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No Free Lunch: One Man's Journey from Welfare to the American Dream
“Everyone who is successful, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity, at some point in their lives received an opportunity. Someone believed in them enough to give them a chance.” These are the words of Rodney Carroll, one of America’s most innovative minds and a leading architect of the welfare to work movement. They encapsulate his inspiring memoir, No Free Lunch , the story of a man who rose to the top–and returned to bring millions of people along with him.
Raised in an area both economically and emotionally depressed, Rodney and his siblings were forced onto welfare after Rodney’s alcoholic and abusive mother was declared unfit to raise her children. Though lured by gangs that aimed to “draft” him into their midst, he clung instead to his wise and loving grandmother and his innate desire to “make a difference.” A part-time job as a truck loader for UPS would change Rodney’s life forever–and eventually change the lives of others who were looking for a chance to work.
By improving the efficiency of others at UPS, Rodney was rewarded with promotions. By balancing his successes and setbacks, applauding others’ accomplishments, and disciplining not humiliating, he learned how to manage men and women, lead departments, and, at last, to lift up others who started out as humbly as he had.
Putting his own job on the line, Rodney created a program to employ welfare recipients at UPS–a plan that would become a model for others across the country. Initially derided by others as “those people,” these new workers responded to Rodney’s faith in them, and their new self-esteem led to new self-sufficiency.
Written with vigor and humor, No Free Lunch is a testament to one man’s tenacity and compassion, a sweeping story that starts in a slum and ends on a stage shared with President Clinton, a stirring book about one American’s fight for the independence of millions.
Raised in an area both economically and emotionally depressed, Rodney and his siblings were forced onto welfare after Rodney’s alcoholic and abusive mother was declared unfit to raise her children. Though lured by gangs that aimed to “draft” him into their midst, he clung instead to his wise and loving grandmother and his innate desire to “make a difference.” A part-time job as a truck loader for UPS would change Rodney’s life forever–and eventually change the lives of others who were looking for a chance to work.
By improving the efficiency of others at UPS, Rodney was rewarded with promotions. By balancing his successes and setbacks, applauding others’ accomplishments, and disciplining not humiliating, he learned how to manage men and women, lead departments, and, at last, to lift up others who started out as humbly as he had.
Putting his own job on the line, Rodney created a program to employ welfare recipients at UPS–a plan that would become a model for others across the country. Initially derided by others as “those people,” these new workers responded to Rodney’s faith in them, and their new self-esteem led to new self-sufficiency.
Written with vigor and humor, No Free Lunch is a testament to one man’s tenacity and compassion, a sweeping story that starts in a slum and ends on a stage shared with President Clinton, a stirring book about one American’s fight for the independence of millions.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2002
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 7, 2013
"No Free Lunch" is an inspirational memoir by Rodney Carroll that paints a perfect picture of the American Dream. A young African American boy, born into a bad area to an unstable single mother who could have had every reason to make all the wrong choices in life. But instead, he wanted to be different. He wanted to be someone. And he was willing to do whatever it took to change his living situation so that he could ultimately change his life forever.
Carroll was a young, hard-working boy who finally found his golden opportunity as a truck loader for UPS. Some people would find that laughable. Not Carroll. He knew that getting in was his chance to succeed. By working smarter and harder than everyone else, because he had more to prove than they did–and because he wanted to fulfill a dream–meant that eventually he’d have to move to the next level. Carroll continued with this work ethic throughout various positions, growing more and more disciplined, always seeking ways to learn new skills and help others. He was a great worker and a great person, the model employee.
Along with his desire to succeed personally, he also felt obligated to lead others like him who, through no fault of their own, faced many daily struggles most people wouldn’t even understand. He wanted to prove to them that they could better their lives as well. He was even willing to risk his own job within the company he had dedicated so much time and service to in order to implement a welfare to work program that would eventually be adopted all across America.
Carroll showed that these types of people weren’t to be looked down upon. Rather, they were hard workers who just wanted to make something better of their lives. Knowing they had his faith fueled their desire to do a great job even more, ultimately for the benefit of the company.
I don’t want to give away the ending, but this was one of the most inspirational journeys I’ve learned about. I actually came across this book by mistake but started reading it anyway. It was hard to put down.
Rodney Carroll’s desire to better himself, his life, and the comminity around him was a perfect example of the American Dream. Sometimes all a person needs is one single opportunity. He said, “Everyone who is successful, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity, at some point in their lives received an opportunity. Someone believed in them enough to give them a chance.”
I highly recommend this book. The only disappointment was that after reading it, I had a hard time coming across any follow-up information on Carroll. Other than a few books for sale online, there isn’t much out there. I would have liked to read an update about what he’s doing now. If you come across anything, please pass it my way!
Carroll was a young, hard-working boy who finally found his golden opportunity as a truck loader for UPS. Some people would find that laughable. Not Carroll. He knew that getting in was his chance to succeed. By working smarter and harder than everyone else, because he had more to prove than they did–and because he wanted to fulfill a dream–meant that eventually he’d have to move to the next level. Carroll continued with this work ethic throughout various positions, growing more and more disciplined, always seeking ways to learn new skills and help others. He was a great worker and a great person, the model employee.
Along with his desire to succeed personally, he also felt obligated to lead others like him who, through no fault of their own, faced many daily struggles most people wouldn’t even understand. He wanted to prove to them that they could better their lives as well. He was even willing to risk his own job within the company he had dedicated so much time and service to in order to implement a welfare to work program that would eventually be adopted all across America.
Carroll showed that these types of people weren’t to be looked down upon. Rather, they were hard workers who just wanted to make something better of their lives. Knowing they had his faith fueled their desire to do a great job even more, ultimately for the benefit of the company.
I don’t want to give away the ending, but this was one of the most inspirational journeys I’ve learned about. I actually came across this book by mistake but started reading it anyway. It was hard to put down.
Rodney Carroll’s desire to better himself, his life, and the comminity around him was a perfect example of the American Dream. Sometimes all a person needs is one single opportunity. He said, “Everyone who is successful, regardless of age, race, or ethnicity, at some point in their lives received an opportunity. Someone believed in them enough to give them a chance.”
I highly recommend this book. The only disappointment was that after reading it, I had a hard time coming across any follow-up information on Carroll. Other than a few books for sale online, there isn’t much out there. I would have liked to read an update about what he’s doing now. If you come across anything, please pass it my way!
March 28, 2008
I loved this inspiring book and the uphill battle of Rodney Carroll. Rodney and his 2 siblings are taken from their alcoholic mother and raised by their elderly but hard working grandmother. Rodney is beaten up by gangs, neglected by the community, and often overlooked at school.
Because this true story is so riveting, it is easy to read. You will want to read it to find out what happens next as you honestly strive with Rodney to see him through to success and away from his many challenges. With a story like this, why would anyone want to read fiction?
Because this true story is so riveting, it is easy to read. You will want to read it to find out what happens next as you honestly strive with Rodney to see him through to success and away from his many challenges. With a story like this, why would anyone want to read fiction?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews