On being real and better leadership
As a family business successor, Regan Rex King knew how business gets done and what it takes to win and thrive. With guidance from his father, Ricarido King, he learned at a young age about running a business and later implemented his ideas in the RDAK Group, which is primarily in the business of selling trucks and construction equipment.
This 38-year old businessman, however, doesn’t only mean business. On the side, he has also served in civic positions in private organizations, including the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he functioned in recent years as vice president for business development and chair of the disaster risk reduction committee.
To reward himself, King drives his own Harley Davidson and engages in other motorsports. (RDAK Global Motors runs a Harley Davidson dealership in Mandaue City.) Other times, one can find him reading books, especially those that can help him not only in business, but in his personal life as well.
“All these books let us think of our purpose in life and how to lead by inspiring others. It teaches us the deeper meaning of leadership and success,” King noted.
He recommended the follow- ing titles:
“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek became a New York Times Bestseller after its publication in 2009. It begins with two approaches in selling or marketing a product or service, focused on the “what” or the “why.” In the same way, there are also two ways to influence other people’s behavior; one is manipulation and the other is through inspiration. Leading with “why” has transformed small companies into great ones, and is the key principle great leaders practice.
“Give and Take” by Adam Grant, published in 2013, goes beyond the concept of hard work, talent, and luck as the formula for success.
Rather, it introduces a fourth concept, reciprocity. Instead of adopting the “me first” approach, Grant shows readers that the best way to get to the top is to focus not on one’s own journey but on bringing others along.
“Total Leadership” by Steward Friedman is a 2014 bestseller by a management professor at the Wharton School of Economics. In this book, the author discusses three simple yet potent principles—be real, be whole, and be innovative—which can help one become a better leader and live a richer life.