Rohrs - Become an accelerator leader: accelerate yourself, others, and your organization to maximize impact

Become an Accelerator Leader is a joy to read and a valuable guide for every established or aspiring leader. Alvins storytelling skills reinforce important leadership lessons in a practical way, and he provides clear actionable items to become an accelerator leader. Ive known Alvin for many years; he is a person I look up to. I admire his transformative leadership style that accelerates others and creates an abundance of good. I think thats the kind of leader we all want to be.

Doug McMillon, President
and C.E.O. Walmart, Inc.

Alvin reminds me of my grandfather on so many of the qualities that made my grandfather the leader he was. Alvin has not only been a friend, but a mentor. I am excited that many more will have the opportunity to share in his mentorship through this book. I truly admire his ability to lead with such humility. I am assured that it will accelerate many peoples lives positively, thus creating the next generation of remarkable leaders.

Swati Dlamini Mandela

Alvin Rohrs is truly one of the most remarkable leaders I have ever met. His natural skill, combined with his ability and willingness to learn from some of the finest business leaders in American history, has made Alvin a potent force for free enterprise. What he created at Enactus is truly remarkable, and the lives of thousands have directly benefited from what Alvin has done. This is the book that many of us urged Alvin to write and I highly recommend it.

Matt Blunt, 54 th Governor of Missouri;
President, American Automotive Policy Council

This is a wonderful book that gives leadership advice that is relevant around the world. I have seen firsthand my friend Alvins accelerator leadership in action in India and globally. In this book, Alvin uses his world-class storytelling ability to share valuable leadership advice. It is fun and inspiring to read. I especially enjoyed his stories from his experiences in nature.

Ravi Kant, President, Tata Motors (Retired)

You can become an Accelerator Leader and Dr. Alvin Rohrs can show you how!

A superb leadership guide, thoughtfully crafted, by a proven leader and master storyteller who has walked a mile in your shoes.

Douglas R. Conant, Former Chairman of Avon
Products, Former President and CEO of Campbell
Soup Company, NYT Bestselling Author

As a student of humanity, Alvin has been blessed with many valuable personal and business experiences. Through his engaging and humble storytelling, he provides a comprehensive expression of the lessons he has learned and guides us to become accelerator leaders. Ive listened to many of Alvins inspirational speeches at Enactus events, and this book is written in the same voice with which he speaks. It serves as a true reflection of a man who wants each of us to achieve our very best.

Meg Schmitz, Franchise Development Consultant,
The Franchise Guru, The Wall Street Journal

Become an Accelerator Leader is a must read for any student of leadership, regardless of experience. It serves as a practical how-to guide for those wishing to lead an organization to new heights and drive change and adaptability. Weaving advice from widely recognized business leaders with tales of everyday situations ranging from fishing to international travel, Rohrs provides a framework that allows the reader to understand complex business concepts with clarity and ease.

Become an Accelerator Leader would be valuable not only as a textbook for most introductory undergraduate leadership courses or classes offered in variable settings, it would also serve as great ancillary material for undergraduate and graduate leadership classes, and in applied entrepreneurial settings.

Dr. Robert Wyatt, President, Coker University

Become an Accelerator Leader

Published by Gatekeeper Press
2167 Stringtown Rd, Suite 109
Columbus, OH 43123-2989
www.GatekeeperPress.com

Copyright 2019 by Alvin Rohrs
All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

ISBN (hardcover): 9781642375060
ISBN (paperback): 9781642375053
eISBN: 9781642375046
Library of Congress Control Number: 2019930663

Printed in the United States of America

Deliver sustainable impact by building an organization
that becomes a replicable, adaptable, and scalable organism
with a life of its own. Build a river. Not a Reservoir.

M y single greatest accomplishment was convincing Elizabeth to marry me. At the time of the proposal, I was such a poor college student that the proposal came without a ring. She said yes anyway. The ring didnt come until Christmas a year later and it had only a diamond chip in it. Our first home was a 10 foot X 50 foot mobile home built the same year she was born. I borrowed $1,500 from her father and mother, Kenneth and Jacky, to buy it and moved it from one trailer park to another. The morning after the first rain in our new home, we discovered that the roof leaked badly. I went to the local hardware store, bought a bucket of roofing tar and climbed on top of the house to give it a new coat. We were in law school and she was already learning divorce law, but didnt use it against me and stayed. The next year, we sold the trailer house for $2,000 and gave it all to my in-laws. I was happy to give them such a good return on their investment.

Elizabeth is now an Associate Circuit Judge in our home county. She was the first woman to practice law in the county; the first woman to be appointed municipal judge in our town; and the first woman to be elected as a county judge. She had three opponents in the election, all men, and she got more votes than all of them combined. Serving as a judge, I have heard her described as having the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon. While I spent my career traveling the country and world she spent her time making our community better. She took on leadership roles in Rotary, our church and the P.E.O. sisterhood. She served on the Community Concert and Cemetery Boards and volunteered thousands of hours in many other ways. She has the gifts of hospitality and generosity and uses them often. She makes Rachel Ray look like an amateur. She is a great cook and homemaker and makes a mean blackberry pie from the wild blackberries on our farm. She is an amazing person, an incredible role model and a Godly woman. She is a wonderful wife and mother. I did eventually replace her original engagement ring with one she deserves.

My second biggest accomplishment is being the father of Benjamin and Jaclyn. They are two amazing people. They have their mothers intelligence and good looks and my curly hair. Being part of their life and helping them grow up has been my greatest joy. Watching them mature as adults and find their own ways in life has been a wonderful, scary journey. A perfect day for me is having them back home to visit, with the four of us hanging out around the house and farm, doing whatever comes to mind.