Conventional wisdom says that organizations have to maintain a normal distribution of A, B, and C Player employees. CEOs and business executives all prize A Player talent and see its value. Business people immediately grasp the concept of A Players and the value they offer to organizations. Everyone deserves to be an A Player somewhere, but it is earned, not given. Generations of people have been taught to have an entitlement mentality toward their jobs and careers. Now is the time to formally teach them how to be an A Player. The A Player defines what an A Player is and how to get there.

“Rick Crossland has written a very solid book about an important topic. He lays out the case for why having top performers is so important to the success of a business (or any organization for that matter). And then, more importantly, he goes into great detail about the specific mindset, strategies, and systems to implement the A Player system. This book is both inspirational and educational. Worth buying for the whole executive team, so everyone can understand the importance of A Players.” – J. Jubelirer

“The A Player decodes the DNA of a high performing employee in any business and provides practical steps to become one. It describes the positive impact an A Player can have on the transformation of teams and business in the long run. Rick Crossland blends the takeaways from his experience and the knowledge gained from extensive reading to present the A Player attributes that guarantee lasting success for both the employee and the organization. This is one of the best books I’ve read recently, and it helped me to make an honest assessment of myself and understand my team better. The typical annual performance reviews and feedback do not spell out the expectations of an A Player in complete detail. This book bridges that gap and is a must-read for anyone who wants to make significant performance improvements and add greater value to his or her organization. Though the book is primarily focused on the U.S. work environment, the concepts and recommendations are universally applicable.” – S. Choppara

“I was struggling with a decision about what to do with an employee and could not sleep. At 2:30 a.m., I grabbed my copy of The A Player and started reading and writing notes. The A Player is a great guidebook for self-assessment by employees and leaders, and especially how leaders need to evaluate their team players in relation to the goals and objectives of the company. By 6 a.m., with Rick’s direction, I knew I had to change people or “change” people. My employees will be reading selective portions of The A Player, and we will be using it for direction going forward.” – O. Beatty

“The day after I started reading this book, I recognized opportunities to put Rick’s expert advice into practice at my job. I have a renewed commitment to the mission of my organization and a passion for my work. Reading The A Player has given me the desire to push myself to the next level and further hone my skills. I’m ready for new challenges. Whether you work in a private sector company, government agency, or non-profit, this book will help you become a much better version of yourself!” – A. Clark

“The A Player is an integral handbook for both employers and employees alike. It is a wonderful roadmap to how to build A Players, manage them, and even become one yourself. The power of A Player talent is the difference in a good company and a great one. This book will help you evaluate, analyze, and then hire the best of the best. It is an easy read, well organized, with plenty of implementable ideas for any leader or employee. I would recommend it to all of my friends and colleagues.” – J. Spizman