By the time J. P. Melton became the police chief of a small mountain community, he had held an eclectic series of jobs, including chimney sweep, pool cleaner, and work-crew supervisor. None of these positions quite gave him the satisfaction he craved, so he set his sights higher.
Melton succeeded, in part, because of his willingness to learn from every experience. Over the years, he's had to deal with near drownings, a sixty-person brawl, and being pushed out of a helicopter. He's encountered confrontational managers, hardworking staff, difficult customers, and a runaway police cruiser.
Through every encounter, every mistake, and every adventure, Melton had one goal-to learn. He used his experiences, positive and negative, to improve his rapport with employees, empowering them and thus building a culture of talent development and personal growth.
How I Got into Management is an inspirational memoir that serves as a guide for those who aspire to managerial positions. Discover the traits and skills you need to cultivate for success-and how even your worst (and funniest) mistakes can build your leadership capabilities when you're committed to continuous improvement.
About the Author: J. P. Melton grew up squarely in the middle of a thirteen-child family in Southern California. As a teen, he was more likely to be found at the beach than in class, and he waited until his forties before he returned to school to acquire a master's degree in human resources.
Melton started working early in life, earning the money he needed to buy his own school clothes. Before making the jump to managerial positions, he worked as everything from an ice cream server and chimney sweep to the police chief of a small mountain town.
Melton has also held many diverse management positions. Among other endeavors, he ran his own private investigation agency, owned and managed a movie theatre, and served as the sheriff's officer traffic commander for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic games.
Happily married, Melton is the father of five children. He currently resides in Arizona.
