Black Harvard MBAs share Their 10 Rules for Success (from Ellis Cose)

Today, at noon, I will present my synopsis of the truly insightful book The End of Anger:  A New Generation’s Take on Race and Rage by Ellis Cose.  It is a really good book.  I will present this at the Urban Engagement Book Club, sponsored by CitySquare.  For this twice a month event, we select books that focus on issues of social justice, race, poverty…

The book has many strengths, but a surprise for my “business book audience” is the appendix.  Ellis Cose (read the bio of this accomplished author here) interviewed many Harvard graduates, across the generations, and here shares the “rules for success” of the current generation of black Harvard MBAs.  There are a couple of unique rules for black people (see # 10 — Cose explains “The point is not that you can’t talk about being black. The point is you can’t gripe about being black.” – from a segment on NPR), but these are terrific rules for success for anyone/everyone in any/every endeavor.  A good, useful, helpful, agenda-setting list.

 

Here’s the list:

Appendix:  Black Harvard MBAs Share Their (10) Rules for Success

Rule 1: You can only go as far as your networks will take you.
Rule 2: Turn customers, clients, and friends into assets.      
Rule 3: Be bold—but also be competent.      
Rule 4: Embrace self-discipline and perseverance as virtues.      
Rule 5: Work, to the extent possible, in areas where results are quantifiable.
Rule 6: Take some time to figure out what you are good at.      
Rule 7: Cultivate people who are more powerful and important than yourself.      
Rule 8: Expose yourself to the wider world.      
Rule 9: Believe!  
Rule 10: Never talk about race (or gender) if you can avoid it, other than to declare that race (or gender) does not matter.     

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