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Rising to the Challenge: My Leadership Journey

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“There are all kinds of reasons why people fail to fulfill their potential. Perhaps they lack opportunity, perhaps they lack support, perhaps they lack tools or training or education. But everyone has potential. This I know. Our Founders knew it too. They had the radical insight that the right to fulfill your potential— to use your God-given gifts—is a right that comes from God and cannot be taken away by government.”

Since the 2006 publication of her New York Times  bestseller, Tough Choices , former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina has faced a new round of challenges. She ran for the Senate as a Republican in deep-blue California but was unable to unseat the entrenched incumbent. She battled breast cancer, wondering if she’d even survive. Worst of all, she suffered the devastating loss of a beloved daughter. Yet despite these setbacks and tragedies, she remains  “I’ve come to see lessons and blessings in these passages. I know now that life is not measured in time. Life is measured in love and positive contributions and moments of grace.”

Now, Fiorina shares the lessons she’s learned from both her difficulties and triumphs. Drawing on her experience as a pioneering business and nonprofit leader, a politically active citizen, and a parent, she diagnoses the largest problem facing our country  untapped potential. Too often, American men and women are held back by systems that prevent them from working and flourishing. Too many people lose hope for themselves. Too many lack the opportunity to use their gifts and live lives of meaning, dignity, and purpose.

In 2014, Fiorina launched the Unlocking Potential Project, a new grassroots organization, to share a message with those who worry about America’s  we have all the resources we need to prosper, but we don’t tap into them. By ignoring conservative principles—or failing to articulate those principles in ways that connect with regular people—politicians have failed their constituents, abandoning them to the crushing burden of our bloated government.

Fiorina believes that politics, like business, is primarily about people. With warmth and compassion, she provides a vision that reaches across the usual barriers of gender, race, income, and party affiliation to craft a message that appeals to a wide range of a message of hope. As she learned facing life’s challenges, “Hope is a curiously strong thing.” Her story—and her ideas—will restore hope to those discouraged about the future.

198 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2015

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About the author

Carly Fiorina

14 books38 followers
Carly is a true leader and a seasoned problem‐solver. She is a passionate, articulate advocate for entrepreneurship, innovation, and effective leadership. She started out as a secretary for a small real-estate business and eventually became the first woman ever to lead a Fortune 50 company. In 1999, during the worst technology recession in twenty-five years, Carly was recruited to lead HP. As she refocused the company on innovation and market leadership, revenues grew, innovation tripled, growth quadrupled, and HP grew to become the eleventh largest company in the US.

Connect with Carly at CarlyFiorina.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Amy.
2,734 reviews524 followers
February 7, 2021
This read like an "I'm running for president" book.
Perhaps it is meant as a sequel to Tough Choices which I have not read but immediately purchased after finishing this one.
Or perhaps it simply her processing the death of her step-daughter and all the battles she fought after leaving HP.
I guess that's the problem. I don't really know what this book is trying for. I love Fiorina. I think she is inspiring and I highlighted a ton of things in this book. But I can't help feeling it read more like a slightly fleshed out resume than a biography. Which...circles back to the "I'm running for president" vibe.

Favorite quotes: "I didn't read most of [the criticism]. I had learned that lesson long ago from Oprah Winfrey. She had warned me not to believe my press coverage. If I believed the good stuff, she said I had to believe the bad stuff."

"The essence of leadership is seeing the possibilities of people."

"Leadership, in contrast, is about looking beyond the known, breaking through constraints, and changing the order of things."

"An unwillingness to engage with people simply because they have not supported your candidates in the past is self-defeating as well as disrespectful."
Profile Image for Book Shark.
769 reviews145 followers
September 8, 2015
Rising to the Challenge: My Leadership Journey by Carly Fiona


“Rising to the Challenge" is Carly Fiorina’s personal journey in the world of leadership. In this average to below average account, Ms. Fiorina focuses on the keys to leadership which is to unlock human potential. This progressive-minded reviewer found this well-intentioned book lacking in substance and falling short of many other right-wing books of this ilk. This disappointing 208-page book includes the following eight chapters: 1. The Power of Human Potential, 2. A Soul Intact, 3. Cancer, 4. Annus Horribilis, 5. Meet Me in Medota, 6. A Cautionary Tale, 7. What Women Want, and 8. Unlocking America’s Potential.


Positives:
1. A well-written, brief book.
2. Insightful, candid look at personal challenges. An autobiographical book of sorts.
3. Heartbreaks revealed. Find out.
4. A lot of this book revolves around fulfilling human potential. “What I also know is that Americans are failing to achieve their potential today. One in six Americans lives in poverty. More Americans are on food stamps than at any time in our history. Record numbers of Americans remain unemployed. Underemployment is a growing problem. Labor force participation rates are at historic lows.”
5. A look I into her background. “I graduated from college with a degree in medieval history and philosophy.”
6. Plain and simple talk on what unlocks human potential. “Someone taking a chance on you. Someone giving you a helping hand. Free markets. An education. A job. And freedom.”
7. Her work with Good360. “Good360 takes excess or obsolete inventory from companies and, through technology and our logistics and distribution expertise, matches that inventory to the needs of people served by over forty thousand charities in the United States.”
8. Insights into true leadership. “The highest calling of leadership is to unlock the potential of others.”
9. Interesting account of her six years at Hewlett-Packard. Her successes and ouster. “We had doubled the company’s revenues to ninety billion dollars; accelerated the growth rate from 2 percent to 9 percent; quadrupled cash flow; gone from market laggard to market leader in every category; created jobs in America and around the world; and more than tripled our rate of innovation to eleven patents a day.” “The ‘HP way’ emphasized achievement, contribution, flexibility, and innovation.”
10. Insights into the business world. “For me, business is a story about people—what they are capable of when supported and challenged; what they can envision and create—which is why I like the business world.” “Unfortunately, that five-year period of leadership was squandered when management focused on short-term earnings and failed to invest sufficiently in the lifeblood of a technology company: innovation.”
11. Differences between leadership and management. “The essence of leadership is seeing the possibilities of people. In this respect, leadership differs critically from management. Management is the production of acceptable results within known conditions and constraints. Leadership, in contrast, is about looking beyond the known, breaking through constraints, and changing the order of things.” “
12. Her contributions to the government via advisory positions. Her role in the McCain campaign.
13. Interesting look at the impact of the 2008 financial collapse. “Hurt in this process? Smaller community banks that had nothing to do with exotic financial instruments like collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). These banks struggle to compete and aren’t making loans to the families and family-owned businesses they’ve traditionally supported. Also hurt in this process? Small businesses that can’t get credit; families whose home values plummeted through no fault of their own; and the hardworking, honest Americans who want credit but now can’t get it because the standards have become too onerous. Crony capitalism rears its ugly head once again.”
14. Her personal battle with cancer. “Going in, the thing I was most afraid of about cancer was chemotherapy.”
15. Her California Senate race. “Two things, above all, matter to me, I said: accountability and opportunity. From where I stood, no other issue separated the world of business and the world of government more than accountability. Years of fiscal mismanagement and political capture by the public employee unions in Sacramento had bankrupted the state of California. Washington was racking up unprecedented deficits. Congress has just passed the stimulus—a 1,000-page, $830 billion spending bill that no one actually read—so no one knew exactly where the money was going.”
16. Insights about California politics. “In other words, government has gotten so big and so powerful in California that it’s begun to work for itself. It’s not a mysterious phenomenon—it’s an entirely predictable one. And it has lessons for the rest of the country.”
17. Limited but some insight into her political views, particularly on economics. “I had a distinctly different view. I didn’t believe the way to close budget deficits was to raise taxes but to control spending.” “Only growth, success, and leadership can guarantee prosperity. It is true of companies, and it is true of countries as well.”
18. Her views on the war on women. “Failing to take advantage of the talents of women—half the population—is corporate malpractice as far as I’m concerned. The same is true for any party that hopes to be a governing party. And the Republican Party must be as diverse as the nation we want to represent.”
19. Find out what the next big thing will be in technology and how it will impact our world.
20. The leadership framework.


Negatives:
1. I was expecting much more from Carly Fiorina. Plain and simply the book lacked substance.
2. So many missed opportunities to showcase her many skills and what she can bring to the table.
3. A limited look at her political views.
4. Very little on hot-button issues and how she would move the country forward.
5. I don’t believe Fiorina was as candid about Sara Palin as she was on other issues. “I thought the pick of Governor Palin as Senator McCain’s running mate was different—but in a good way. She was an unknown quantity to me, but her candidacy added needed excitement and energy to the race.” And then, “I never did get the chance to fulfill Senator McCain’s request to brief her on the economic challenges facing the country, although I made numerous requests to meet with her during the campaign. To this day I have never met her.”
6. Once again, I don’t believe Fiorina was as forthright about the McCain campaign as she should have been. “As Congress debated the $700 billion bailout, McCain suspended his campaign and flew to Washington. Although I thought this was a bad idea, I wasn’t consulted, and I knew there were many who were urging McCain to take dramatic action.” And??
7. The worst statement of the book, “Rather than discouraging a reliance on God for wisdom and guidance, we should acknowledge that people of faith make better leaders.” Faith-based countries (theocratic countries) are far worse off than secular ones.
8. Lack of supplementary materials. No charts, tables, bibliography or notes.


In summary, as right-wing books go this is below average. This book misses many opportunities to showcase how Fiorina’s business experiences will translate to running a government. This book lacks substance; it’s repetitive and reveals a lot less than I was hoping for from such an accomplished woman. Pass on this below average book.


Further right-wing suggestions that will help you get acquainted with their views: “A Time for Truth” by Ted Cruz, “Unintimidated” by Scott Walker, “American Dreams” by Marco Rubio, “Time to get Tough” by Donald J. Trump, “Rising to the Challenge” by Carly Fiorina, “Taking a Stand” by Rand Paul, “What I Believe” and “One Nation” by Ben Carson, “Immigration Wars” by Jeb Bush, “God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy” by Mike Huckabee, “Fed Up!” by Rick Perry, “Blue Collar Conservatives” by Rick Santorum, and “Our Lost Constitution” by Mike Lee.
Profile Image for Naftoli.
190 reviews19 followers
August 25, 2015
Direct but elegant, this book captures the problems - and solutions - of our time.

Coming from the high tech world of Silicon Valley (only an hour north of where i reside) Carly has a positive & innovative approach to change.

I earned my first college degree at San Jose State University & Carly's book situates my mind back to the high tech world.

The techies of Silicon Valley have a unique way of approaching problems ... they think 'outside the box' and Carly's approach exemplifies this approach.

We need a government leader like Carly. Only good can come of it. Yes, she *is* an outsider to politics but this is her strength. If elected president, she can certainly fill her cabinet with lawyer/politicians through whom she can run her ideas. She is certainly a team-oriented person.

This book is written with such grace & compassion that it almost comes across as a positive thinking or self help book. Her struggle with her daughter's death and her own cancer make one contemplate the value of life.

The book is so up close & personal that i almost feel as though we are friends though we have never met.

I wish i could give this 6 stars rather than 5!!!!
Profile Image for Rick.
109 reviews
October 17, 2015
People like to pile on Carly's record at HP, but I have to say, there are some really good ideas in this book. Take, for example, government agencies being required to go through a zero-based budgeting process every two years. When I worked at NBC and a large agency, this is how we did it annually. Every line item had to be justified and expenditures had to be defended. Adjustments were made as the year unfolded. For example if revenues did not meet projections, we cut expenses. Why is this controversial? Why must this be a question of left vs. right? This is how it works in the private sector; in other words, in the real world. There are no sacred cows or entitlements. Think about how you run your own household. Do you spend indiscriminately with no concern about your level of debt or the future? If we don't make some real changes along these lines, it is our future generations who are going to get the shaft.
Profile Image for Kayla.
270 reviews15 followers
December 15, 2019
Really liked hearing Carly's political journey but would have liked more on how she got to this point. It's definitely a biography and not a self-help or leadership book.
June 28, 2015
Carly Fiorina's Rising to the Challenge is an unabashedly political book, timed to help her make a positive difference on the national stage as a candidate for the presidency. Like most political books, it will probably have a short shelf life.

Despite those handicaps, this is an excellent briefing of sorts about which I cannot be cynical. Fiorina wants very much to reclaim the potential and "can do" spirit for which the United States was once known. Unlike many other leaders (or would-be leaders), she's disarmingly specific about how to leverage globalization and technology in pursuit of that goal. Her criticisms of Democrats and Democratic policies are thoughtful rather than vitriolic, her assessment of the "water wars" in California is memorably powerful, and she wisely includes just enough personal and professional history to give weight to her words.

In short, Rising to the Challenge makes a compelling case for Carly Fiorina -- and, surprisingly, for the rest of us, also. I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in current events, as well as anyone who wonders what "American values" are, and whether they're moribund. High school civics and history teachers ought to read it, even if -- or maybe especially if -- they don't consider themselves ideologically simpatico with Fiorina.
February 11, 2016
My favorite quote from this book:

"I know from being a CEO that any company needs as much talent around the table as it can possibly muster. Failing to take advantage of the talents of women - half the population - is corporate malpractice as far as I'm concerned."

Overall I thought this was a good book. Obviously she is writing to an audience that mostly dislikes the current president and the Democrats so there is some political posturing (especially at the beginning of the book). Near the end though we get to see her vision for the country and she really pounds home just how much women have and can contribute to the country. That's what saved the book for me (I got tired of all the half-snide comments directed towards the other side).

She is a remarkable woman. While I don't agree with her on everything she was one of the few halfway decent candidates as far as I was concerned. I'm disappointed that she has dropped out.
Profile Image for Greg.
2 reviews
September 7, 2015
This is a quick but powerful read by Carly Fiorina describing the difficulties and triumphs which have shaped her life and personal philosophy. She continually emphasizes the God-given potential of every human being and articulates her conservative principles. No doubt this is a "campaign book" in her run for President, but it is breath of fresh air. I now know who has my support for the GOP nomination.
Profile Image for Precia.
17 reviews3 followers
Read
May 31, 2015
This is a quick, but powerful read. Carly recognizes the untapped potential in all people and discusses ways in which our government and society can enable and release that potential into action. I hope she is successful in seeking the Republican nomination for POTUS and would love to be part of her campaign.
Profile Image for DeBora Rachelle.
220 reviews12 followers
June 10, 2015
She tells it like it is. I was hoping to learn more about her, but this doesn't seem to get that personal. It really starts to get good around page 153 however the book is 188 pages long so not much left after that.

One scary quote, "We Are now, for the first time in American history, destroying more businesses than we are creating." Sad, but true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sharon Orlopp.
Author 1 book797 followers
September 4, 2017
I listened to Carly Fiorina's book on audio. Carly and I don't share the same perspective on many things but I want to always try and learn from those who have different opinions. Her book shares her public firing as CEO of HP, her campaign for political office, the death of her adult daughter, and her personal fight against breast cancer. I admire her grit, perseverance, and determination.
Profile Image for Laura Skladzinski.
1,145 reviews44 followers
June 14, 2016
This was short but good - I read it in just one day! It's clearly written to prep for Carly's presidential by presenting her philosophy and credentials, but I still really enjoyed it. Too bad she's out of the race :(
9 reviews1 follower
August 11, 2015
Mike knudson

I enjoyed reading the facts and how government works from a creditable and Christian person. I could relate to her life experiences and the stress it causes. I owned two business for 25 years and saw it disappear due to government bureaucracy.
Profile Image for Dave Jones.
310 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2015
I enjoyed reading about her ideas and vision for the future. She has some good things to say about this country. She hasn't closed the sale but she is definitely a possible.
Profile Image for David R..
956 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2015
While insightful, and certainly pertinent to the Fiorina presidential bid, this book suffers from a certain lack of flow and coherence. There's either ghost writing or incomplete editing at play.
Profile Image for Stacy .
206 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2015
A short read about the only GOP woman in the 2016 Presidential race. She has some good ideas and she has been shaped by surviving cancer and the death of a child.
22 reviews
November 5, 2023
This is a very political book. Even though Carly claims to be Christian, she blames the political party she is not part of for everything wrong in our country and with her healthcare during her cancer treatments. She states, "Experience has also taught me that when we fail to achieve our potential, the easiest--and most counterproductive--thing in the world is to look for someone to blame. The men and women who call themselves our leaders spending an awful lot of time pointing fingers and coming up with excuses." Yet, Carly does this throughout her entire book. True Christians do not blame and attack other people. They find a way to lift up people and solve problems without pointing fingers and blaming.
125 reviews7 followers
July 20, 2018
This was obviously written before her run in 2016. She's a good writer, but it was too much talk about what's wrong with the country and how to fix it. While that's good to a point, I was more interested in her rise to the top of HP and her personal life. Guess I'll have to read her first book for that.
Profile Image for Marla.
36 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2019
Don't judge a book by it's cover is a common phrase. But, I wasn't inspired by the sad, serious look on her face and neither was I impressed by the book. It was a timeline of events with no emotion. I felt like I was reading stats instead of a story.
Profile Image for Aryssa.
431 reviews48 followers
December 5, 2017
A typical campaign book outlining her plan for America with nice details on her background, really interesting to read after the 2016 election since she didn't get much air time.
249 reviews5 followers
February 25, 2018
great book by an amazing woman I had the honor and privilege of meeting 3 times, two of which were truly amazing and inspiring.
Profile Image for Dillon.
2 reviews
June 12, 2018
Insightful, personal, thoughtful political idealism, but lacking in substantive and unique solutions
Profile Image for Tim.
611 reviews5 followers
April 18, 2020
I loved Tough Choices and this was a so-so follow up to it. I really like her voice and style and she's at her best when she tells a personal narrative. But, the political jabs muddy the intimate nature of the book.
Profile Image for Red.
19 reviews
November 6, 2022
"What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God."
"We control nothing but our own choices. Our lives come down to how we choose to use our gifts."
Profile Image for Lori.
506 reviews11 followers
January 24, 2016
Not only did Carly progress along her leadership journey, she did it while battling cancer. She had plenty of help along the way, but what a tough woman! Some of the highlights for me:

- People who learned to overcome much can achieve more than people who've never been tested!
- NEVER sell your soul! Don't be someone you are not, don't be less than you are, don't give up what you believe. And ALWAYS aspire to come through the storm with your dignity in tact!
- It is people who produce the products and profits of business and if you don't understand people, you can't change what they do. Which is to say, you cannot lead.
- What others say about you does not define you. Your choices and your actions define you.
- Decisions were made to manage a bad situation rather than provide the leadership to change it.
- Bureaucracies literally cannot keep pace with the speed of change or the problems they are asked to solve. Bureaucracies, by their very nature, kill ingenuity, flexibility and creativity. (ya think?)
- Talking is not Action. In the legal profession, speaking and acting are synonymous. For those outside legal, real results are not the product of words and intentions, but of actions and consequences. (how do we use politically correct language to inform some lawyers of this?)

Profile Image for Tina.
Author 2 books10 followers
November 3, 2015
The more I learn of Carly Fiorina, the more impressed I am with her. I appreciated getting to know her history, both personal and professional, and of her success and struggles with HP first hand. I like her ideas on what makes a good leader and think she is a great leader already. Her integrity shows. As far as politics, her ideas on the economy sound a lot like Rubio's...I suppose all Republicans should have similar fiscal ideas. She knows first hand the failings of swollen bureaucracies-the nation could use more of her wisdom on this as well as her thoughts on innovation and technology. I really like Fiorina's view of "women's issues", education and faith. I appreciate that she has a real understanding of the foreign issues of today, but I would like to hear more of her actual policies and plans, foreign and domestic, should she be elected POTUS. She really needs more media time.

Favorite quotes:
"When you refuse to compromise yourself, explaining yourself isn't difficult."
"What gets measured is what gets done." -Bill Hewlett
"Conservatives are different. We respect all women and don't insult them by thinking that all they care about are reproductive rights. All issues are women's issues. We are half of this great nation."
Profile Image for Karina.
258 reviews42 followers
April 10, 2016
Although I could not get into Carly Fiorina's first book and have not been following her political campaigns at all, my Women's Business & Leadership Book Club voted to discuss this book, so I picked it up last night. I was very pleasantly surprised by how quick a read it was and finished it today, not wanting to put it down in between.

In this book Carly does not focus on her life at HP (although it's mentioned), but instead focuses on how she took those lessons and others life threw her way as opportunities to help others fulfill their potential, as someone had done for her back when she started out as a secretary.

Since I tend to stay away from politics, it was interesting to read about her decision to run for the California Senate seat, the challenges of campaign life, and then her turning to nonprofit work. Her opinions on politics, what's wrong with it in general and especially against women, and her opinion of current government leaders was also refreshing.

My one criticism of the book is that some chapters tended to meander, move forward and back in time sometimes confusingly, and that the end was a bit too long and preachy. But overall an interesting memoir from a CEO turned politician/activist.
Profile Image for Cynthia Down.
Author 2 books1 follower
May 10, 2015
Read it in 2 sittings

This was an engaging, interesting, thought-provoking and inspiring book. It was also an easy read that I couldn't put down and I'm usually NOT a non-fiction reader. If anybody is interested in the rise of a woman from Secretary to CEO, how she achieved that success and valuable insight for professional women I highly recommend this book. Of course, now that Ms. Florida is a candidate for the highest political office in the world it provides deep insight into her ideology and a framework for her plan to unlock human potential that has been lost in America. I was inspired by the amount of charity work she funds and leads for women around the world and her insight, again, in unlocking human potential globally. As a business woman and manager in corporate America I was fascinated with her style and took a lot of notes on leadership.

Great book! Highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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