As a corporate executive, James S. Avery did not simply open doors for black people in this country; he changed marketing strategy throughout the corporate world. Now, in his autobiography, Others Thought I Could Lead, Avery shares the secrets of his success—his strong work ethic, his moral values, and a belief in himself that allowed him to persevere in the face of adversity. As Horace Baldwin states in the foreword, Avery's book gives us the opportunity to put our own stories in perspective as we realize how much we are capable of contributing to the world.