RETAILOBSERVER.COM AUGUST 2017
14
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fter two decades of climbing the public-service career ladder and
leading progressively larger teams, Victor Prince craved a
sabbatical. Following his passion for traveling with a goal, he set
his sights on hiking a 500-mile trail across Spain renowned for its spiritual
qualities: the Camino de Santiago, which has been a pilgrimage route for
a millennium. He began his thirty-day trek as a competitive, results-driven
achiever, intent on collecting enough stamps on his "pilgrim passport" to
earn a certificate of completion. His journey ended up being an amazing
adventure and a career game-changer.
Prince's THE CAMINO WAY: Lessons in Leadership from a Walk
Across Spain revolves around seven reminders for the trail, reinforcing the
"Spirit of the Camino," printed on the back of every pilgrim passport.
"These reminders weren't religious," Prince stresses. "They just seemed
like useful, common-sense things every leader should demonstrate every
day. Reading them made me realize that I had not been doing all of them
well in my personal and professional lives."
Devoting a chapter to each reminder, THE CAMINO WAY offers inspiring
examples and practical suggestions for ongoing application:
• Welcome each day, its pleasures, and its challenges. Set a concrete,
reasonable daily goal. Celebrate small joys to gain strength for hurdles
ahead.
• Make others feel welcome. Be kind to the stranger, whether a new
employee or a frantic customer in need.
• Live in the moment. Remove weapons of mass distraction. Consider
establishing a "no electronics usage" policy in meetings.
B O O K R E V I E W
THE CAMINO WAY:
Lessons in Leadership from a Walk Across Spain
Author: VICTOR PRINCE is a writer, speaker, corporate trainer, and management
consultant on leadership, strategy, and operational excellence. Armed with an MBA in
Finance from Wharton, he culminated his public service career in his mid-forties as chief
operating officer of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In 2013, he was one
of 215,880 pilgrims to walk the Camino. Prince lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Available at
www.amazon.com/Camino-Way-Lessons-Leadership-Across-ebook/dp/B01MS7FYSK
Publisher: AMACOM
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