Letters from a businessman to his son - G.Kingsley Ward [Inua].djvu

Title: Letters of a businessman to his son Hardcover – 1985
Author: G. Kingsley Ward
Hardcover: 225 pages
Publisher: Distributor Eledaw Holdings; 1St Edition edition (1985)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0920283012
ISBN-13: 978-0002175814

This brief, encouraging book consists of a series of letters (edited for print) written by a successful businessman (Ward himself) to his son, tracking the son's career from a decision on which college to attend to the son's mid-career promotion to company president upon his father's retirement. During the 20-year span, the father shares with his son (and the reader) all of his wisdom on topics from business--work ethic, entrepreneurship, partnership, business expansion, diversification, teamwork, firing an employee, leadership, etc.; as well as life--challenge, success, integrity, marriage, money, manners, happiness, friendship, criticism, balance, etc.
Ward's advice is "business conservative," with his basic message being: Set goals for yourself, work hard, be honest and block off time to enjoy your life a little. The selected decision points, problems and events in the son's life revolve around people, mainly working relationships with business associates, employees, customers, suppliers, bankers and competitors--all without neglecting family and friends. Ward emphasizes the importance of cultivating friendships, stating how "Without doubt, friendship is the spice of life." However, when he opines how a person with more than three good friends should feel blessed, and how being rich is better than being poor, but also lonelier, he exhibits his realism and unveils a hint of quiet, unspoken regret: Do we all in our drive to achieve emphasize business and profit at the expense of humanity and friendship perhaps a little more than we should?