You can Replace the Jerk at the Top A Guide to Success in Corporate America

"You Can Replace the Jerk at the Top" provides a vital perspective that readers probably never considered, prompting them to reflect about themselves and their goals — and whether they're achieving them. It is an insight into reality in corporate America and a guide for success. It will make you laugh at the mistakes and blunders made by the author while learning solid lessons for climbing the management ladder. These tips will provide a competitive edge as you learn to manage with excellence. You will also learn why your boss might be a jerk while you search for ways to avoid being one yourself. In short, this is no ordinary management book. It is instructional, but also reveals the reality in corporate America.

As the book guides readers through the process of getting to the top, they will learn how to get the right job and position themselves for advancement. Then readers learn methods for perfecting their skills in their first and future management positions as they climb the corporate ladder. Readers will see how to excel in management and achieve the recognition that leads to further advancement. Finally, they will also understand how reaching the top position may require difficult compromises as they must keep personal interest primary. They will be faced with the ultimate internal question: to succumb to complete opportunism or loose the chance to advance.
Because "You can Replace the Jerk at the Top" reveals this negative side of achieving the top job, it can be especially helpful to those who may feel that they have failed to achieve a career goal. In addition, it gives those seeking the top job the perspective that allows them to make decisions that better align with their personal values.

The book will also be beneficial to current executive managers. Top managers often fail to conscientiously consider the underlying motivations of actions their subordinates are taking. A top manager must include this consideration in order to ensure decisions are in the best interest of the company. This book is helpful for every manager who would like to be better at the job. Personal anecdotal examples (often humorous) anchor the book's essential points to real-world situations. These insights can keep managers from making regretful mistakes while improving their performance.

Robert Vines is a professional engineer who has risen to middle management in 4 Fortune 500 companies. At retirement, Robert was a Plant Manager at Lexmark International, the printer spin-off from IBM. In dealing personally with executives like Jack Welch, president of GE, and Dr. Jim Vanderslice, Senior Vice President of IBM and President of Dell Computer, he gained a unique insight into executive effectiveness as well as how they navigated the circuitous path to the top.

After retiring from Lexmark, he spent 4 years consulting, including assignments for Coopers & Lybrand and IBM specializing in polymer processing and new facilities start-ups.

He is a Distinguished Toastmaster and has been a frequent speaker at universities and technical conferences on Concurrent Engineering, Design for Manufacturability, and Off Shore Sourcing of Manufacturing. He is an avid environmentalist and has been a Texas Master Naturalist for 10 years regularly volunteering in state and local parks.