Book Review: VIP: How to Influence with Vision, Integrity, and Purpose by O. S. Hawkins

I was curious about this book because the title hits on three terms that I expect to be embodied by a strong leader. I had never heard of the author, so I was curious who Mr. Hawkins was. It turns out that Mr. Hawkins served churches in the Fort Lauderdale and in Dallas for more than twenty years and us currently the president of GuideStone Financial Resources, which serves two hundred thousand pastors, church staff, missionaries, and workers of various Christian organizations with their retirement needs.
Based on this information, I had high hopes for the book because Mr. Hawkins seemed to embody the leader that his book promised and while reading the book, it became clear that even though Mr. Hawkins is very much guided by his religion, the book nevertheless has lessons that anyone can build upon on their path to become a leader or a VIP as the title suggests.
Mr.  Hawkins wants to enable his readers to establish a life of Influence that embodies vision, integrity, and purpose. He uses stories derived from the bible or aligned with religious beliefs as well as examples of challenges encountered to show the reader how to become a better person and, more importantly, an inspirational leader. 
I found this book to be a good read when focusing on what is important in seeking to build a career or how to reinvent a career. The book may strike some readers as being oriented too much along the bible, but I found the bible references to be hooks for a story rather than the focus. The lessons summarized by Mr. Hawkins are generally applicable and important for anyone that wants to pursue a meaningful career and not just a job. 

available on amazon.com

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed is solely my own and has not been influenced by any third party.