority.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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