My Life & the Principles for Success

Along with the book It's Your Ship by Michael Abrashoff, this book should be required reading for business leaders, military officers and non-commission officers, government leaders, college students who are getting business degrees and adults who are getting advanced college degrees. Read the two books and then roll up your sleeves and apply the techniques at in your organization on a continous basis until you die or retire. Don't talk about it, just do it!!!

The first half of this book reads like a "Life's Little Instruction Book" from a rather successful billionaire. Lots of good business and life advice, from a perspective that you would expect -- that of the famous Ross Perot. The second half is an autobiography that could use some more luster -- the first half is what makes this book worthwhile.

Although the autobiographical section of the book is interesting, particularly the segments involving Perot's achievements at the U.S. Naval Academy and his subsequent success in sales at IBM and EDS, the most significant portion of the book is Perot's principles of success.These principles were originally written as a graduation gift for his son, who is now a very successful businessman in Dallas. Perot's advice is extremely practical, and provokes self-analysis to determine how to play one's strengths to accomplish long-term personal and financial goals. One can actually analyze Junior's recent business deals to see how he has implemented his father's principles.If you are looking for a 12-step program or some other motivational book of the "believe and achieve" variety, this is not the book for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a self-made billionaire's realistic assessment of what it takes to succeed, this book is definitely worth every penny.

Excellent story about Perots past. Then explaining how one can also be successful. The book is simple ,concise and clear.