REVIEW: Jay Sidhu — Never, Ever Ever Give Up (BOOK)
Jay Sidhu, Customers Bancorp Inc. chairman and CEO, knows of what he speaks. Not just factually, but experientially darn it. Sidhu’s new book is titled Never Ever, Ever Give Up: An Inspiring True Story about Leadership, Commitment, Resiliency, Happiness, and Making Your Dreams Come True.
The man’s lived experience is part and parcel to his business practices, paving the way to his widespread success now as an American citizen. “My business success resulted from adhering to (my) principles. At 37, I became chief operating officer at Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. and Sovereign Bank, a company that didn’t have substantial capital resources, nor did it have a significant market share. It operated in the tiny city of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and I humbly took the company from nothing to a Fortune 500 company.
Not bad for a military brat from Delhi who was born on a tonga carriage,” Sidhu writes, with a dry wit. “I had the good fortune of coming to America and studying here. Later, I had the privilege, means, and opportunity to give back to Wilkes University, the school that provided me with the tools to succeed in business. I established the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership.
The school’s overall mission is to prepare graduates with ‘the knowledge, skills, experiences, and passion for leading diverse organizations in the face of dynamic challenges and a rapidly changing global environment’… It has been a long journey, geographically, personally, professionally, and educationally. But I’ve derived satisfaction every step of the way. I’m committed to continuing to make great strides and progress in my lifelong adventure. And I will never ever give up on this vision…”
AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Ever-Give-Leadership-Commitment/dp/B0BRYZS1GD
He also writes: “My plan to study in America took root when I was in eighth or ninth grade. My cousin, Sher, who was about twenty years older than me, and my older brother Harry were my role models. My cousin emigrated to America and studied engineering at the University of Michigan, which has a very competitive, highly ranked engineering program. He visited my family on one of his trips back to India, and that was a pivotal moment in my thinking. I was entranced by my cousin’s description of how he managed to board a ship to America and make his way to university. Later, he became a successful self-made man.
At a young age, I was determined to be like him. Specifically, I was determined to follow his footsteps across oceans and create my own story of business success. I was also inspired by my brother, who managed to reach the US to study mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. He had no money and worked eight-plus hours a day at odd jobs like standing in front of a scorching-hot oven baking pizza while he went to school. He did whatever it took, and I would too. As I was finishing my senior year at Banaras, I studiously researched university MBA programs in the US to build upon my undergraduate business studies and fulfill my vision.”
Colin Jordan
