NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A deceptively simple and poignant story of finding success

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A deceptively simple and poignant story of finding success

"red helicopter is a transformative experience. James Rhee's story is a must read for anyone, of any age, who wishes to think, act, and lead with balance, agility, and wisdom."

Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Like a Monk and 8 Rules of Love

"Imagine if your habits were infused with meaning. This parable for our times will inspire you to transform yourself and your teams as they lead with integrity, agility, and courage."

Charles Duhigg, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Supercommunicators

About red helicopter

In kindergarten, James Rhee received a toy red helicopter after a simple act of kindness—the innocent generosity of sharing his lunch. Nearly four decades later, the lessons from this small gift helped him develop a human-centered framework for business and personal success.


Rhee, a Korean American man with no prior background as CEO, unexpectedly took the helm of Ashley Stewart, an iconic company predominantly employing and serving Black women. The world bet against him, but Rhee trusted his instincts to identify, measure, and unleash the intangible goodwill at the company’s core, a decision which ultimately multiplied its fortunes several times over. Inspired by the values his dying immigrant parents instilled in him, he knew that a radically different—yet familiar—approach was required to lead this twice-bankrupt company from the jaws of liquidation to transcendent success. 


Anyone can apply this refreshingly intuitive approach to change.
All it takes is combining the power of kindness with a little math. 


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Exclusive Bonus Content

We have created a list of questions that might be useful conversation starters as you and your fellow readers peel back the many layers and lessons of this book.

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We have created graphic illustrations that help you see how each of the chapters in Life, Money, and Joy helps construct the helicopter of you.

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What They Are Saying

"red helicopter is a transformative experience. James Rhee's story is a must read for anyone, of any age, who wishes to think, act, and lead with balance, agility, and wisdom."

Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Like a Monk and 8 Rules of Love

"Imagine if your habits were infused with meaning. This parable for our times will inspire you to transform yourself and your teams as they lead with integrity, agility, and courage."

Charles Duhigg, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Supercommunicators

red helicopter is both a GPS for your soul and a superpower to fuel your journey to purpose. In a hustle-bent world, it stops time and takes you from where you are to where you aim to go. If you’re ready to evolve, own your life, and excel in possibility, this is the book you’ve been waiting for.”

Mikki Taylor, award-winning journalist, editor-at-large for Essence magazine, and author of Editor in Chic

"red helicopter is a breath of fresh air in a cluttered world of self-improvement and business literature. For anyone looking to find purpose in the chaos and to embrace life’s deeper connections, red helicopter is a guiding light. I enthusiastically endorse this book for anyone eager to elevate their life and career with heartfelt authenticity and clear-eyed vision."

Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

"red helicopter captures the essence of the human condition and the role it must play in success. James Rhee has captured the core of a curriculum that all schools teaching the principles of business - and life - should implement as we prepare for the future"

Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, President Emeritus and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery, Howard University

"With experience and deep insight, James Rhee redefines the path towards success. Through masterful storytelling and experience, red helicopter elevates kindness, joy, and goodwill to their rightful place. Rhee shows us a better way to strive, one with our deep values at the center. A wonderful book that all of us who are driven and strivers desperately need to read."

Steve Magness, New York Times bestselling author of Do Hard Things


This book is for everyone

red helicopter is designed for families, parents, and their children, as well as for any leader accountable for the livelihood and well-being of others. Although the narrative of this book tracks the arc of a gritty business transformation, the story and its teachings are about human beings working hard to make better lives for themselves and their loved ones. For some of you, this might be your first glimpse into the mysterious inner workings of private equity, big law, and other power centers. For all of you, James’s hope is that you learn, or relearn, a few valuable lessons about how to create a more sustainable balance between life, money, and joy for both yourself and others.


This book is for everyone

red helicopter is designed for families, parents, and their children, as well as for any leader accountable for the livelihood and well-being of others. Although the narrative of this book tracks the arc of a gritty business transformation, the story and its teachings are about human beings working hard to make better lives for themselves and their loved ones. For some of you, this might be your first glimpse into the mysterious inner workings of private equity, big law, and other power centers. For all of you, James’s hope is that you learn, or relearn, a few valuable lessons about how to create a more sustainable balance between life, money, and joy for both yourself and others.


There is no magic formula—but there are things you need to know.

You won’t find a list here of three or five remedies for everything that ails you. The answers are embedded in the story, in the chorus of different voices and emotions (and a few formulas and frameworks). James will introduce you to key principles underlying subjects like accounting, finance, behavioral science, economics, and corporate law (you need to know this stuff, and so do your children—and for some reason, these subjects are generally not taught in school—well before they enter the workforce as adults). And by weaving them into a simple story, James will show you how they all interact with one another in very human terms.


There is no magic formula—but there are things you need to know.

You won’t find a list here of three or five remedies for everything that ails you. The answers are embedded in the story, in the chorus of different voices and emotions (and a few formulas and frameworks). James will introduce you to key principles underlying subjects like accounting, finance, behavioral science, economics, and corporate law (you need to know this stuff, and so do your children—and for some reason, these subjects are generally not taught in school—well before they enter the workforce as adults). And by weaving them into a simple story, James will show you how they all interact with one another in very human terms.


The triplet design is there for a reason

Within the pages of this book is a purposeful order—an arc of discovery, perspective change, and emergence. Of the ten chapters, nine are arranged in three distinct triplets (if this were a musical, or a song, chapter 7 is the “bridge”). In this sequence, a creative-minded person might note the act of creation itself. A spiritually minded reader might recognize the stages of an awakening. A teacher or parent might see the makings of a next-generation curriculum. A business-minded reader might glimpse a reinvention or turnaround process. No matter what your lens is (and you probably have more than one), this design will lead you to the same right path. The goal, simply, is to help set you free and help you lift off and fly. 


The triplet design is there for a reason

Within the pages of this book is a purposeful order—an arc of discovery, perspective change, and emergence. Of the ten chapters, nine are arranged in three distinct triplets (if this were a musical, or a song, chapter 7 is the “bridge”). In this sequence, a creative-minded person might note the act of creation itself. A spiritually minded reader might recognize the stages of an awakening. A teacher or parent might see the makings of a next-generation curriculum. A business-minded reader might glimpse a reinvention or turnaround process. No matter what your lens is (and you probably have more than one), this design will lead you to the same right path. The goal, simply, is to help set you free and help you lift off and fly. 

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Donate copies of red helicopter to students nationwide and help create a foundation for the leadership curriculum of the future. 

James has partnered with WorthyBooks, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit to facilitate tax-deductible donations of books to communities across the country.

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About James Rhee

James Rhee is a high school teacher and Harvard Law graduate who became a private equity investor and unexpected CEO. He bridges math with emotions by marrying capital with purpose. His transformational leadership has been recognized by the leading business and civic organizations.


His upcoming book, entitled red helicopter―a parable for our times: lead change with kindness (plus a little math) will be published in April 2024 in partnership with Harper One, an imprint of HarperCollins that seeks multi-platform ideas that “transform, inspire, change lives, and influence cultural discussions.” He is working on related film, music, and television projects. His TED Talk and Dare to Lead interview with Brené Brown have captured the imagination of millions.

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