Converse Jane Bodman - .. and dignity for all unlocking greatness through values based leadership

"When Jim Despain asked me to write a foreword for his book, And Dignity for All , I was thrilled. Why? I'm a big Jim Despain fan. You're going to love this book. What people want in leaders today, more than ever before, is integritywalking their talk. And Dignity for All is all about integrity. This might very well be the best management book you ever read. I know it will help you unleash the power and potential of your human organization. Thanks, Jim."

KEN BLANCHARD
Co-author, The One Minute Manager

"I highly recommend Jim Despain's book, And Dignity for All , to anyone who aspires to reach his or her dreams. It is an excellent story that clearly outlines how important it is to take risks, face your fears, and overcome any obstacles to reach success. This book allows readers to reflect on how they can transform their lives into something they never thought could be imaginable.
"Through my personal experience as a former high school teacher and as a leader in the United States Congress, I have learned to recognize the qualities of a great leader. While serving in these capacities, I have come to understand the truth behind the saying, 'leaders aren't born, they are made.' This message is conveyed throughout the book as Jim Despain tells a story about his transformational journey through life that helped him develop into a charismatic and effective leader. It is a story about how he worked his way up the ranks in a high-profile company named Caterpillar, always with steady focus and with fierce determination that allowed him to overcome any challenge that came his way. Furthermore, it shows how Jim Despain inspired his workforce to put aside their differences and trust one another in order to pursue a more efficient, positive working environment.
"It was encouraging to read about Jim growing up in a small mining town in Illinois. He never received a college degree, but still managed to develop into one of the more respected, inspirational leaders and role models within the Caterpillar organization. This book reinforced my belief that each individual is responsible for the outcome of their own futurethat success isn't always handed to a person on a silver platter, but rather earned through hard work and determination.
"I am thankful Jim Despain shared his personal story so that others might have the chance to understand what it takes to be a successful leader and, above all, how to make any career aspiration come true."

J. DENNIS HASTERT
Speaker of the House

"Jim Despain's account of his progression from broom sweeper to top manager at Caterpillar Inc. is a great storyparticularly for these timesabout the right way to improve your corporate culture and your business success."

THE HONORABLE BOB MICHEL
Former Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives

"Jim Despain pulls off this business memoir beautifully. It is a rare and honest look at what it was like for a low-level employee to struggle and overcome obstacles in a not-always-friendly corporate environment. Jim's climb up the ladder is inspiring. Start-up employees as well as executives should read this book carefully."

ROBERT SLATER
Author, Jack Welch and the GE Way

"The cry for corporate integrity is greater today than ever before. And Dignity for All shows us how to succeed with integrity, not just succeed. It is a compelling case study of a wonderful journey toward individual transition and corporate transition."

MARSHALL GOLDSMITH
Founding Director of the Financial Times Knowledge Dialogue and the Alliance for Strategic Leadership and author of 14 books, including The Leader of the Future (a BusinessWeek best-seller)

"They say people can't change, but this book will convince you it's not true. I saw the Values Process described in this book change Jim and his team from autocratic managers to real leaders. And I saw their business improve far beyond anyone's expectations. This book proves what we know in our heartsthat trusting and respecting people makes good business sense."

GERALD L. SHAHEEN
Group President, Caterpillar Inc.

"This is absolutely the most inspiring story about corporate leadership that I have read in the past 15 years! If you want to understand how to turn on employees and turn up profits, Jim Despain's real life journey from floor sweeper to vice president of a $20 billion company is a must read. Every chapter is filled with important insights for transforming any business into a great company. So refreshing. Almost makes life worth living."

ERIC STEPHAN
BYU, Marriott School of Business and author of Powerful Leadership

"I met Jim and his management team during the deployment stage of their Common Values process. At first, I thought the effort was superficial and a 'program of the day' activity. I was wrong. There is no question this division accomplished an effective, almost unbelievable transformation. Their ability to maintain the gains from our work with them (or their Class A achievement) is clear evidence."

JIM CORRELL
Chairman, Oliver Wight Americas

" And Dignity for All is not only a compelling story, it is a blueprint for how to succeed in any business. Using the values process described in this book, we took a similar journey and achieved consistent, extraordinary performance. Whether you are in a product business or in a service business like we are, the job of leaders everywhere is to serve and honor people. When people feel good about themselves, each other, and their place of employment, performance always gets better."