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red helicopter—a parable for our times

lead change with kindness (plus a little math)

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Embrace your agency, lead change, and fly free—in the business of life and the life of business—with kindness (plus a little math)

In kindergarten, James Rhee received a toy red helicopter in gratitude for a simple act of generosity—sharing his lunch. Decades later, the lesson from that small gift led him to develop a human-centered framework for business and personal achievement that helped him overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles and find unprecedented success.

"red helicopter is a transformative experience. James Rhee's story is a must read for anyone, of any age, who wishes to think, act, and lead with balance, agility, and wisdom." —Jay Shetty

Rhee was a high school teacher turned private equity investor when he unexpectedly took the helm of Ashley Stewart, an iconic company predominantly employing and serving Black women. Inspired by the values his dying Korean immigrant parents instilled in him, he knew that a radically different—yet familiar—approach was required to lead this twice-bankrupt company from certain liquidation to true transcendence.

Is it possible to be successful and kind? To lead with precision and compassion? To honor who we are in all areas of our lives?

The entire world bet against him and Ashley, but Rhee trusted his instincts to identify, measure, and leverage the intangible goodwill at the company's core, a decision which ultimately multiplied its fortunes several times over.

Anyone can combine the clarity and imagination we had as children with fundamental business metrics. Anyone can apply this refreshingly intuitive approach to lead change at work and at home.

While eloquently sharing a story of personal and professional success, red helicopter presents a comforting yet bold solution to the dissatisfaction and worry we all feel in a chaotic and sometimes terrifying world.

The insights and knowledge that Rhee imparts have been accumulated over decades of investing and leading at the highest levels of business. Drawing on this experience, he encourages us to trust the wisdom deep inside each of us so we can learn how to:

  • Create and measure "goodwill," the ultimate collective good
  • Discover agency and the truth about kindness it entails
  • Identify the invisible obstacles standing in your way
  • Lead transformational change through small, scalable acts
  • Construct an accurate "balance sheet" of our assets and liabilities
  • Reorient our lives, organizations, and the world to reflect the best in us
  • Are you looking for a sustainable balance between life, money, and joy? For yourself and others?

    Imagine, a clear path forward told as a deeply felt human story. A poignant and uplifting celebration of humanity, red helicopter—a parable for our times is a tale of struggle and triumph, compelling for its honesty and relatability as much as for the instructions we can all use to balance the books of our lives.

    red helicopter—a parable for our times features approximately 20 original illustrations by Korean artist Heyon Cho.

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      • Publisher's Weekly

        February 19, 2024
        In this twee debut memoir, Rhee, founder of the investment firm FirePine Group, melds stories from his immigrant upbringing with reflections on his rescue of clothing brand Ashley Stewart. The secret to a successful career, he contends, is blending business acumen with empathy. The importance of kindness became apparent to him when as a child he shared his lunch with a friend whose widowed father forgot to pack him one (the grieving dad brought Rhee a toy helicopter as thanks). Making a tortured attempt to draw leadership advice from this anecdote, Rhee suggests that helicopters’ ability to hover should remind readers that “sometimes staying still” is the correct move because the answer is “right in front of us.” The author is at his best when reflecting on his family, poignantly recounting the frustrations caused by the language barrier between him and his parents, who emigrated from Korea to the U.S. in the 1960s. The material on how “kindness and math” helped him save Ashley Stewart from bankruptcy is trite by comparison, as when Rhee suggests that replacing fluorescent lights with LED bulbs constituted kindness because they lasted longer and so employees sustained fewer injuries climbing ladders to replace them. (By math, Rhee mostly just means paying attention to the bottom line.) Earnest meditations on family elevate this otherwise mawkish outing.

      • Library Journal

        March 1, 2024

        Impact investor Rhee's book offers a roadmap to rediscover innate wisdom and values often forgotten in the hustle of adulthood. Rhee uses his personal story--beginning with a childhood act of kindness rewarded with the gift of a toy red helicopter--to frame the leadership lessons he provides. The book incorporates elements from his experience resurrecting clothing retail firm Ashley Stewart, as well as general principles of accounting, finance, behavioral science, economics, and corporate law. His writing style and strategies give ample opportunity for learning but also feel relatable. He calls for readers to embrace agency, assess their true assets and liabilities, measure goodwill, and lead transformative change through small, scalable acts, bringing to mind Simon Sinek's Leaders Eat Last and Bren� Brown's Daring Greatly. VERDICT A well-crafted narrative with a genuine and heartfelt approach. Nominally a business title, but it will have a broad general appeal for readers looking to rediscover simple yet powerful principles that can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.--Sara Holder

        Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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    Languages

    • English

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