Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company That Changed the World [Paperback]

Lowney articulates well the four principles of Jesuit leadership and gives stunning historical eaxamples which illuminate them. I believe these historical examples, though a bit simplified and most certainly glossing over some unflattering instances, are particularly forceful since they leave the reader amazed at how a group of pre-enlightenment men in the overt service of the Papacy achieved such a high degree of insight into the world and, yes, enlightenment. Lowney leads you to the conclusion that the Society's four principles of leadership are responsible for this.
If you accept that Lowney is certainly only giving the good news, much can be gained from this book.

Ten men, no money, no business plan and within ten years they had thirty schools established and running.

And not only has the Jesuit order survived for over four hundred years (after its abolition by the Pope everywhere but in Russia), but it has thrived. There is simply no comparable for-profit corporation with that same history of longevity and success.

Igantius Loyola set out some clear policies that survive and work to this day.

Almost thirty years out from high school graduation I value my Jesuit education more than ever. What I've found is that the ability to reason, calculate, write and think is much more rare than I previously thought. To this I have the Society of Jesus to thank. I really can't imagine my life without my Jesuit education.

The Jesuit high school course of study is essentially the same for my son's class of 2007 as it was for my class of 1975. But it should be noted that the Jesuits have adapted and requirements in Greek and Latin are no longer there. The key here is some foreign language is essential for a high school student.

Money can come and go but education lasts and that can't be taken away from you.

There were lots of things I didn't know about the Jesuits that I learned in this book. Looking back I can see where these principles were applied. Things such as "only the best teachers."

There is a definite Jesuit "way we do things" which is consistent at all Jesuit schools.

The references to "The Spiritual Exercises" were helpful and enlightening.

Some of the historical discussion about Paraguay, China and India was either unclear or slightly too long. Jim Rogers of "Adventure Capitalist" said it best about Paraguay. He described how the Jesuits had created a civilization there in the jungle and once the Jesuits were kicked out of the country,it relapsed and hasn't been the same since.

The readership for this book isn't limited to Jesuit school alumni or even those in business. If you want to lead a better and more productive life look at Lowney's distillation of Loyola's leadership principles, apply them and learn. ...