How We Lead Matters: Reflections on a Life of Leadership

The author of How We Lead Matters, Marilyn Carlson Nelson, just retired from the job of CEO at Carlson. You may know the company under its brands, including Radisson, Country Inns and Suites, Regent, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and TGI Fridays. Carlson is one of the largest privately held firms in the world. The company employs more than 200,000 people in more than 150 countries. Last year's revenue was $40 billion. The company was founded by Marilyn's father, Curt Carlson, during the depression. Right about now you may be thinking that this is a typical "rich kid takes over daddy's business" story. You might suspect that Marilyn is a bit of an empty suit. You'd be wrong on both counts. And if you know a little bit about Marilyn Nelson and her story, you can make a wise decision about whether to buy this book. The subtitle of the book is, "Reflections on a Life of Leadership." That's exactly what it is. It's not a treatise on leadership. It's not a chronicle of successes. If that's what you're looking for, this is not the book for you. It's also not a book that you read from front to back and are done with. Instead, it's a collection of the very personal reflections of a very successful leader with a fascinating story. Marilyn wanted to work her way up in her father's company. She really did. But, alas, she wasn't the son he had always dreamed would succeed him. Curt Carlson embodied what a lot of people think is good and bad about "old school management." He valued conservative management and conservation of assets. He also thought that a woman's place was not in the executive suite, especially if she had children. Even if the woman was his daughter. He actually fired Marilyn. Here's how she told the story in an interview with Chief Executive Magazine. It happened when she went to his office to tell him about a promotion her boss in the company wanted to give her. She expected excitement, maybe even praise. "Instead, he said, 'Go home. Your husband's a surgeon. You can't both have 24-hour-a-day jobs.' And I said, 'Well, I have lots of energy. I can manage this.' I had three children at the time. And he said, 'Well, not here,' and fired me. I cried all the way down the back stairs." She could have taken his advice. She didn't. Instead she started working on community projects. She helped bring the Super Bowl to Minneapolis. She was the first woman to run the United Way. She served on several corporate boards. Some people wanted her to run for Governor. That seems to have gotten her father's attention. But she was never really sure he would ask her to return to the company until he announced her appointment as CEO. She's been a very effective one. Revenue has doubled. And the company has changed. Today, forty percent of Carlson executives are women. When you read Marilyn Nelson's reflections on leadership in this book, you'll get a sense of who this remarkable leader is. She is a product of all the threads that make up her life.

I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend and found it to be uniquely delightful. It is very easy to read with the format two page "sound bytes": one page essay preceeded by a thoughtful quote. The essays reflect on life in light yet profound ways. This book is easy to read, entertaining, and inspiring. It is the rare book that I want to return to again and again. Ms. Nelson is humble about her accomplishments in turning around the culture and growing Carlson Companies to double in size and to be a world leader. She walks the walk while talking the talk, and is dedicated to creating a workplace where diversity, fair play, and achievement are successfully blended to create a world-class company. If only more corporate leaders were like her! - Deb Morrin

What a wonderful book! Terrific snapshots into Ms. Nelson's exciting life and the everyday lessons learned along the way. I am going to gift it to many of my friends.

I highly recommend this book!! As a professional woman, I was drawn to Marilyn Carlson Nelson. Her business advice in this book is extraordinary and inspirational. It simply compels you to raise the level of your contribution to and satisfaction with life. I expected to get that from this book. What I did not expect, however, was the intimate, personal reflection of a powerful CEO who also happens to be a mother, a wife, a community leader, a mentor and a friend. I found nuggets of wisdom for every aspect of my life, as did my husband who also read it. From her personal stories of well-known historical people and events to her moving reflection on the loss of her college-bound daughter, this book made me think, laugh and cry on occasion. You will not find anything that touches you more deeply.

I pre-ordered this book based on a recommendation from Harvey Mackay (one of the 5 people in this world I would like to meet before I die.) He writes a weekly column that I have gotten for years by email and he mentioned Marilyn Carlson Nelson and her book several months ago. So of course I ordered it. I wasn't sure what the book would be like, but it totally exceeded my expectations. I just ordered 8 copies to give as gifts to my colleagues. This book is genuine, heartfelt, and powerful in its simplicity. The ideas are "bite sized" and therefore easy to remember and readily recalled. The format is terrific as well - a quote or poem on one page, and a short story on the facing page. I loved it! What a great read. I found it very inspiring.