Great summary of the 8 CEOs, lessons to learn from

I think the mix of stories and principles the CEOs blended together are good. Having 8 CEOs makes it interesting because there's a variety to look at. I do think there's a bit glossed over, but still a positive read for learning.

Here are my notes:

- Greedy when others are fearful
- Investing in the right things in big ways, cut costs everywhere else
- Funding acquisitions with debt
- Think fast and slow: fast with your initial gut-reaction, slow with your analysis
- Concentration can decrease risk
- Always do the math: data driven decisions
- Reinvest your earnings to snowball income, sheltered from tax
- Determine the hurdle rate (minimum acceptable returns for investment) and calculate & rank investments by returns and risk, use conservative assumptions
- Money allocation should be owner led, not delegated.

16 people found this helpful

Clear, structured presentation. Well narrated. Worth a listen!

This audiobook is certainly worth a listen. The book is laid out in a clear, concise manner with a case study on each of the Outsiders CEOs. Each of the CEOs faced a unique set of obstacles making this book an engrossing listen/read throughout.

Please note that the emphasis is on the success of the CEOs in office rather than on the formative background that made these CEOs unique. As such, the reader/listener has to take on a degree of blind faith in making sure the author uses the right metrics to identify success for these standout CEOs. For example, much is made of about the stock price CAGR during the tenure of the CEO and therefore, a heavy emphasis is placed on various methods to gain leverage (stock buybacks, debt issuance, etc.). Naturally, higher beta/leverage in a growing industry promises to substantial outperformance in a growing industry but taking on more risk in an uncertain market and have the dice fall in your favor doesn't necessarily mark great decision making. Rant over. Good book. Well narrated. Makes you think.

9 people found this helpful

Good information

Good information, but the book rattles off statistics which can be difficult tp listen to. My opinion, get this book in hard copy.

5 people found this helpful

Corporate Leaders Do Make a Difference

What made the experience of listening to The Outsiders the most enjoyable?

It's fascinating to see the similarities and differences in these leaders' strategies. What's remarkable is how their results were so much better than their competitors' in the same industry. These executives didn't achieve their success with blockbuster products or emerging markets. Instead, they focused on capital allocation - taking the funds that the company generated and allocating it toward its highest and best use, whether that use was to buy back stock, reduce debt, pay shareholders, expand the existing business or acquire complementary or integrated businesses.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

What I took from this book is that leaders make a huge difference in the performance of a business. And those leaders aren't the people who make the cover of Fortune or Forbes. They're men (mostly) who take actions (divesting assets, buying back stock) that the public generally doesn't notice, but that make their shareholders substantially richer than investors in other companies in the same industry. Who expects an executive who shrinks a defense contractor to a fraction of its former size or sells his visible consumer packaged goods businesses to focus on agricultural feed or buys back her stock when its undervalued to be more successful than Jack Welsh, the standard against which our subjects are measured.

4 people found this helpful

Awful! Basically a Wikipedia read out of Wall Street and top CEO’s

This book was disappointing in every way. Basically a read out of Wikipedia top CEO’s

2 people found this helpful

Good depth of stories and business concepts

Strong on financial concepts. Good examples, well-supported. This book leans a little too much on stock repurchases, but otherwise good.

2 people found this helpful

It could have been better

The book's idea is great. The stories are too short to understand or enjoy.

I would give it the plus for opening the door to more investigations regarding theses CEOs

2 people found this helpful

Great Reminder of Capitol Alllocation

Solid reminders but nothing groundbreaking. Very clear the author picked one management style and nitpicked CEO's to align with this view.. very redundant. Glad I read it but once is good enough.

1 person found this helpful

Terrible book with 0 concrete lessons

There 0 concrete lessons except the author beating the drum "cash flow good" and "buy back good". The lessons from some of the stories contradict some of the lessons from the other stories. The author is completely scatter brained, except for "cash flow good" and "buy back good". That's it. That is the book.

1 person found this helpful

outstanding read. a must for anyone in leadership

one if the few books where it's genuinely better to read it in its entirety than read the overview/spark notes. zero fluff and full of pragmatism.

1 person found this helpful