• It Worked for Me

  • In Life and Leadership
  • By: Colin Powell
  • Narrated by: Colin Powell
  • Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,827 ratings)

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It Worked for Me  By  cover art

It Worked for Me

By: Colin Powell
Narrated by: Colin Powell
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Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Personal Development, 2013

It Worked for Me is filled with vivid experiences and lessons learned that have shaped the legendary career of the four-star general and former Secretary of State Colin Powell. At its heart are Powell's "Thirteen Rules" - such as "Get mad, then get over it" and "Share credit" - that introduce his principles for effective leadership: conviction, hard work, and, above all, respect for others.

A natural storyteller, Powell offers warm and engaging parables with wise advice on succeeding in the workplace and beyond. "Trust your people," he counsels as he delegates presidential briefing responsibilities to two junior State Department desk officers. "Do your best - someone is watching," he advises those just starting out, recalling his own teenage job mopping floors in a factory.

Powell combines the insight he gained in the military and four presidential administrations with lessons from his immigrant-family upbringing in the Bronx and his training in the ROTC. The result is a powerful portrait of a leader who is reflective, self-effacing, and grateful for everyone he works with.

A brilliant and original blueprint for leadership, Colin Powell's It Worked for Me is bound to inspire, move, and surprise readers.

Includes an interview with the author.

©2012 Colin Powell (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Featured Article: 55+ Powerful and Inspiring Quotes to Guide Your Leadership Journey


What makes a great leader? While leadership styles vary, most experts agree that the best leaders have key characteristics in common. Gathered from a wide range of audiobooks—classic novels, management guides, sci-fi thrillers, political memoirs, and more—this collection of quotes reinforces and reflects on seven hallmarks of every great leader. These quotes offer insights to help you develop core leadership qualities and rise to the calling.

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What listeners say about It Worked for Me

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  • Overall
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Outstanding!!!

Colin Powell fascinates me - he’s impressive and has gleaned a lot of wisdom in a demanding career that has been aptly shared here...be this kind of leader.

He shares in a way that inspires application!

I’ve always admired him but hearing this...wow, what an amazing human.

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Amazing General

He will be missed. I would have loved to sit down and have a conversation with him…he went through a lot, to come out on the other side…as one of the First and greatest…

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My Hero

look this not a bias review this man has always been a role model and inspiration to me he's honest funny trailblazing the future for minorities to me this is more documentation of that fact.

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It worked for me. ... By Colin Powell ...

It worked for me. ... By Colin Powell ... A great LISTEN ...A great AMERICAN story ... heartwarming, personal, humble , revealing , inspiring .... in his own voice giving the listener this unique opportunity to get to know General Colin Powell from The Bronx and CCNY...

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Great audio book

I really enjoyed it. Colin was down to earth and easy to listen to. Many great stories and experiences.
What a great American and really decent human being. A great man to learn from.
I wish there were more like him. Hard working, honest people who care.

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  • JO
  • 01-11-23

Great Book

This was a good one. Collin Powell has lived such a interest life. This is much a book about leadership as it about his government career.
I purchase a hard copy of the book so I could read it again and have a physical copy of all the concepts and stories he shared.

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Personal and Inspiring

Having General Powell narrate his own book made the audio experience better. He put the feeling and emphasis on his stories where it needed to be like nobody else could.

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Amazing leader

love that it was narrated by GEN Powell himself. he has a great story telling voice.

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Great book.. The General did a nice read.

I truly enjoyed this book and General Powell’s Message, and honesty. I will recommend this book to my friends.

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Great Listen

I enjoyed the stories to by Mr. Powell I decided to purchase the physical book and read it again. I wish his principles were applied throughout my organization.

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