The Island of the Four Ps

The Island of the Four Ps, a spinoff of Ed Hajim's bestselling memoir On The Road Less Traveled, is a modern fable about a young man, Marketus, who leaves home for the first time and travels to an island on a quest to answer some of life’s basic questions. The book, a conversation with the hero's inner voice, is divided into four fundamental sections—passions, principles, partners, and plans—the key ingredients to making a successful life, says the author. This magical trip takes Marketus and his guide to four villages named after the four Ps. As he enters each place, Marketus places a green pea into a special device, which allows him to store his thoughts, retrieve them, and integrate them. This engaging tale features full-color illustrations throughout, this parable comes to life in the most unusual way. Perfect for those looking for inspiration in an ever-changing world, Marketus and the Four Peas offers a timeless message for everyone.

Ed Hajim, the son of a Syrian immigrant, is a seasoned Wall Street executive with more than fifty years of investment experience. He has held senior management positions with the Capital Group, E. F. Hutton, and Lehman Brothers before becoming chairman and CEO of Furman Selz. Hajim has been the cochairman of ING Barings, Americas Region; chairman and CEO of ING Aeltus Group and ING Furman Selz Asset Management; and chairman and CEO of MLH Capital. In 2009, he became president of Diker Management and is now the nonexecutive chairman at HighVista Strategies. In 2008, after twenty years as a trustee of the University of Rochester, Hajim began an eight-year tenure as chairman of the university’s board. Upon assuming that office he gave the school $30 million—the largest single donation in its history—to support scholarships and endow the Edmund A. Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Through the Hajim Family Foundation, he has made generous donations to organizations that promote education, health care, arts, culture, and conservation. In 2015, he received the Horatio Alger Award, given to Americans who exemplify the values of initiative, leadership, and commitment to excellence and who have succeeded despite personal adversities. Hajim earned a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Rochester and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. The father of three children and grandfather to eight, Hajim and his wife, Barbara, split their time between Key Largo, Florida, and Nantucket, Massachusetts.

“The young adults I work with are students who are navigating college independently and setting out on their own journeys; I am excited to be able to share this book with them. Ed Hajim’s parable is an accessible and motivational guide through the kind of self-reflection that helps us set a course for our futures.” —Judi Alperin King, Ph.D., The Wily Network

“This wonderful fable draws on the hard-won life lessons of fabled financier Ed Hajim. Ed, a modern-day and very real Horatio Alger, identified his passions, principles, and partners so as to shape a plan for his life’s purpose. For those on a similar quest, let Ed be your guide through reading this allegorical tale. It informs and inspires.” —Mark Zupan, president of Alfred University

“In his charming fable, Ed Hajim shows how focus and principles help organizations change. His book will help the reader think.” —Ken Roman, former CEO of Ogilvy and Mather

“This is a must-read for anyone thinking about how to successfully navigate the inevitable twists and turns in the road ahead, leading to a fulfilling life.” —Wendi Heinzelman, Dean of the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

"Ed Hajim is the brilliant entrepreneur who, against all odds, built successful businesses and dedicated his life to teach sound principles to others. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to enjoy a life filled with success and framed with significance."—Dr. Nido Qubein, president of High Point University

"The allegorical tale of The Island of the Four Ps is the road map Hajim followed to create a successful life that might have ended before it ever began. If there is a template for 'Inspirational Writing,' this is it.” —Sol Gittleman, University Professor Emeritus at Tufts University

"Ed is amazing!  He has already inspired, impacted—and truly transformed—the lives of so many young people through sharing his story, wisdom, and generous philanthropy.  This book provides a relatable and applicable framework that I will use to support and empower our students as they navigate their personal, academic, and professional journeys."

—Heather Hauck, director at the Office of Student Engagement, Affinity & Inclusion, D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University