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.

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.

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.

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.

Must read

Must read for any executive. Enjoyable and impactful.

Every CEO has two core responsibilities. 1. Business operations. 2. Capital allocation.

The latter is the difference between good and great.

Good Book

This is how business should be taught. Smart capital allocation is the key. A great read for anyone who will ever decide how to spend money.