Email   Print   Share By Heather Graham-Ashley, Sentinel News Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious June 14, 2012 | Leisure

Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Design Editor

Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Design Editor

After retired Gen. Colin Powell published his memoirs 17 years ago, he discovered people wanted to know more about his upbringing and military career, so he started jotting down stories.

Those stories about his formative years, his military career and his time as Secretary of State form the 44 chapters of his latest book, “It Worked for Me: in Life and Leadership.” Powell will be on post 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday at the Clear Creek Exchange to sign copies of his new book.

Growing up in Bronx, N.Y., the son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell said he never imagined he would become a general, much less the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state.

“It was unthinkable in those days,” he said. “But, the country changed and the Army changed.”

His military career began in college when Powell joined Reserve Officer Training Corps at the City College of New York in Harlem. Not the most stellar of students, it was the ROTC program that kept Powell in school and helped him finish college, something his immigrant parents insisted of their children.

“I found in ROTC something that I loved and something I was good at,” the retired general said.

He served 35 years in the Army, including two deployments to Vietnam. Powell said he never lost his affection for serving.

“I went into the Army to be a Soldier,” Powell said. “I never lost that feeling. I had as much fun and satisfaction being a second lieutenant as I did as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. ”

The first black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State, Powell blazed new roads throughout his distinguished career in national service, both in the Army and in the highest levels of the national government.

Retired from the military for 19 years and from diplomatic service since 2004, Powell saw some of the Army’s recent changes during a visit to Fort Campbell, Ky., where he previously served as a brigade commander. He said the amount of resources the Army has dedicated to support Soldiers and Families is impressive and well-deserved.

In his new book, Powell shares a collection of stories from before, during and after his career.

“I started jotting down stories,” he said.

The first chapter of the book addresses Powell’s Thirteen Rules

for leadership, which were originally published in Parade magazine more than 20 years ago.

Those rules, the basis of how Powell led, now form the basis of leadership presentations the former Secretary of State delivers at events all over the world.

The most basic rules, he said are Nos. 1 and 13.

The retired general said his rules and method of leadership began in the ROTC program at CCNY.

“My job was to get the best out of people,” he said. “I kept building on that. As I became more senior, I was building on the same while expanding my experience base.”

For Powell, leadership is all about those being led.

“Be optimistic, prepared and trained, and have confidence and trust in your followers,” Powell said. “It’s not leaders who get things done. It’s the followers.”

The book is about people. Powell shares stories about those he has met and who have influenced his life and his career. Most importantly among those people is his Family.

“Family is ultimately everything,” Powell said.

His Family has had great influence on Powell.

He said his wife, Alma, was the glue to his Family throughout his career and kept them close even when distance separated them. Powell credits his immigrant parents for setting expectations and teaching him and his sister to always do their best.

Powell has been on the speaking circuit for 19 years. He said he enjoys the experience of meeting and being exposed to so many different people.

“The audience keeps me confidant and optimistic in the future of our nation,” he said.



Book Signing



Retired Gen. Colin Powell will be at the Clear Creek Exchange 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. to sign copies of his new book, “It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership.”



Books can be purchased at the Exchange or brought to the signing.



Powell’s media relations office has advised that books will not be personalized and there will be no photos of individualized signings.