Rating: 
Summary: Read this book twice and revisit it often
Review: This is a difficult book to categorize - on one level it's a framework for business (or personal) success, on another it's an account of one man's personal observations and astute conclusions. Above all, it's lucid and remarkably well written. At the core it's about building self-esteem in yourself and others, and how to develop your most important assets - your people. I like the way Mr. Hutcheson immediately draws you into his life and the forces and personalities which influenced him from an early age. He clearly explains what the book is about and why he wrote it, weaving in story telling, analysis and definite purpose. He continues by laying out the nine keys to sustaining value, which are actually guidelines that can be used in business or in personal endeavors. Each key is empirically supported, is illustrated and reinforced by portraits of success, and is laid out as a set of action items which clearly show how to use the key. My first pass through the book was fast and left me with the impression that much of it was common sense. A more careful reading, however, showed that what seems like common sense if actually the author's ability to articulate insights gained through a lifetime as an executive who worked his way up in a family business, and his later observations as a consultant. I was so impressed with what I read that I gave a copy to my boss (I work for a privately held company based in India), and he was as impressed as I with the advice given and the clear outline for implementing it. It's about leadership, doing the right things for the right reasons, and how to build and maintain a distinctive culture. This is a down-to-Earth book that imparts excellent advice and the insights behind the advice. It is inspirational, yet practical, and is true to its title with respect to providing nine keys to sustaining business value.
| 
