The Only Qualification

How do you choose the one who will carry on your work after you are gone?

Every leader faces this question. Most answer it poorly. The result is chaos-coups in nations, splits in churches, destroyed family businesses, and legacies erased by those who never understood what was built.

For fourteen years, William Vincent searched for the answer. He found no book on the subject. So he turned to the greatest leader in history-Jesus Christ-and studied how He chose the one who would succeed Him. What he discovered shocked him. It will shock you too.

The person who loves your vision is not the one. The person who admires your gift is not the one. The person who craves your power, your position, or your authority is not the one. The one who believes they are wiser than you is not the one.

There is only one qualification that matters. And it is not education, intelligence, or administrative skill. It is not experience, expertise, or executive power. It is love.

In The Only Qualification, William Vincent presents six principles for not choosing a successor, six positive criteria for identifying the right one, and a close examination of the life of Peter-the unlikely successor who was tested, proven, and entrusted with the greatest organization in history. Drawing from Scripture, history, and personal experience, Vincent shows that succession is not about preserving your position. It is about preserving your legacy. And the only way to do that is to choose someone who loves you-not what you have.

Whether you are a pastor, a business owner, a parent, or a leader of any kind, this book will challenge your assumptions, expose your blind spots, and guide you toward the most important decision of your leadership: who will carry on when you are gone?