Michael Ainslie - A Nose for Trouble ; Sothebys, Lehman Brothers, and My Life of Redefining Adversity

Anyone who knows Michael Ainslieas I dois better for the experience. Anyone who reads Michaels fascinating story will be better for the experience as well. A Nose for Trouble is a smart testament to a life well lived.

James Patterson, best-selling author

Michael Ainslie has led many different livesall well lived. He has been an entrepreneur, a CEO, a board member, a consultant, and a mentor to countless people. These roles have involved him with both commercial enterprises and with not-for-profit organizations. He has led this fast-paced life hardly pausing for breath between assignments. The reader will share Michaels exciting career and marvel at how much he has accomplished.

Ron Daniel, Managing Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company

A Nose for Trouble turns out to be the story of a fascinating lifes adventuresfrom high-stakes bank collapse to mentoring young women and men. His lifes chapters are captivating. A most enjoyable read.

Peter Georgescu, Chairman Emeritus, Young & Rubicam

In A Nose for Trouble, Michael Ainslie shares his unique and transformative relationship with Vanderbilt University, from undergraduate to Board of Trust member. His book explores not just his trajectory, but also the potential for an elite college experience, like his own, to transform anyone into a great leader. I am proud to count Michael as a friend, colleague, and confidant.

Nicholas S. Zeppos, Chancellor Emeritus, Vanderbilt University

Michael Ainslie gives us an inside look into how strong leadership can address major challenges in both the corporate and nonprofit arenas. Our partnership, as we developed The Posse Foundation over the years, is a shining example of his commitment to contributing to a more equitable society. As a man with great compassion and intense belief in the promise of new ideas, he has made an enormous positive difference in the world.

Deborah Bial, President and Founder, The Posse Foundation

Very few people have lived a life that so reflects the touchstones that have defined our country in the last half century to now: in fine art, real estate, and finance. An insider on all fronts, Michael Ainslies story is the stuff of high adventurerarely lived and more rarely told.

Joni Evans; Co-founder, wowOwow.com and PureWow. com; former Publisher, Simon and Schuster; former Publisher, Random House; former Vice President and Senior Literary Agent, the William Morris Agency

Michael captures the grit and heart of mission-driven leadership in this revealing book that demonstrates the power of vulnerability, authenticity and courage when organizational change is imperative.

Shirley M. Collado, PhD; President, Ithaca College; Posse 1, Vanderbilt University Class of 1994

A fascinating story of talent and motivation leading to wildly successful achievement of the American Dream, this is a brilliant insiders tour of a life lived deeply and woven of the threads of some of the great institutions of America. A Nose for Trouble is told through the eyes of an engaging, generous, and loving man who has a gift for sustaining lifelong relationships and whose great joy is building deep and productive connections between people that often pay off in unexpected ways.

Peter T. Scardino, former Chief of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

This book is a memoir reflecting the authors present recollections of experiences over time. Its story and its words are the authors alone. Some details and characteristics may be changed, some events may be compressed, and some dialogue may be recreated.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press

Austin, Texas

www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2020 Michael

Ainslie All rights reserved.

Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact

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Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance

Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance

Cover photograph: 2019 FredoLego via iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection

Photos of Michael Ainslie with Barbara Bush; with Nancy Reagan and Alan Boyd; and at the Save the Capitol rally: To the extent the National Trust for Historic Preservation holds copyright to these photographs or a license to use and distribute them, the National Trust grants to Greenleaf Book Group a nonexclusive royalty free perpetual license to publish the images in works authored by Michael Ainslie.

Photo of Michael Ainslie with Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and Henry Ford II: To the extent that Warren Mattox (Mattox Photography) owns the rights to this photograph, Mattox Photography grants permission for its use in this book.

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-671-0

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-672-7