What Makes the Great Great

December 2, 1996
African Americans seeking high levels of success and accomplishment must never let negative influences such as poverty and racism infiltrate their souls, exhorts Kimbro in this inspirational self-help manual. More than a highly personal, conversationally written pep talk, it uses the success stories of black achievers in many fields--Maya Angelou, broadcasting magnate Percy Sutton, track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, chocolate-chip cookie tycoon Wally "Famous" Amos, Soft Sheen hair-care multimillionaire Ed Gardner, among others--to illustrate nine mental strategies said to underlie high achievement. These "stones of greatness" are deep-seated spiritual beliefs, a guiding vision, passionate commitment, character, competence, willingness to take risks, self-confidence, discipline and an I-can-do-it attitude. Professor of entrepreneurship at Clark Atlanta University, Kimbro (Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice) dispenses motivational pearls of wisdom with rhetorical flourishes. Included is a detailed career profile of the top 100 black managers in the U.S.