October 7, 2021
He didn’t have a college degree and he didn’t have family connections, but what Ted Clark did have was curiosity, tenacity, and good instincts. Starting as a forklift driver and warehouse clerk, Ted Clark climbed the corporate ladder to become CEO of a $240 million company at age 42. Chock-full of charming personal stories, information-loaded sidebars, and thought-provoking lesson summaries, Shipping Clerk to CEO boasts a mix of in-the-trenches first-person experience and visionary takeaways. From death to three-martini lunches, bullying customers, and megamergers, Clark skillfully guides us through the 30 years of work that carried him to the top. In this book, you’ll discover: The subtle difference between creating change and adapting Why we’re all salesmen and how to use it to our advantage When to “show your teeth” to gain respect How a “power walk” can revolutionize your work presence And what it really takes to succeed as CEO Building on his first principle—have a reason—Clark sets the tone like a charismatic mentor rooting for the success of underdogs everywhere. Entertaining and clever, his parables, self-assessment, and business tactics pave the way for a younger generation eager to cut its teeth outside the classroom.