The Outsiders

Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success

By: William N. Thorndike

Narrated by: Brian Troxell

Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

"It is impossible to produce superior performance unless you do something different." - John Templeton.

What makes a successful CEO? Most people call to mind a familiar definition: a seasoned manager with deep industry expertise. Others might point to the qualities of today's so-called celebrity CEOs charisma, virtuoso communication skills, and a confident management style. But what really matters when you run an organization? What is the hallmark of exceptional CEO performance? Quite simply, it is the returns for the shareholders of that company over the long term.

In this refreshing, counterintuitive audiobook, author Will Thorndike brings to bear the analytical wisdom of a successful career in investing, closely evaluating the performance of companies and their leaders. You will meet eight individualistic CEOs whose firms' average returns outperformed the S&P 500 by a factor of twenty in other words, an investment of $10,000 with each of these CEOs, on average, would have been worth over $1.5 million twenty-five years later. You may not know all their names, but you will recognize their companies: General Cinema, Ralston Purina, The Washington Post Company, Berkshire Hathaway, General Dynamics, Capital Cities Broadcasting, TCI, and Teledyne.

In The Outsiders, you'll learn the traits and methods striking for their consistency and relentless rationality that helped these unique leaders achieve such exceptional performance. Humble, unassuming, and often frugal, these "outsiders" shunned Wall Street and the press, and shied away from the hottest new management trends. Instead, they shared specific traits that put them and the companies they led on winning trajectories: a laser-sharp focus on per share value as opposed to earnings or sales growth; an exceptional talent for allocating capital and human resources; and the belief that cash flow, not reported earnings, determines a company's long-term value.

Drawing on years of research and experience, Thorndike tells eye-opening stories, extracting lessons and revealing a compelling alternative model for anyone interested in leading a company or investing in one and reaping extraordinary returns.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 William N. Thorndike, Jr. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

A great read

Highly recommend for entrepreneurs. Capital allocation is at the heart of it. This audiobook was excellent.

Amazing

This book is amazing. Who knew capital allocation is such an important tool. And the need to stay away from operations and thus needing the right coo is so critical!!
A must listen.

great book

very insightful. once again we see that the quants win. data data data. patience and pouncing are the keys to victory.

succint view of business success

interesting and very business specific, great examples, a lot of business jargon , might be hard for some

A must read

One of the best business books I have read for any CEO and those aspiring to be one.

A Very Good Summary of Value Focused CEOs

The book provides a to-the-point summary of value-focused CEOs, highlighting their business decisions and personality characteristics which seem to have made them effective managers. The book emphasizes these CEOs focusing less on stock growth and more on internal business growth, which then leads to greater stock values. Less focus on buybacks and dividends, with more focus on internal investment, business alignment, and making cuts where necessary.

Fantastic read

This should be required reading for every business school student. Capital Allocation is the key to long term success and these Outsiders prove this without a shadow of a doubt. Enjoy.

Excellent

Best book for an Investor CEO mind.Very clear narrative and Storylines.Full of great investment strategies

Changed My Small Business Life

Math. Basic Math. The people in this book realized its amazing power. #1 make money from your business. Do this with capable management. They don’t get cash flow? Replace them. #2 spend lots of time looking at the math (such as tax implications) of what to do with the assets which include the business itself and the cash it produces. The people that do #2 well will multiply their results over great CEOs. It’s not even close. Astonishing and basic truth.

good view of underlying value drivers in business

very pragmatic view of what a coherent set of value drivers are in a business. Speaks to diaciplined decision making and good capital allocation as the foundation of a great stratey. Suffers from shortfall of books that rely on individual case studiea (ie orher companies did the same thing but got totally different results)