Leadership Lessons from a UPS Driver

Delivering a Culture of We, Not Me

By: Ron Wallace

Narrated by: Wayne Shepherd

UPS is a household name and one of the most highly regarded American corporations by customers and investors alike. Who hasn't been delighted by a right-on-time delivery, one of the 18 million UPS makes every day? Founded over 100 years ago, UPS has moved steadily up the Fortune 500 as so many other corporations have dropped off. So what's the company's secret? Just ask a driver!

Ron Wallace was a UPS driver for six years before he rose through the ranks to become president of UPS International. In other companies that might be extraordinary, but for UPS it's par for the course. UPS has a unique people culture. It's like a family. Package loaders call executives by their first names and vice versa. The company almost always promotes from within. Lifetime employment is common. Most employees own UPS stock. Wallace credits this spirit of "we, not me" with the company's success - and his own. As he puts it, working at UPS gave him a PhD in teamwork.

Instead of writing a typical business memoir that celebrates the leader as celebrity, Wallace shares vivid stories that focus on the people he worked with, the challenges they overcame, and the simple principles and practices that make up the UPS way. He exhorts his fellow leaders to grow their people, not just their business plans. The leadership style described in this book is simple and direct - and it works. The straightforward and easy-to-understand lessons provide a blueprint for an individual or company to build on past successes and adapt to future challenges. This is a must-listen for anyone aspiring to become a great leader.

©2016 Ron Wallace (P)2016 Ron Wallace

Simple yet Profound

I have read numerous books and articles on leadership over my career. From Peter Drucker to Jim Collins and Good to Great. None exceed Ron's practical approach to authentic leadership. Wish I had read it 40 years ago. Ernie Fletcher, former Governor of Kentucky and CEO, Alton Healthcare.

Simple and powerful

One of the best books in leadership with simple and powerful lessons. Highly recommended for anyone wants simplicity.

A good listen

Interesting stories told in a relatable and informative way. These lessons will stand the tests of time.

hes my uncle

i appreciated the humble manner in which the story is conveyed. to have been responsable for so many

Not actually a UPS Driver

The author spent most of his career in UPS management not as a driver. I thought the book was informative.

A refresher

This is a short audiobook. It does not give terribly much insight or discussion about leadership technique or philosophy. Rather, it's a series what feels like bullet pointed leadership ideas the author has gathered in his experience. I think it's an OK book if you need a quick listen to reinvigorate your leadership. It 's not the book you'll want if you are attempting to develop as a new leader or a leadership philosophy.