Local businessman featured in new book

By Josh Lipowsky

This article appeared in the December 5, 2003 issue of Pennsylvania Business Central

It's a long climb to the pinnacle of success and nobody gets there on one's own. In Conversations on Success, several successful professionals offer their advice on how to make it in the world with the least amount of stumbling based on their own experiences.

One of the many people interviewed in the book is Richard A. Buck, president of Johnstown-based PeopleFirst, a leadership development institute. "I think what's in my section is very much my personal beliefs certainly. But it's also the basis of everything that I present. Many of the things that I talk about in my section. are the building blocks of how I see the I leadership world," Buck said.

Through PeopleFirst, Buck specializes in improving new and first-time leaders, managers and supervisors. Buck focuses on the belief that people skills play a major role in any job.

"If people could master leadership skills they are fully transferable to any job you go to. If you master business skills, specific to your job, they may or may not be transferable to the next job that. you hold," he said. "As we move up the ladder of influence, the fact is you need to know more about how to deal with people and less about how to know the details that are pertained in, the job."

Other interviews in the book, include, Wally "Famous" Amos, Chick-Fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy and many other management skills professionals and successful business leaders.

Through the stories in the book the reader can witness firsthand, the trials and tribulations others went through to get to the top and learn their tips on how to do it themselves and motivate others to help them.

"I hope that as people see it they will grasp some of those basic concepts and that maybe even in working with me will be able to help some of challenges, and situations in their businesses and organizations that they'd like to remedy and make better," Buck said.

The passion of these leaders is evident in their interviews and it is hard not to feel that while reading their words. They truly want to help others succeed as they have and it is that heart and willingness to help others that should motivate everybody to pick up this book.

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