It was 10-12 years ago that I first met Ken Blanchard at an executive outreach breakfast, and I was amazed that he was there. The group was small in number so we were able to have some fairly intimate discussions among ourselves.

     Ken Blanchard and Associates was a consulting group and Ken had already written several books, one of which was the “One Minute Manager” which had received a very positive response in a short period of time.

     When it came time for Ken to share, he seemed very humble in his response and I strongly agreed with almost every one of the management philosophies that he shared. He shared how delighted he was that the “One Minute Manager” had received such a great response, because he said something about the fact that the book itself was some kind of a mistake when he wrote it.

     Several years later I was attending a YPO (Young Presidents Organization) conference and Ken was one of the keynote speakers. We spoke briefly, but he remembered me and asked several questions about what I had shared that morning, and I was very impressed that he remembered them, let alone his warm embrace of me after such a long time had gone by. I thought there is a man that walks hi talk as a businessman, remembering people’s names and something special about them.

     Ken related on several occasions that one man in particular had made such a strong impression on him, and that was Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. He has the privilege of co-writing a book with him called the “Power of Ethical Management”, in 1988. During the time they were putting the book together he observed this powerful man with a soft and gentle spirit, who had such strong convictions. When Ken talked about Dr. Peale I could feel his desire to want to imitate him. As a matter of fact, Ken started the “Center for Faith Walk Leadership” two years ago, and many of the same principles he could see in Dr. Peale are the ones they are encouraging at the “Center”.