The Wisdom of Titans ─ Secrets of Success from Entrepreneurs Who Rose to the Top

Becoming a successful entrepreneur takes energy and drive. Less than 20% make it beyond the first three years. Achieving the next level, the status of business titan ? the upper echelon of leadership ? takes an unrelenting commitment to turn an idea into a plan, a plan into a startup venture, and a venture into a successful business. The chances of getting to the top are slim at best, relying on a particular set of skills and attributes. In The Wisdom of Titans, William Ferguson shares how 10 famous titans, from Bill Marriott to Julia Stewart, made it to the top, for every entrepreneur to learn from and follow. The book describes the challenges of leading service organizations, in particular, where managing and motivating thousands of people can make or break the business. The book provides advice for those just starting out as well as business leaders looking to take their enterprise to the next level.

William J. Ferguson serves as Chairman and CEO of Ferguson Partners Ltd. and as the Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of FPL Advisory Group. Bill conducts senior management recruiting assignments, with a specialization in president/chief executive officer searches and recruiting assignments for Boards of Trustees/Directors. He also conducts CEO succession planning assignments and facilitates public company Board assessments and senior management assessments. Bill is a widely respected author and speaker on the topic of leadership. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.B.A. in marketing from the Wharton Graduate School of Business.

Christopher J. Nassetta is President and Chief Executive Officer for Hilton Worldwide.