Pa rt
One
Coming
Alive
The giants all had one thing in common:
neither victory nor success,
but passion.
PHILIP YANCEYHow is it that among millions of young men of no particular distinction, one ignites and
becomes a driving force? How is it that—like a rocket on a launch pad with flame barely
visible—one person is slightly lifted, then slowly gains momentum, thrusts upward, engines
burning steadily with increasing velocity?
The phenomenon of Billy Graham’s humble beginnings and the ever-increasing veloc-
ity of his executive leadership intrigued us. What combination of genes, culture, experi-
ence, religion, and internal response created the alchemy?
This first section consists of just one extended chapter exploring those questions. How
did his extraordinary leadership get started? How did it continue in force throughout his life?
Numerous scholars and commentators have ranked Billy with the “greats.” We were
intrigued to find, in seeking to identify common principles, parallels with other great lead-
ers like Teddy Roosevelt, who was “ignited” by similar forces. To put Billy in context, we
include those experiences too, which may illumine some of what happens in these extra-
ordinary lives.