The Adventures of an IT Leader (Updated Edition) Free Audiobook Download by Richard Austin,Shannon O'donnell,Richard L. Nolan

When you are an IT leader looking for some guidance and insights into being a leader in your field, then you really should read this book. The author chronicles his journey from a young engineer/programmer at Honeywell to the founder of Shell Oil and how he became an IT leader by learning what worked, what didn't work and how to create value with technology.

[O'Donnell] goes through the ups and downs of his career in the IT world. He talks about how he was first introduced to IT, the success of his first project and the problems that followed, taking on a leadership role at a new company, reducing costs and keeping staff happy.

"There are many things that IT leaders need to do, but achieving a sense of purpose is one of the most important." This statement is important for Richard because he has found in his life an overwhelming feeling of emptiness.

The Adventures of an IT Leader is a gripping book about creating and leading a company. The story starts with Richard's company, who employ 500 people in their headquarters building, having just moved into the new headquarters. His company has everything going for them: they have great employees, decent competitors, and established customers. However, they are struggling to find a way to increase revenues by 15%, which is a daunting task given their current profit margins.

Each chapter of the book is a story about how IT leadership has shaped and influenced the world. We are taught that as IT leaders we are in control of everything and anything that happens around us. There is one thing that can take away this power and make us feel helpless, unimportant, wrong, or empty-handed: failure. The authors address ways in which to prevent IT leadership from failing not only internally but also externally with the people they lead.

A Toastmaster was the King of England One summer day in 1854, Richard L. Nolan was walking by the Thames River with his uncle John when he saw a man lying on the bank. As they neared the figure, they realized that it was a fellow Irishman who had gotten into difficulty while crossing. He had fallen from a boat and, after being dragged along for some distance by the current, couldn't swim.