Obstacles Welcome by Ralph de la Vega

I'm something of a geek(or so I'm told by family and friends), so getting insight into the leadership principles of Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, was very appealing.

The core principle is that the obstacles and challenges in our lives are the things that define us and develop us. Ralph de la Vega presents a couple of structures that he uses to guide the reader through this principle. First, there are his "6 pivotal point", the key events in his life. Then, the "Pillars of Success", his framework for achievement.


The flow of the books weaves the stories of these 'pivotal points' with the 'pillars of success' to show the reader how to accept challenges, respond to them, and come out of them better, smarter... more successful. To assist the reader, the author ends each chapter with "Takeaway Points", summarizing the key lessons addressed.De la Vega's approach is, to a large degree, textbook-like. In addition to these chapter summaries, he uses a number of diagrams to explain key concepts including his Pillars of Success, the Learning Cycle, his Pyramid of Principles, and others.

I would recommend this book to people trying to develop their ability to lead in a challenging business world. It encourages the reader to base their leadership on sound moral principles, and a positive attitude toward the opportunities offered by obstacles.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”