Obstacles Welcome: How to Turn Adversity into Advantage in Business and in Life

By Ralph de la Vega

Book Overview

Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, shares the lessons learned in business and in life along the journey from Cuba to Corporate America. Ralph de la Vega arrived in the United States from Cuba in 1962. He was alone. He was scared. He was 10. Separated from his parents by Cuban authorities just moments before they were to board a plane to Miami, de la Vega was baptized early--and abruptly--in the waters of adversity. It would be four long years before his mother, father, and sister gained legal passage to America. But while the boy would never have chosen such circumstance, it's the man who can look back and say he would not have changed it. In "Obstacles Welcome," de la Vega recounts his journey as a young Cuban immigrant to president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, a subsidiary of AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T). A frontliner in the converging worlds of technology and communications, de la Vega takes readers behind the scenes of the Internet revolution, shares insights from the nation's top technology companies, and chronicles the incredible obstacles intrinsic to successfully merging the largest wireless operations in U.S. history--those of Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless. "Obstacles Welcome" is an innovation manifesto for those committed to bigger thinking and greater results both professionally and personally. He clearly defines how to: * Create a detailed action plan to boost success * Identify and take calculated risks without fear * Create a values-centric, decisive leadership style * Transform vision into measurable results * Recognize opportunities and overcome obstacles * Communicate well and build alignment * Unlearn thinking that hinders innovation * Dream big and throw off mental limits once and for all Opening a powerful cache of business strategy and in-the-trenches wisdom, de la Vega illustrates that within each obstacle we encounter, there's an opportunity that carries the potential to transform our thinking, our organizations, our communities, and our world. PRAISE FOR OBSTACLES WELCOME ." . . T]hrough his compelling story, Ralph shows how to turn almost any challenge into the opportunity of a lifetime. This is great insight for any professional or any young person aspiring to learn how to overcome obstacles and accept new challenges." -- Randall Stephenson, Chairman & CEO, AT&T, Inc. "I recommend this book to those looking to improve their opportunities, as well as those providing leadership in this diverse society." -- Ambassador Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, former Mayor of Atlanta, former president of the National Council of Churches "His journey is an inspirational story of leadership vision and the ability to achieve success in the face of enormous challenges and obstacles." -- Gerry Czarnecki, President, CEO & Managing Partner, O2Media "This book is a must-read for anyone not afraid to make your dreams come true, regardless of where you are in your professional or personal life." -- Ernest Bromley, Chairman and CEO, Bromley Communications, LLC "Without a doubt, this is one of the most inspiring books and one of the best business publications that I've read in my 40-plus years in the communications business." -- John Graham, Chairman, Fleishman-Hillard Inc. "Ralph de la Vega tells an All-American story for our times." -- Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, CityView; former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; former Mayor of San Antonio

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595552642
• ISBN13: 9781595552648
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Encouraging and Courageous

What I appreciated most about Obstacles Welcome is that it inspires you professionally and personally - and in a simplistic way. You'll come away with how to make decisions at work, at home and everywhere along the way. This isn't your traditional business book - think of it as a inspiring roadmap for operating and continually improving yourself. This book provides a frankly much needed reminder that we all will be faced with challenges - they might be different, but they will be there. The key is how you deal with them. De la Vega takes you down a road and shows you first hand how that by having a plan, you can win. One of my favorite lines is "Hope is not a strategy." You'll walk away with the perspective you must have a game plan for life just like you do at work . I found Obstacles Welcome encouraging from a business perspective but what even made it more fascinating was the courage of de la Vega, especially after the challenges he faced as a young child. He tells a vivid story of how having the right mindset, you can be successful . He makes it clear, it's not without risks, obstacles and roadblocks - and he offers a fresh (and proven based on his success) perspective while articulating in a way anyone could grasp those sure fire elements you'll need along the way - like good communications, a focus on results and getting all the best out of people - and of vital importance, and the hardest thing to do - "be comfortable with being uncomfortable." To get the most out of life, you have to move out of your comfort zone. I liked the way Obstacles Welcome was organized - it's clear, "glide through" reading - I especially appreciated the "Takeaway Messages" at the end of each chapter. The writing style and tone grabs you and takes you in as you become more and more intrigued about Ralph de la Vega's path and how he rose to be head of a major corporation. You'll find yourself saying throughout the book, "I've been there but I didn't think of that way to handle it." De la Vega makes it clear you will always have to make sacrifices to get further in life. I moved away from my family and friends for a job in my mid 20s - it was one of the hardest things I have ever done - but after four years, I landed a dream job back home in Atlanta - and only through the experience I gained while in Charlotte, North Carolina could I have ever done that. This book gives you that perspective. Obstacles Welcome is a story but it's one of those books you'll want to continually pick up and reference, if you're feeling frustrated or just need a reminder that we all must take responsibility for ourselves. De la Vega clearly conveys "it's about mindset" - we have choices and we can choose to move forward or we can avoid risk and just stay in our comfort zone. He really makes you think about, as he says, are you a "passenger" or the "driver?" After reading it, I gave it to two people graduating from college and to two friends who are going through

A Must Read!

This book is an inspiration and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to climb the corporate ladder. It provides wisdom, lessons learned, success stories, proactive steps to eliminate possible gaps in your career that prevent you from getting where you want to be, and talks about the importance of mastering public speaking skills as a key asset in corporate America. The author shares his success cycle and provides a success framework with which he explains how he assesses the situation and turns obstacles into opportunities. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be inspired, motivated and has big dreams to achieve success in the corporate world or in their personal life because the content of the book is applicable to both Ralph de la Vega arrived alone in the USA from Cuba when he was 10 years old. He learned at that young age, one of most difficult and scary moments in his life, to turn adversity into opportunity and focus on the opportunities behind the obstacles. Other key learning's were: * Hard work was going to pay off. Life was going to get better. * The meaning of sacrifice and the power of making sacrifice in the present for the sake of a better future. * The need to make plans and not just drift with circumstances. * Take risks in search of opportunity. * Focus on the possibilities.

Inspiration to all Americans...

After reading this book, it gave me an understanding of achieving the American dream. There are great tips in this book about not just overcoming adversity, but also on how to organize your visions and goals to become successful in the business world.

One of the Best Books I've Read

I am an avid reader of most genres, especially motivational and business titles. I can honestly say Obstacles Welcome by Ralph de la Vega is one of the best books I've read. It's extremely well written. Once you pick it up you will not want to put it down. The book chronicles the struggles of Ralph's early life on through the triumphs of his business career, culminating in his current role as CEO of AT & T Mobility and Consumer Markets. Throughout the book, the author gives you an authentic look at his upbringing. He also dispenses nuggets of wisdom at the end of each chapter that are applicable for personal or professional growth. After reading this book, I was reminded that obstacles in life are not to be avoided but welcomed. They are designed to help realize your potential. I highly recommend this book.

OBSTACLES welcome or not?

I just finished my latest Thomas Nelson book to review and I don't even know where to start. It is one of the best books of true leadership I've read. Ralph de la Vega has a proven success as President & CEO of AT & T Mobility and Consumer Markets and speaks from his own learning experience and track record. His book Obstacles Welcome turn adversity to advantage in business and life should be required reading for any and all young person today. His journey started when at the age of 10 his parents in Cuba put him on a plane by himself and sent him to the United States. He uses this and each subsequent obstacle, as a learning experience and spring board for the next phase of his life. Using phases, behavior charts, goals, categories, etc as teaching examples, he lays a framework that will enable any of us to achieve our dream. "Communicating the plan must go beyond the executive level into the ranks of the company." (Or church). "To get real buy-in, you have to give people a chance to speak their minds and object the things they don't like." "Some manager think communication is just about the transmitting part. They believe if you have put the message out there, communication is accomplished." I believe one of the impressive things I got is that he uses his influence to mentor, encourage and inspire those who are under his leadership. He is a true inspiration to motivate all who read his book to look at the bigger picture, that it is not just about them but those who come after.