Professional Nomad

Book excerpt: Go behind the scenes for a firsthand look at the corporate culture, values, management styles, challenges, and opportunities that cause organizations to succeed or fail. In this straight-talking account of his life and career as an international business executive, Maurice Marwood guides the reader through the corridors of corporate power and offers down-to-earth strategies for succeeding in a globalized economy. Throughout his 40-year career, Marwood fought to defend the virtues of capitalism and free enterprise against a constant onslaught of socialism and anti-business elements. Working in over 85 countries (in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia); he was often on the cutting edge of international business developments. He first visited China, for example, shortly after the death of Chairman Mao, at the very beginning of the country's period of phenomenal growth. Later, while living in Taiwan, he devoted several years studying the history and culture of the ethnic Chinese, analyzing the complex, antagonistic relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, as well as the reluctant role played by the United States. Marwood's candid memoir of his on-the-job successes, failures, and frustrations intertwines with recollections of personal adventures -- mountaineering, marathoning, cruising, and diving -- alongside reflections on ethics, morality, spirituality, and the epidemic of mysticism that destroys the lives of so many. Professional Nomad is not only a reference for those aspiring to a successful career in international business; it is a blueprint for a flourishing life - personal as well as professional - one lived with passion, determination, and ultimate satisfaction.