How to Close a Deal Like Warren Buffett: Lessons from the World's Greatest Dealmaker


Book Description

Silver Winner--Tops Sales World's Best Sales and Marketing Book Revealed: the winning blueprint for making deals like The Oracle of Omaha Warren Buffett didn't become the world's third wealthiest individual on his investing instincts alone. Buffett is a master dealmaker. In fact, one of his greatest single successes came when he closed multiple deals to own 100 percent of the Government Employees Insurance Company--also known as GEICO. Highly successful dealmakers themselves, Tom Searcy and Henry DeVries have been studying Buffett's unique approach for many years. Now, they reveal the secrets of the Oracle of Omaha. How to Close a Deal Like Warren Buffett gives you the 101 top deal-making maxims of a legend in his own time. Here's just a small sampling of what's inside: Warren Way #22: Choose quality. "It's better to own a portion of the Hope diamond than 100 percent of a rhinestone." Warren Way #41: Deal making is a no-called-strike game. "You don't have to swing at everything--you can wait for your pitch." Warren Way #75. Think long term. "Our favorite holding period is forever." Warren Way #92. Don't do deals just to do deals. "We don't get paid for activity, just for being right." Warren Way #98. Think for yourself. "My idea of a group decision is to look in the mirror." Warren Way #99. Be honest in your deal making. "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it." Searcy and DeVries round it all out with an abundance of their own expertise--approaches that, added up, have generated billions of dollars in new sales. Take the advice in this hands-on guide and learn How to Close a Deal Like Warren Buffett. How to Close a Deal Like Warren Buffett reveals the method behind Buffett's near-mythic deal-making prowess. Guaranteed to help you come out on the right side of every deal! "Tom Searcy and Henry DeVries have done a masterful job of distilling Buffett's wisdom into a highly readable book you’ll want to refer to again and again. A must-have for dealmakers!" -- Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Leading at a Higher Level "Almost anybody interested in deal making will find something of interest here. Simply the most important new book on deal making and big account sales strategy." -- Marshall Goldsmith, author of the New York Times bestsellers MOJO and What Got You Here Won't Get You There "Read this inspiring, advice-filled book to discover how you can leverage Warren Buffett's deal-making strategies to negotiate and win big contracts." -- Jill Konrath, author of SNAP Selling and Selling to Big Companies "This book is Dale Carnegie reconfigured for the business world." -- Thomas Barnett, contributing editor at Esquire and author of Great Powers: America and the World After Bush "This is the first book we've read that truly explains how Buffett thinks and how his lessons can be applied to your business." -- Neil Senturia and Barbara Bry, serial entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship columnists for U-T San Diego




Leader-Member Exchange and Organizational Communication


Book Description

It is hard to overstate the importance of the leader-member exchange relationship. Employees who share a high-quality relationship with their leader are more likely to earn a higher salary, climb the ranks more quickly, and report higher life satisfaction levels than their peers who have a less copasetic leader-member relationship. While Leader-Member Exchange Theory (LMX) research addresses the impact that the leader-member relationship has on the individual employee experience, much of this scholarship overlooks or obscures the vital role that communication plays in the development and maintenance of workgroup relationships. Much of extant literature also glosses over the role that communication plays in workgroup collaboration. Using a communicative lens, this text illustrates the complex theoretical underpinnings of LMX theory, such as the importance of social interaction and relationship building and maintenance necessary to achieve organizational goals. We explore how an employee’s relationship with their leader also shapes their peer relationships and their overall standing within their workgroup. Further, the text examines the potential dark side of LMX theory, such as the tendency towards demographic and trait and state similarity. Employing a communicative perspective emphasizes the extent of position and personal power both leaders and members have in engineering the quality of the relationship they desire. Integrating and applying once disparate lines of academic literature, this book offers employees, students, and teacher-scholars pragmatic yet research-based insights into developing and maintaining successful, healthy workplace relationships.




Buffett


Book Description

Since its hardcover publication in August of 1995, Buffett has appeared on the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Newsday and Business Week bestseller lists. Starting from scratch, simply by picking stocks and companies for investment, Warren Buffett amassed one of the epochal fortunes of the twentieth century—an astounding net worth of $10 billion, and counting. His awesome investment record has made him a cult figure popularly known for his seeming contradictions: a billionaire who has a modest lifestyle, a phenomenally successful investor who eschews the revolving-door trading of modern Wall Street, a brilliant dealmaker who cultivates a homespun aura. Journalist Roger Lowenstein draws on three years of unprecedented access to Buffett’s family, friends, and colleagues to provide the first definitive, inside account of the life and career of this American original. Buffett explains Buffett’s investment strategy—a long-term philosophy grounded in buying stock in companies that are undervalued on the market and hanging on until their worth invariably surfaces—and shows how it is a reflection of his inner self.




Whale Hunting


Book Description

Using the ancient Inuit whale hunt as a metaphor for big sales, Whale Hunting gives you a clear nine-phase model for successfully finding, landing, and harvesting whale-sized sales accounts—the kind of sales that transform your business. Here, you’ll learn how to turn the dangerous endeavor of selling to large companies and big contracts into a strategy for continued success and growth. Stop wasting time with little accounts and start landing monster accounts.




Warren Buffett Speaks


Book Description

When Warren Buffett Speaks. . . people listen. "If people want to improve their investing skills, it has to help to study how the Master does it. This short book outlines Buffett's philosophy and techniques." —Peter S. Lynch, Fidelity Investments "Common sense with a deft irony . . ." —John C. Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group and author, The Little Book of Common Sense Investing "It was Warren Buffett's thoughts and philosophy that first captivated investors. Janet Lowe has done us all a great service by collecting and arranging Warren Buffett's wit and wisdom in an easy-to-read and enjoyable book." —Robert G. Hagstrom, Portfolio Manager, Legg Mason Growth Trust mutual fund, and author, The Warren Buffett Way, Second Edition "A must-read. Buffett's wit and wisdom is a roadmap for anyone looking to succeed in business, investing, and life." —Steve Halpern, Editor, www.thestockadvisors.com




Cable Cowboy


Book Description

An inside look at a cable titan and his industry John Malone, hailed as one of the great unsung heroes of our age by some and reviled by others as a ruthless robber baron, is revealed as a bit of both in Cable Cowboy. For more than twenty-five years, Malone has dominated the cable television industry, shaping the world of entertainment and communications, first with his cable company TCI and later with Liberty Media. Written with Malone's unprecedented cooperation, the engaging narrative brings this controversial capitalist and businessman to life. Cable Cowboy is at once a penetrating portrait of Malone's complex persona, and a captivating history of the cable TV industry. Told in a lively style with exclusive details, the book shows how an unassuming copper strand started as a backwoods antenna service and became the digital nervous system of the U.S., an evolution that gave U.S. consumers the fastest route to the Internet. Cable Cowboy reveals the forces that propelled this pioneer to such great heights, and captures the immovable conviction and quicksilver mind that have defined John Malone throughout his career.




Getting to Yes


Book Description

Describes a method of negotiation that isolates problems, focuses on interests, creates new options, and uses objective criteria to help two parties reach an agreement.




King of Capital


Book Description

A fascinating story of a legendary dealmaker who masterminded an unprecedented merger Citigroup CEO Sandy Weill orchestrated many deals over his legendary forty-five year career—none bigger than the 1998 epic merger of Travelers and Citibank to create the international conglomerate, Citigroup. King of Capital tells the compelling story of how this complex man revolutionized the banking world and transformed Citigroup through a combination of mergers and powerplays. Throughout his entire career Weill has created successful businesses out of smaller, seemingly unworkable pieces; filled product vacuums no one else even realized were void; and forced issues that no one else had the gumption to tackle. His daring dealmaking tactics were never more evident than while forming Citigroup, as he lobbied Congress to deregulate the financial services industry and ousted his co-CEO in a public power struggle. Through an engaging narrative by financial writers Amey Stone and Mike Brewster, King of Capital chronicles the legacy of Sandy Weill that began taking shape in 1970 with the creation of Shearson, was honed during his tenure at American Express, and continues as he leads one of the world's largest banks. Along with probing Weill's signature business deals, King of Capital traces the path this feared, envied, and admired man took to get to the top. Readers will gain valuable insight into the strategies and tactics of this admired dealmaker-including his ability to turn a workforce into a family, with all the love, loyalty, battles and heartbreaks. What distinguishes Weill from the run-of-the mill executive is a laser-like focus on what he wants, trust in his lieutenants, and incredible belief in himself-conviction that he did not always possess. Weill, cowed by Bensonhurst bullies as a child, hazed as a military school plebe, intimidated by the strong personalities of some his early partners, has defied all expectations to become a CEO whose deals have had lasting impact on global finance and the economy. Amey Stone (New York, NY) has more than ten years of experience as a financial writer. Currently, she is an Associate Editor at BusinessWeek Online, where she cowrites the daily "Street Wise" column, and is responsible for writing many of the site's lead stories on business trends, technology, and the economy, including several articles covering Citigroup and Sandy Weill. Mike Brewster (New York, NY) is an accomplished writer, editor and financial services professional. He recently launched a career magazine called Leaders Online.




Negotiation (The Brian Tracy Success Library)


Book Description

Few things have as broad an effect on your life and career as the ability to negotiate well.? The art of negotiation has become an essential element of almost all our interactions in every area of life. Enhancing our ability to negotiate effectively affects not only business contracts and career opportunities but also our personal relationships. Those who don't negotiate well risk falling victim to those who do. Success expert Brian Tracy has negotiated millions of dollars’ worth of contracts during his career and has learned firsthand all the tips, tools, strategies, and things to avoid that are necessary for anyone to become a master negotiator. In Negotiation, Tracy will show you how to: Utilize the six key negotiating styles Harness the power of emotion in hammering out agreements Prepare like a pro and enter any negotiation from a position of strength Gain clarity on areas of agreement and disagreement Develop win-win outcomes Know when and how to walk away Apply the Law of Four, and much more Within the pages of this practical and concise guide, begin mastering the art of negotiation. No other life skill can impact you as broadly as learning how to negotiate well--saving you time and money, making you more effective in all areas of life, and contributing substantially to your career. Negotiation puts the power of negotiation right in your hands.