08-16-2007, 03:08 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Posts: 5
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Interview with Colonel Gene McVay, Author of Top Gun Management
1 ) Tell us about your book: Top Gun Management is a concise book that presents some tools and principles to help leaders achieve excellence at all levels from new managers to heads of state.
2) Gene why did you write this book? The time comes when consummate leaders who take companies or institutions to great heights of achievement are replaced. The new leaders with polished educations tend to be more talented in bean counting and squeezing extra nickels out of consumers. I wanted to expose managers to the wide spectrum of management responsibilities using my own personal experiences and quotes from great people who have been tested in the past.
3) Tell us a little about your background: I literally grew up barefoot in the hills of Arkansas. From a poor but very happy boy with few prospects, I eventually ran for governor against current presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. Along the way I worked in factories at Western Electric and General Motors. I became an Intelligence Analyst at The National Security Agency before being commissioned in the Air Force and attending pilot training. I soon became a global qualified aircraft commander on the 325,000 pound C-141 Starlifter after which I flew fighters for 25 years and won many top gun competitions. I was the first Air National Guard Colonel selected to command a three billion dollar multinational provisional wing. I retired from both the federal government and the Air Force at age 54 completely debt free. I now give back to my state and nation by serving in several nonprofit organizations including national boards of veteran organizations.
4) There are a lot of books on business and leadership out there, what makes your different? Top Gun Management takes the reader into the poignant human world of an old veteran as he relates principles that propelled him upward through the ranks to power and respect. Within the pages dwell not perfection but persistence and compassion. Many will never soar to the very top, but they can enjoy the journey and unashamedly be able to look themselves in the mirror with contentment when the battle is over. There is no world leader who would not garner something from this book that would help him or her achieve greater success.
5) What are some key lessons you hope the reader will learn from your book? I think readers will learn about real communication. They will learn how to mentor and relate to their employees and colleagues. The will learn how to improve the effectiveness of every single employee. They will learn about motivation. They will learn not to accept mediocrity. They will never conduct a meeting the same way again. They will learn the concept of Noblesse Oblige. Perhaps most of all, they will learn compassion.
6) What is the biggest mistake leaders make? Leaders make "Custer" decisions that are recognized by their subordinates, yet the subordinates do not feel they have the freedom to communicate with the leader.
Top Gun Management is available for preview at: http://www.lulu.com/content/1016085
Because it was just released in July, it will not be available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble unitl Sept.
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