The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership: A Parable

A modern parable for ambitious people on the relationship between success and self-reflection, from the coauthor of the acclaimed Go-Giver series and a renowned authority on leadership. Have you ever wondered, “If I could go back in time and talk to my twenty-year-old self, what would I say?” In The Vagrant, a brash young executive finds himself asking that exact question when his world is turned upside down. From Dan Rockwell, creator of the popular Leadership Freak blog, and John David Mann, coauthor of the award-winning classic The Go-Giver, The Vagrant follows Bob, a bright, up-and-coming leader in the health care business who leads a team of forty at a large city hospital. When he’s called up to the seventh floor one fine spring morning, he fully expects a promotion in line with his C-suite aspirations. Instead, he’s fired. Moments after losing his job, Bob has a strange alleyway confrontation with a homeless man rambling about “the four impediments of the Apocalypse.” To Bob, his words are nothing but incoherent ranting, but they soon prove eerily prophetic. In the weeks that follow, Bob loses everything he holds dear—his apartment, possessions, reputation, and health—and ends up living on the street . . . until chance leads him back to that same alley and he crosses paths with the strange man once again. In this timeless, eye-opening tale of redemption, Bob’s tailspin journey through loss and catastrophic failure invites readers to examine the nature of genuine leadership and embark upon their own story of self-discovery.

About the Author :
Dan Rockwell is the author of the highly recognized Leadership Freak Blog. His concise and practical articles are read in every country on the planet. Inc. Magazine recognized Dan as a Top 50 Leadership Expert in the English-speaking World, and a Top 100 Speaker. The American Management Association lists Dan as a Top 30 Leader in Business. John David Mann is coauthor of more than thirty books, including four New York Times bestsellers and five national bestsellers. His classic 2008 parable The Go-Giver (coauthored with Bob Burg) earned the 2017 Living Now Book Award’s “Evergreen Medal” for its “contribution to positive global change.” His Take the Lead (coauthored with former White House staffer Betsy Myers) was named by Tom Peters and the Washington Post as the “best leadership book of the year.”

Review :
"""An inherently fascinating, thoughtful and thought-provoking story in the form of an extended parable, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership will have a special appeal and value for readers with an interest in definitions of success, issues of personal finance, as well as the value of motivation and leadership."" —Midwest Book Review ""A lovely tale of humanity and humility, wrapped in a fast, engaging read. The Vagrant will spark leaders of every kind to reflect on who they are."" —Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret, When, and To Sell Is Human ""A modern-day fable of self-reflection and transformation, in the spirit of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol . . . sure to be a lasting favorite not only for fans of leadership but for anyone who loves a great story of fall and redemption."" —David Bach, ten-time New York Times bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire and The Latte Factor ""Every leader eventually arrives at a fork in the path. The easy road is seductive but leads to a crash. The tougher road—the road of genuine self-reflection—is the one that leads to lasting impact. The Vagrant is an excellent roadmap to that greater path."" —Nido Qubein, president of High Point University ""There is so much insight packed into this little story! The connections, themes, and implications are so subtle and so powerful, I wanted to slow down so I could take it all in—but it pulled me along, like a riptide of revelation, right to its astonishing conclusion. Now I'm reading it a second time . . . and taking notes."" —Dondi Scumaci, author of Designed for Success: The 10 Commandments for Women in the Workplace ""The most dangerous flaw a leader can have is the one they refuse to see. World-renowned leadership authority Dan Rockwell and master storyteller John David Mann bring us a compelling tale of blindness and vision, fall and ultimate redemption—and in the process help us take a really good look at ourselves."" —Bob Burg, author of Adversaries into Allies and coauthor of The Go-Giver ""The Vagrant has everything a great leadership parable needs: believable characters, vivid writing, and a fabulous twist that will stay with you long after you turn the last page."" —Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level ""If you've had your fill of leadership books, take one more step with this one! The Vagrant teaches aspects of leadership I haven't seen covered in anything else I've ever read. It will leave you with new questions and powerful insights that will stay with you long after you turn the last page."" —Beverly Kaye, Wall Street Journal bestselling author or Love 'Em or Lose 'Em and 2022 Industry Legend Award recipient, Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4CP) ""Our opportunity to lead others is predicated on our ability to lead ourselves. This book may be the wake-up call you've needed your entire career."" —Mark Miller, vice president of high performance leadership at Chick-fil-A, Inc. and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Culture Rules ""The Vagrant takes you on a journey of authenticity that will transform your leadership. If you're ready to do the personal work, the journey starts here."" —Skip Prichard, national bestselling author of The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future and CEO of OCLC, Inc. ""A modern-day fable of self-reflection and transformation from two incredible storytellers. Mann and Rockwell will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last."" —Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times #1 bestselling author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There, ranked ""#1 Leadership Thinker in the World"" by Thinkers50 ""Leadership starts with the relationship we have with ourselves. The Vagrant provides a compelling exploration of one man's powerful journey of self-discovery. An inspiring and meaningful read filled with insights for anyone interested in becoming a more evolved leader."" —Betsy Myers, former executive director of Center for Public Leadership at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and founding director of Center for Women & Business, Bentley University ""A compelling story, a surprise ending, and a powerfully valuable lesson along the way. The Vagrant is a great book from the dynamic duo of Mann and Rockwell."" —Jon Gordon, ten-time bestselling author of The Energy Bus and The Carpenter ""Spellbinding! Mann and Rockwell have made an invaluable contribution to leadership development in the contemporary world."" —Brandon Webb, founder of SOFREP Media and former head instructor at the Naval Special Warfare sniper school ""The Vagrant gets to the heart of leadership in a fresh, powerfully engaging way. An inspiring read for any leader aspiring to lift their contribution profile to new heights."" —Douglas R. Conant, New York Times bestselling author of The Blueprint, former CEO of Campbell Soup Company, and founder and CEO of ConantLeadership ""The Vagrant is a fable you'll want to read over and over, that will wake you up to the power of self-awareness. Dan Rockwell and John David Mann make us reflect on who we truly see when we look in the mirror and what may be holding us back."" —Hubert Joly, senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, former chairman and CEO of Best Buy and bestselling author of The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism ""While information is abundant and readily available, true wisdom is scarce and difficult to obtain. The Vagrant closes this wisdom gap, revealing that a leader's past does not have to define his future."" —Orin Woodward, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Launching a Leadership Revolution and an Inc. ""Top 50 Leadership and Management Expert"" ""The Vagrant is an irresistible, powerful guide to getting to know yourself. As every entrepreneur knows, business success is all about relationships—and if you don't know yourself, how on earth can anyone else get to know you, like you, and trust you?"" —Rabbi Daniel Lapin, president of the American Alliance of Jews and Christians and author of Thou Shall Prosper: The Ten Commandments for Making Money ""The Vagrant is a gripping parable that offers a refreshing perspective on leadership and the power of human connection. It inspires us to look beyond the superficial and embrace the complexity of our fellow human beings."" —John Ramstead, president of Alpha Principle and host of the Eternal Leadership podcast ""The Vagrant is a cautionary tale that draws us to reflect not only on who we are but also how we are perceived. Want to stop self-sabotaging? Read this story! Its truths may seem harsh—but they will set you free."" —Stacey C. Jones, PhD, president of Tremendous Leadership ""Like the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come in Dickens's A Christmas Carol, The Vagrant reminds us how fatal it can be if we fail to honor those we lead. The Vagrant should be required reading for any leader, at any stage."" —David Lykken, founder of Transformational Mortgage Solutions and host of the Lykken on Lending podcast ""A riveting, thought-provoking read that will stay with you, quite possibly for a lifetime. Everyone will recognize some piece of Bob in themselves, even if they don't expect it—and I love being sideswiped by a story just when I think I knew the plot!"" —Tara Rogers-Ellis, managing partner of Mojo, an award-winning PR/communications firm headquartered in Dubai ""The Vagrant joins the ranks of true leadership classics—a quick, powerful read with lasting impact!"" —Mike Linch, senior pastor at NorthStar church and host of the Linch with a Leader podcast"