How to Be Like Rich DeVos: Succeeding with Integrity in Business and Life

by Pat Williams, James Denney, Unknown Author

In a climate of unscrupulous and unethical business leaders, DeVos is a shining example of how to win the right way.

Rich DeVos, founder of Amway and owner of the NBA's Orlando Magic, possesses qualities rarely found in business leaders leadership, wisdom, putting others first, philanthropy, patriotism, focusing on family.

It is these qualities, along with his dedication to Christ, that have made him into the successful leader and beloved figure to millions that he is today.

This newest book in the How to Be Like . . . series focuses on one facet of DeVos's character in each chapter, exploring how that one special quality has helped him to overcome huge obstacles and achieve the highest level of success and fulfillment and how you can benefit from this example in your own life.

Author Pat Williams knows how to deliver a real page-turner by liberally sprinkling the text with quotes about DeVos from his friends, colleagues, NBA players, world leaders and others, and including sidebars that summarize DeVos's easy to follow success secrets.

Genres: Business, Biography, Leadership, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Patrick Livingston Murphy Williams was an American sports executive, who served as senior vice president of the Orlando Magic. Williams began his career as a minor league baseball player, and later joined the front office of his team. In the late 1960s he moved into basketball, with his biggest achievements being the 1983 title of the Philadelphia 76'ers and being a partner in the creation of the Orlando Magic.

Reviews

[Dario Cadavid Castrillón · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un muy buen libro, con muchas enseñanzas que aplicar y mucho que aprender de el

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This simplistic book belongs in the children's section of the library--it's written like those biographies you read when you were a kid, telling you all the great things about someone and ignoring anything negative. I've never read a more lop-sided book because there is nothing (literally nothing) negative said about this man in 300 pages, and that means it's can't be true. You don't become one of the richest men in America, heading a company that is filled with pushy salespeople that make money in an almost pyramid-scheme way, by living a perfect life. And this book makes DeVos sound perfect.

Part of the problem is DeVos himself. He is filled with cliches and claims humility by flying people on his private jets. If all of us had his money we could do some of the "generous" things he does as well. How he made his money is off selling people things they didn't necessarily need, then training others to sell people things they might not need so that he can make more income.

Another part of the problem is Williams, the author. He doesn't write as much as spout hyperbole, acting like a cheerleader for his boss. Give Williams a raise because he made his boss look perfect--but don't look to this book as a great read.

There are a few interesting stories and the fact that DeVos stands up for his Christian faith is admirable. Now we need a real, human version of DeVos to step down from the throne and show us his negatives, to give us real insight into tough decisions, failures, and how he made them. This book may inspire those looking for a fantasy superhero, but for those of us that want a real struggling human being we won't find it in these pages.

[Joshua Merrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly gifted man, and a life-changing force to many thousands of people across the globe. As short as it could be and still cover a modest portion of his life's story, with a few additional stories thrown in at the end for the curious readers. From Rich DeVos' days as a young man (an unaccomplished and un-aspiring youth in his early school years), to his greatest achievements in global marketing and sales, and some of his greatest learning experiences (other men would call them failures). This biography tracks the mind-blowing career (over 11 billion dollars) of this man, and the greatest achievement of his life - his wife and children. This humble, dirt poor Dutch-American boy became one of this country's greatest success stories - personal friend to many US presidents, international business leaders, theologians, Christian organizations, and hundreds of thousands of independent business owners - using nothing more than his father's old world wisdom and some good old fashioned Protestant work ethics. Through health problems, sunken boats, burned factories and economic strife, Rich DeVos has made his mark on the business world (did you know that he bought the Orlando Magic after seeing a half a page of paper and talking with the director for 15 minutes?). If you could choose one man whose life you wanted to outline as a pattern for success, you could go a long way and never find an equal!

[Andy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellant chapter on speaking and being someone who encourages.

[David West]

A good book about a great man

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on how to live a life of significance.