Wednesday, September 25, 2019

In the Non-Fiction Corner: Bill Marriott: Success Is Never Final

In the Non-Fiction 

Corner With Lauren



We are all familiar with the Marriott family, but I had no idea all of the things Bill (with help from his family) has been able to accomplish in his life!

The biography reads like a General Authority biography, starting with a recount of the Marriott family line. Bill’s ancestors were stalwart and hardworking, and throughout the book we see that they passed these traits on. The book goes on to tell about J.W., Bill’s father, and he started a food business that would eventually help to start a global hotel chain. What impressed me most was not the vast number of hotels or even the high-profile people the Marriott’s have come across over the years, but how many businesses and companies Bill and his father were involved with! From Disney and Nickelodeon, food chains, airports, airlines, and everything in between, the Marriott’s have been involved in almost every aspect of technology and culture. Because of this, they have come in contact with Presidents, Prophets and celebrities, and somehow managed to be humble, caring towards their employees and remember their family mantra “there are no hot shots in this family.”

The most interesting part of the book, however, had nothing to do with hotels. It was interesting to read about the Marriott’s just as people, with a behind-the-scenes look at their everyday problems. Bill did not always get along with his father, and while trying to run a business together, this proved to be difficult. J.W. was an avid journal-keeper, and I love the story that was shared about what he wrote after a fight with his son. Even after the fight, he wrote that he thought Bill was doing a marvelous job and that their fight had made him sick. We all have our problems, and while it may be difficult to have them highlighted in a book, I appreciate the honesty and the approach that the author took to have all the aspects of the Marriott’s life mentioned, not just the good ones. I was also very impressed with the authors explanations of the Marriott’s religious background. He gave great detail and, without making it too overpowering, explains to the reader how important religion is to Bill Marriott. The Marriott’s are such an interesting family, and it was wonderful to learn about their journey and how they kept their faith along the way.

You can get your copy here


Here's the back copy:

Bill Marriott, son of J. Williard Marriott who opened a root-beer stand that grew into the Hot Shoppes Restaurant chain and evolved into the Marriott hotel company, grew up in the family business. In his more than fifty years at the company s helm, Bill Marriott was the driving force behind growing Marriott into the world s largest global hotel chain. His vision and leadership expanded the family business to more than 6,500 properties across 127 countries and territories.

Success Is Never Final gives readers an intimate portrait of the life of a billionaire and business titan and shares his definition of success. Bill shares details about his very structured childhood including the private struggles with his domineering father s chronic harsh criticism; his time in the United Sates Navy as an officer aboard the U.S.S. Randolph; how he innovated the hotel industry with resort-like facilities; his dogged courtship with Donna, who would eventually say yes to his marriage proposal over a pay phone; and the boundless passion and energy he demonstrated for his work, family, and faith. Bill also shares spiritual experiences that allowed him to recognize God s guidance in his personal life, helping him bounce back from a life-threatening explosion in a freak boating accident which caused severe burns over his body.

Readers will learn the fascinating details about the successes and failures of Bill s business ventures and relate to his challenges of balancing roles as a CEO, a husband and father, and a man of faith. From his half-billion-dollar venture and bet-the-farm move to build the New York Marriott Marquis hotel, to the heartbreaking loss of an adult son whose body slowly degenerated from Mitochondrial Disease, to the billions of dollars donated to medical research, the biography of Bill Marriott tells the remarkable story of a man who had the vision to create a multi-billion dollar business, who understood the power of giving, and lived the creed that hard work will pay off but success is never final.



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