Winners Dream

A Journey from Corner Store to Corner Office

By: Bill McDermott, Joanne Gordon

Narrated by: Bill McDermott

A leadership and career manifesto told through the narrative of one of today’s most inspiring, admired, and successful global leaders.

In Winners Dream, Bill McDermott—the CEO of the world’s largest business software company, SAP—chronicles how relentless optimism, hard work, and disciplined execution embolden people and equip organizations to achieve audacious goals.

Growing up in working-class Long Island, a sixteen-year-old Bill traded three hourly wage jobs to buy a small deli, which he ran by instinctively applying ideas that would be the seeds for his future success. After paying for and graduating college, Bill talked his way into a job selling copiers door-to-door for Xerox, where he went on to rank number one in every sales position he held and eventually became the company’s youngest-ever corporate officer. Eventually, Bill left Xerox and in 2002 became the unlikely president of SAP’s flailing American business unit. There, he injected enthusiasm and accountability into the demoralized culture by scaling his deli, sales, and management strategies. In 2010, Bill was named co-CEO, and in May 2014 became SAP’s sole, and first non-European, CEO.

Colorful and fast-paced, Bill’s anecdotes contain effective takeaways: gutsy career moves; empathetic sales strategies; incentives that yield exceptional team performance; and proof of the competitive advantages of optimism and hard work. At the heart of Bill’s story is a blueprint for success and the knowledge that the real dream is the journey, not a preconceived destination.

A success story.

What an inspiring life story. It is a bit repetitive, but that is the story. Success on top of sussess.

Listen now! You hear from Mr. McDermott himself!

It is a very special leader that takes time to invest in over 600 minutes of personally narrating his own biography! I have enjoyed this book a great deal on my commutes as he took over the leadership of ServiceNow. I was curious about what this would mean for our company and I was instantly put to ease listening to his stories learning leadership from a young age. Mr. McDermott shares his experience and wisdom in sequential snippets - if you have to pause, there's easy 'stops' along the way and it is very easy to pick right back up again. I especially like his focus on relationships and reminding us of our humanity as a primary means of connection. We can only hope to have as good of a cat story as his! This is a must-read or listen-to. You feel like you're sitting in a room with him and getting to know him. This isn't a preaching book. This is a personal account and opportunity to lean in and be inspired to be a better human in this world.

Winning Process

What a guy! So glad that I was introduced to this book and Bill McDermott. If you want to see a full journey unfold and how to win this is a must read.

AN INSPIRING MUST READ!!!

Bill’s book is inspiring, relatable and an over-all great read that will motivate you along your journey towards your best self. Written (and narrated) by Bill himself; he is not only a wonderful human being from humble beginnings, but he persists until he succeeds every step of the way. He shares his organizational methods, sales approach, genuine demeanor and drive that brought him to where he is today. “Money is nothing but the happiness it buys you and the people you love”, said Bill’s father. He comes from a great East Coast family with strong values who struggles when he was a boy. He started delivering papers in the snow and worked his way to the top. He finds challenge a fun game to conquer. He is an inspiration to all.

Know your goal an focus

As a SAP employee i have now got a clear picture from what his enthusiasm and constant positive attitude comes from. I think he is a great leader who clearly shows the way forward.
But what really comes to my mind listening to Bill, is that hard work is essential for sucess, but only if you have a clear picture why you are are doing things and where you are heading and also the confidence to stick to your plan. And I think this focus is the key to succes, or reach your dream.

Great Read

I enjoyed listening to this book and will also get the hardcopy. Listening to Bill and his passion for his family, work and success is very inspiring.

I will definately be reading and highlighting important take aways.

A Wonderful Auto-Biography

This is a very authentic and inspiring re-cap of formative moments in Bill’s life, with great messages about character, leadership, and values. It’s so refreshing to hear about all the great lessons he learned while finding ways to locate and please customers. Not many people can narrate their own book with such professional quality - his voice adds a higher dimension to the experience. I highly recommend this book!

As an sap professional, this is truly inspiring.

Great story, well written.
Show that you can start with nothing and get everything if you believe!

An incredibly great inspirational book.

I am not anywhere close to being the CEO of the biggest tech giant in the world but this book has been the best book ever. An incredible relatable story, written and presented gracefully.
Bill, you are a champion and a star. Thank you for sharing your story. Julie is an incredible woman supporting you through and through.
I think that you are also a great family man showing the world that you can have it all and still be available for your family something a lot of people in the career industry have not been able to balance well.

Well done! All the best on your position at Service Now.

One of the best!

Absolutely loved it! This book hit close to home for me. I highly recommend this read.