The Rodman Paradox

The Rodman Paradoxicon

by Jack McCullough

Publisher
Greenleaf Book Group
Publication
Jul 21, 2026
Format
Hardback
Illustrated
No
Price
$25.95
Dimensions
5.5 x 8.5
ISBN
9798886455021
ASIN
B0H1JRD7WK
Pages
248
Age
Adult 18+
Category
Business & EconomicsGeneral NonfictionManagement & Leadership

Rights Sold

🌍 World Wide Rights Available

Description

Versatility Performs; Irreplaceability Transforms

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman didn't look like a traditional star. In a sport obsessed with scoring, he averaged fewer than eight points per game. He was passed over for All-Star games and waited eleven years for the Hall of Fame to call. Yet wherever he went, winning followed.

Rodmans are in every type of organization. They are the engineer with a unique understanding of the company’s product architecture, the financial analyst whose data analysis improves strategic decision-making, or the special needs teacher who is the only one who can connect with her students. These Rodmans are irreplaceable and integral to success. But how do you identify your Rodmans before it’s too late? Before they are gone and you are left picking up the pieces?

The Rodman Paradox will teach you how to identify the irreplaceable specialists in your organization. You will learn new ways to reward, protect, and empower your hidden MVPs. And it will show you how to make Rodmans central, not peripheral, to your long-term talent strategy.

The Rodman Paradox isn’t just a theory; it is the blueprint for building a team that doesn't just compete but also dominates. The Rodmans of our teams are crucial, and undervaluing them could be a critical mistake. After all, stars sell tickets, but you need stars and specialists to win championships.

Awards & Endorsements

Endorsement

“I can tell you firsthand from basketball and business that glue people are the key to sustained success. Surprisingly, stars are less hard to find. Success requires a highly functional team, and we generally undervalue the silent achievers and connectors who sublimate their egos to simply win. I applaud Jack for taking on this topic in a serious manner in these times where it is even easier to lose focus on them. The “Rodman Paradox” is an important contribution to our discussion of business right now.”

—Bill Aulet, managing director of Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship


Endorsement
“Strong organizations balance building what’s next with protecting what already works. The Rodman Paradox highlights why individuals with deep expertise and institutional knowledge are as essential to performance and culture as new talent and fresh perspectives. This book will change how leaders think about talent, risk, and value.”
—Deanna Strable, chair, president, and CEO, Principal Financial Group

Endorsement
“Jack McCullough’s new book’s greatest value is that it redefines “top performer,” away from quantitatively measured performance to those hidden MVPs who hold up the building. Jack smartly adds a smart retention technique that many prefer more autonomy versus promotions. I’m so much wiser for having read Jack’s book.”
—Dick Finnegan, speaker, author, and CEO, C-Suite Analytics

Endorsement
“Leadership is about PEOPLE and TRUST, and no one knows that better than Jack. He makes it very clear, in his book and in conversations he has, that it is very important to get to know the people you have the PRIVILEGE to lead. The cost to you if you fail is that you will miss and misuse the talent in your organization. This is a must-read book for any leader in any profession.”
—Lieutenant Colonel Oakland McCulloch, US Army, Retired Leadership Keynote Speaker

Endorsement
“I’ve led turnarounds and built high-performing teams by backing disciplined systems and the specialists who quietly make the hard things work. The Rodman Paradox shows leaders how to identify, protect, and multiply those difference‑makers to build resilient teams.”
—Jennifer Langton, former executive, Atari and the National Football League

Endorsement
“In every great company I’ve led or partnered with, there’s always been a ‘Rodman,’ someone whose contribution far exceeds their visibility. Jack captures this idea brilliantly. The Rodman Paradox challenges leaders to rethink how they identify, empower, and support their most impactful people. It’s eye-opening, practical, and long overdue.”
—Robert Glazer, entrepreneur, author, and leadership speaker

Endorsement
“Jack McCullough’s The Rodman Paradox offers us an engaging opportunity to pause, notice, appreciate, and support the indispensable quiet rock stars in our organizations. The Rodman Paradox captures an important truth for leaders navigating complexity: some of the most valuable contributors are deep specialists whose mastery enables teams, protects quality, and elevates outcomes without fitting traditional advancement paths. Jack provides us valuable practical advice and striking examples of what our ‘Rodmans’ need from us as leaders.”
—Cathy Moy, Chief People Officer, BDO

Endorsement
“In hypergrowth environments, a single individual can change the trajectory of a company. The Rodman Paradox captures that dynamic with striking clarity. Jack McCullough provides leaders with a powerful framework for identifying and unlocking the kind of unconventional talent that drives outsized results. This is essential reading for anyone operating in fast-scaling organizations.”
—Navneet Govil, Executive Managing Partner & CFO, SoftBank Investment Advisers

Author(s)

Jack McCullough

Jack McCullough

Jack McCullough is a business leader, best-selling author, and sought-after voice on leadership, talent, and high-performance organizations. He has held senior roles including CEO, CFO, business development executive, entrepreneur, and board member, giving him a rare perspective on what drives results inside real leadership teams.

He is the founder and president of the CFO Leadership Council, a global professional network of more than 3,000 members. As host of the Secrets of Rockstar CFOs podcast, he has interviewed more than 100 top leaders, exploring the mindsets and behaviors behind elite executive performance.

A senior contributor to Forbes, Jack is a widely followed voice on executive leadership and organizational performance. His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Financial Times, and Barron’s, and he has been featured on national television, including Fox News.

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