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Summary
Summary
A true story of triumph by award-winning business leader, impact investor, and educator James Rhee that will inspire and empower us to transform our lives and our businesses with the simple and yet powerful combination of kindness and math.
In kindergarten, James Rhee received a toy red helicopter in gratitude for a simple act of kindness--the innocent generosity of sharing his lunch. Nearly four decades later, the true meaning and lesson from this memory helped him overcome indescribable hurdles as both a first time CEO and son to a dying father. Combining the radical common sense of a child with the knowledge of an experienced private equity investor and law school graduate, James led one of the most dramatic reinventions in business history. Partnering with Black women across America, James led Ashley Stewart, a twice-bankrupt retailer with no WiFi, from the jaws of liquidation to a transcendent success that inspired a world seeking a different way. And, in the process, he was able to reconcile his own complicated past and see his mom for who she truly was.
Combining the clarity and imagination we had as children with some basic business metrics, Rhee composed a system he calls "Kindness and Math." It's a simple solution to the dissatisfaction and worry so many of us feel, an intuitive response to the gnawing uncertainty we face daily as we meander through our lives and struggle to understand why we might feel so out of control in our professional and personal lives. red helicopter--a parable for our times exposes the root cause for these feelings and encourages us to embrace a few key principles to reorient our lives, organizations, and the world to reflect the best in us. In this remarkable book, Rhee provides the tools we can use to:
Embrace agency by identifying the obstacles quietly holding us back Construct a balance sheet of our true assets and liabilities Create and measure "goodwill," the ultimate collective good Lead systems transformation with a framework comprised of small, scalable acts Drive financial profitability with little to no investment of money Unlock the value of difference and the unpredictable and moreRhee's fresh thinking emerged from an emotional journey in which both the professional and personal intersected and became one. The financial uncertainty, family tragedy, and soul-searching he endured, after the whole world left him and Ashley Stewart for dead, led him to create a simple and scalable solution to the struggles that ail us all. This quiet and powerful ode to humanity is sorely needed in today's troubled world.
red helicopter--a parable for our times features 10-20 black and white drawings by Heyon Cho.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this twee debut memoir, Rhee, founder of the investment firm FirePine Group, melds stories from his immigrant upbringing with reflections on his rescue of clothing brand Ashley Stewart. The secret to a successful career, he contends, is blending business acumen with empathy. The importance of kindness became apparent to him when as a child he shared his lunch with a friend whose widowed father forgot to pack him one (the grieving dad brought Rhee a toy helicopter as thanks). Making a tortured attempt to draw leadership advice from this anecdote, Rhee suggests that helicopters' ability to hover should remind readers that "sometimes staying still" is the correct move because the answer is "right in front of us." The author is at his best when reflecting on his family, poignantly recounting the frustrations caused by the language barrier between him and his parents, who emigrated from Korea to the U.S. in the 1960s. The material on how "kindness and math" helped him save Ashley Stewart from bankruptcy is trite by comparison, as when Rhee suggests that replacing fluorescent lights with LED bulbs constituted kindness because they lasted longer and so employees sustained fewer injuries climbing ladders to replace them. (By math, Rhee mostly just means paying attention to the bottom line.) Earnest meditations on family elevate this otherwise mawkish outing. (Apr.)
Library Journal Review
Impact investor Rhee's book offers a roadmap to rediscover innate wisdom and values often forgotten in the hustle of adulthood. Rhee uses his personal story--beginning with a childhood act of kindness rewarded with the gift of a toy red helicopter--to frame the leadership lessons he provides. The book incorporates elements from his experience resurrecting clothing retail firm Ashley Stewart, as well as general principles of accounting, finance, behavioral science, economics, and corporate law. His writing style and strategies give ample opportunity for learning but also feel relatable. He calls for readers to embrace agency, assess their true assets and liabilities, measure goodwill, and lead transformative change through small, scalable acts, bringing to mind Simon Sinek's Leaders Eat Last and Brené Brown's Daring Greatly. VERDICT A well-crafted narrative with a genuine and heartfelt approach. Nominally a business title, but it will have a broad general appeal for readers looking to rediscover simple yet powerful principles that can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.--Sara Holder
