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Killing the Sale
by Todd DuncanThere are approximately 12.2 million salespeople in the United States-that's about 1 out of every 23 people! Salespeople are everywhere, selling everything imaginable. Some are making a killing, but a greater percentage end up victims of the sales industry-and their own mistakes. Some are normal bumps in the road toward success. Others are more damaging. But many are fatal to a career. Duncan addresses these catastrophic mistakes with clarity and directness. Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or someone considering sales as a career, Duncan's wisdom can help you avoid errors in perception, practice, and performance that could not only kill a sale but also your career.
The Kim Kardashian Principle: Why Shameless Sells (and How to Do It Right)
by Jeetendr SehdevHow do social media stars attract such obsessive attention–even more than the Hollywood A-list? And what can they teach us about making our own ideas, products, and services break through? The world’s leading authority on celebrity branding, Jeetendr Sehdev, whom Variety calls "the best in the business," tackles these questions head-on. Sehdev shows why successful images today–the most famous being Kim Kardashian–are not photoshopped to perfection, but flawed, vulnerable, and in your face. This total transparency generates a level of authenticity and intimacy with audiences that traditional marketing tactics just can’t touch. The Kim Kardashian Principle reveals the people, products, and brands that do it best–from YouTube sensations like Jenna Marbles to billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk–and proves why the old strategies aren't working. After all, in a world where a big booty can break the Internet and the president is a reality TV star, self-obsession is a must-have. No posturing, no apologies, and no shying away from the spotlight.The Kim Kardashian Principle is a fresh, provocative, and eye-opening guide to understanding why only the boldest and baddest ideas will survive–and how to make sure yours is one of them.
The Kim Kardashian Principle: Why Shameless Sells (and How To Do It Right)
by Jeetendr SehdevIn this New York Times bestselling sensation, media personality and the world's leading authority on celebrity branding Jeetendr Sehdev inspires people everywhere to learn from the way celebrities engage their fan bases. 'One of the most influential books of the year' Michael Levin, Huffington Post'The most buzzed about business book of the year!' Forbes'Everything that a PR or spin doctor has traditionally advised: do the opposite' The Times'The best in the business' Variety*One of Bustle's 20 Best Nonfiction Books*In the space of five years, Jeetendr Sehdev has shaken up the world of entertainment by revealing how social media stars generate more obsession than the Hollywood A-list. What can he teach us about making our own ideas, products and services break through? Jeetendr shows why successful images today - the most famous being Kim Kardashian - are not photoshopped to perfection, but flawed, vulnerable, and in-your-face. This total transparency generates a level of authenticity that traditional marketing tactics just can't touch. From YouTube sensations like Pew Die Pie to taxi-hailing app Uber, The Kim Kardashian Principle reveals the people, products and brands that do it best. After all, in a world where a big booty can break the internet, self-obsession is a must-have. No posturing, no apologies, and no shying away from the spotlight. The Kim Kardashian Principle by Jeetendr Sehdev is a fresh, provocative and eye-opening guide to understanding why only the boldest and baddest ideas will survive - and how to make sure yours is one of them.
Kim Park (A): Long-lived Nonmonetary Assets
by David F. HawkinsA series of caselets exploring the accounting for long-lived nonmonetary assets.
Kim Park (B): Liabilities
by David F. Hawkins Gregory S. Miller V. G. NarayananA series of caselets exploring the accounting for liabilities.
Kind Folks Finish First: The Considerate Path to Success in Business and Life
by Sam JacobsYou don't have to be ruthless to get ahead—kindness will get you there faster From the CEO of the Pavilion community, Sam Jacobs, Kind Folks Finish First weaves practical business lessons with fresh perspectives on how you can achieve success. The ideas in this book are backed by the author's personal experience building a nearly $200-million business rooted in kindness, reciprocity, and deeply held values. More than that, they're proven principles that have helped thousands reach their goals in every arena. In business, we've been told to never leave money on the table. Don't split the difference. You need to be ruthless in order to make it to the top. Kind Folks Finish First shows you that isn't the only path. Being a good person and earning money aren't mutually exclusive. Helping others isn&’t a sacrifice; it's a long-term strategy that can spur your success if only you're willing to take the exit ramp, reset your destination, and fuel your future with generosity. Walk through a proven process to discover what you really stand for Learn how to assume control of your life and how to leverage reciprocity to drive professional success. Align your personal life with your professional life Unlock your highest potential to create true happiness Anyone looking for a kinder, gentler, more values-driven and authentic way to succeed will love this book. The secret is finally getting out—kind people really do get ahead faster.
The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust, and Leading with Kindness
by Karyn RossKindness and leadership aren’t often synonymous. Ask someone to describe "good leadership" to you and you will hear many adjectives used: authentic, bold, challenging, charismatic, decisive, empowering, fearless, goal-oriented, humble, inspiring, original, passionate, role-model, strategic and transparent, to name of a few. And though there are many more that come to mind, kindness isn’t one of them. And here’s the problem with that. Leaders lead. And the way a leader leads – how they do what they do – influences those they lead. From the president of the country, to the president of a company, from middle managers, right down to front-line supervisors, what a leader models – how they think, speak and act – influences the people they lead. Leaders who think, speak and act unkindly give legitimacy and permission to those they lead to think, speak, and act in exactly the same unkind ways. Today, in a world where a leaders’ words and actions travel quickly through social media channels such as Twitter, their influence – unkind or kind – is amplified through repeated views and sharing. In an increasingly fragmented, polarized and divided world, we need leaders who will bring people together not divide them. Leaders who value and model cooperation and collaboration over competition. And who model ways to think kindly, speak kindly and act kindly. We need kindness to become synonymous with good leadership. So that when someone is asked to describe the traits of a good leader, kindness will be the first word that comes to mind. Essentially, the purpose of this book is to teach leaders how to lead with kindness so they can influence the people they lead to create kinder workplaces, organizations and the world. Each chapter contains a mixture of theory, case studies and reflections from leaders and the people they influence. As well, the book follows the fictional stories of Kay’La Janson and Kevin Landrell, as they become leaders in a failing organization that is ultimately turned around through kind leadership. Between chapters there are a series of practical exercises based on concepts presented in the previous chapter with space to record outcomes and reflections on the practice process. This book gives you a deep theoretical understanding of the importance of leading with kindness and also provides practical exercises for you to use to turn theory into practice. Because "change means doing things differently," and because we only really "learn by doing" to create kinder organizations, kinder communities and a kinder world, leaders must be able to begin practicing kindness right away. By the time you finish the book, you will feel confident in your ability to lead with kindness and also to address organizational problems at work, at home and in the community, with kindness.
The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust, and Leading with Kindness
by Karyn RossKindness and leadership aren’t often synonymous. Ask someone to describe "good leadership" to you and you will hear many adjectives used: authentic, bold, challenging, charismatic, decisive, empowering, fearless, goal-oriented, humble, inspiring, original, passionate, role-model, strategic and transparent, to name of a few. And though there are many more that come to mind, kindness isn’t one of them. And here’s the problem with that. Leaders lead. And the way a leader leads – how they do what they do – influences those they lead. From the president of the country, to the president of a company, from middle managers, right down to front-line supervisors, what a leader models – how they think, speak and act – influences the people they lead. Leaders who think, speak and act unkindly give legitimacy and permission to those they lead to think, speak, and act in exactly the same unkind ways. Today, in a world where a leaders’ words and actions travel quickly through social media channels such as Twitter, their influence – unkind or kind – is amplified through repeated views and sharing. In an increasingly fragmented, polarized and divided world, we need leaders who will bring people together not divide them. Leaders who value and model cooperation and collaboration over competition. And who model ways to think kindly, speak kindly and act kindly. We need kindness to become synonymous with good leadership. So that when someone is asked to describe the traits of a good leader, kindness will be the first word that comes to mind. Essentially, the purpose of this book is to teach leaders how to lead with kindness so they can influence the people they lead to create kinder workplaces, organizations and the world. Each chapter contains a mixture of theory, case studies and reflections from leaders and the people they influence. As well, the book follows the fictional stories of Kay’La Janson and Kevin Landrell, as they become leaders in a failing organization that is ultimately turned around through kind leadership. Between chapters there are a series of practical exercises based on concepts presented in the previous chapter with space to record outcomes and reflections on the practice process. This book gives you a deep theoretical understanding of the importance of leading with kindness and also provides practical exercises for you to use to turn theory into practice. Because "change means doing things differently," and because we only really "learn by doing" to create kinder organizations, kinder communities and a kinder world, leaders must be able to begin practicing kindness right away. By the time you finish the book, you will feel confident in your ability to lead with kindness and also to address organizational problems at work, at home and in the community, with kindness.
Kind und Karriere – es geht beides!: Impulse für Frauen in Führung
by Maren WölflDieses Buch ist für alle Frauen, Mütter und Leaderinnen, die sich nicht zwischen Kind und Karriere entscheiden möchten. Die Anforderungen im Beruf und auch die gesellschaftlichen und eigenen Erwartungen sind hoch. Doch die Vereinbarkeit von Karriere und Beruf muss keine Illusion sein – dafür braucht es Veränderungen sowohl in der Gesellschaft und in den Unternehmen als auch im individuellen Leben und Denken. Dazu zeigt Maren Wölfl Wege und Lösungsmöglichkeiten auf. Sie gibt Tools an die Hand, um Barrieren im Kopf zu lösen, einen verantwortungsvollen Umgang mit sich selbst zu finden und den Mut zu entwickeln, Führungskraft UND Mutter zu sein. Die Autorin beleuchtet zudem konkrete Handlungsfelder der Unternehmen und geht der Frage nach: Was können Arbeitgeber tun, um Frauen und vor allem Müttern mehr Führungspositionen zu ermöglichen, ohne dass sie ihr Familienleben vernachlässigen müssen? Eine zentrale Rolle spielt eine größere Flexibilität bei Arbeitszeit und Arbeitsort. Die Vision von Maren Wölfl ist eine bessere Arbeitswelt, in der diverse Teams erfolgreich sind und jedes Team sich darauf freut, dass eine Mutter nach der Karenz zurückkommt und einen wertvollen Beitrag leistet. Denn: Mütter haben zahlreiche Kompetenzen, die auch Führungskräfte auszeichnen. Der InhaltEs betrifft uns alle: Gesellschaft & Politik, Unternehmen und Frauen & MännerBusiness Case: Frauen und Mütter in FührungDiversity-Management, Teilzeit vs. Vollzeit, Elternzeit-ManagementEs braucht neue Vorbilder und Role Models, auch für MännerImpulse für Female Empowerment, Erfolgs-Mindset und Selbstfürsorge
Kinder, Gentler Paternalism: Why Restricting Consumers' Choices Can Be Good for Them
by Peter A. UbelIs it ever appropriate to restrict people's liberties to protect them from their own bad decisions? One of the advantages of the nineteenth-century economic view of human nature is that it leads to straightforward answers to these kinds of questions. To almost any policy problem, the believer in rationality replies: leave it up to the market. But unfortunately, the freedom of personal choice has proven not to be the cure-all that its proponents claim it to be. Even when people know what they want out of life, they often lack the decision-making competence to obtain these goals. In this chapter, Ubel describes the efforts of behavioral economists to challenge the traditional economic view that society faces an all-or-nothing choice between liberty and coercion. This chapter is excerpted from "Free Market Madness: Why Human Nature Is at Odds with Economics--and Why It Matters."
Kinder Morgan, Inc.--Management Buyout
by Francine Chew Leslie S. Pierson Nabil N. El-Hage Ewa BierbrauerKinder Morgan, Inc., was a leader in the transportation and distribution of energy throughout North America, managing a master limited partnership with over $35 billion in infrastructure assets. In the summer of 2006, Richard Kinder, the founder and Chairman of Kinder Morgan, led a consortium of buyers to take the company private. The independent board of directors of Kinder Morgan must decide whether or not to accept Kinder's offer and assess the fairness of the proposal, given the conflicts of interest in this management buyout.
Kindly Review: The Secret to Giving and Receiving Feedback to Make Your Ideas Great
by Dawn CrawfordUnlock the creative and innovative potential of your team members with a new approach to feedback and review In Kindly Review: The Secret to Giving and Receiving Feedback to Make Your Ideas Great is a transformative new approach to taking the sting out of the review process and unlocking the innovative and creative power of your teams. You’ll learn to regain control over your work processes, from project start to completion, and get products to the finish line quickly and efficiently. The author identifies eight “classic” styles of giving feedback and contrasts them with the effective Kind Review process, a system for creating respectful, collaborative, and innovative working environments. You’ll find: Strategies for gathering, receiving, and giving feedback respectfully, productively, and kindly The reasons why receiving feedback can be so painful in the first place, and ways to reduce the emotional impact of critical and negative responses A comprehensive model for respectful workplace collaboration with team review and feedback at its foundationA can’t-miss roadmap to unlocking freedom, creativity, and innovation amongst your team members, Kindly Review belongs on the bookshelves of leader at for-profit firms, nonprofit agencies, and government departments looking for new ways to approach team leadership.
Kindness: Change Your Life and Make the World a Kinder Place
by Gill HassonRediscover kindness and rediscover your worth Have you ever helped someone out of instinct, because not helping never even occurred to you? Remember how surprised you were at their gratitude? It is easy to feel like kindness and gratitude are becoming rare in the world today, but the truth is that it is all around you — you just need to learn how to see it. Kindness shows you how to do just that, and inspires you to take part with tips, ideas, recommendations and advice. You will learn to see yourself and your surroundings in a kinder, happier way. Kindness is not people-pleasing; people-pleasing comes from a place of anxiety, while kindness is borne out of empathy. Kindness expects no reward or recognition, and is just as beneficial to the giver as the receiver. Kindness can be a grand gesture, or something as simple as a smile. It can be quiet or loud, simple or complex. This book helps you internalise the fundamental truth that kindness does not require wealth or possessions, or material giving at all — whatever you have to offer is enough, and it may just change someone’s life. Learn how to: See the silver lining and take care of yourself in difficult times. Do and say kind things when you're not feeling very kindly. Sustain the warm feelings that come from helping others. Express kindness even when other people are rude or critical. Enjoy self-care and treating yourself. Opportunities to be kind present themselves every day, and here you’ll learn how to notice them. Your self-esteem and confidence will grow as you discover the pure joy of helping others, and you’ll feel more comfortable allowing others to help you. In a world where kindness seems to get lost in the shuffle of worry, anxiety, aggression and worse, Kindness shows you how to bring it back into the light.
Kindness in Leadership
by Gay Haskins Michael Thomas Lalit JohriIn a global climate of increasing complexity and uncertainty, there have been calls for a more responsible form of leadership in business and society. The relationship between kindness and leadership is therefore a topic of fundamental importance for our well-being as individuals, for the success of our organisations, and for the future of our global community. Kindness in Leadership is one of the first books to explore both the concept and practice of kindness in leadership and consider them in different societal and organisational settings. Its uniqueness lies in combining an innovative mix of personal views from leaders with explorations of organisational philosophies and practices. It opens with a definition of kindness and its contours and underpinnings. It then explores the importance of kindness within different organisations, parts of the world, economic strata, age groups and genders, drawing on research on organisational compassion and neuroscience. In order to support learning, each chapter is supported by a series of questions for consideration and discussion. This will be a stimulating and thought-provoking read for a wide audience of practicing managers and leaders in organisations of all shapes and sizes, for academics involved in educating for leadership, and for students aspiring to develop their own kind and compassionate leadership style.
Kinds of Power
by James HillmanIn the boldest expose on the nature of power since Machiavelli, celebrated Jungian therapist James Hillman shows how the artful leader uses each of two dozen kinds of power with finesse and subtlety. Power, we often forget, has many faces, many different expressions. "Empowerment," writes best-selling Jungian analyst James Hillman, "comes from understanding the widest spectrum of possibilities for embracing power. " If food means only meat and potatoes, your body suffers from your ignorance. When your idea of food expands, so does your strength. So it is with power. "James Hillman," says Robert Bly, "is the most lively and original psychologist we have had in America since William James. " In Kinds Of Power, Hillman addresses himself for the first time to a subject of great interest to business people. He gives much needed substance to the subject by showing us a broad experience of power, rooted in the body, the rnind, and the emotions, rather than the customary narrow interpretation that simply equates power with strength. Hillman's "anatomy" of power explores two dozen expressions of power every artful leader must understand and use, including: the language of power, control, influence, resistance, leadership, prestige, authority, exhibitionism, charisma, ambition, reputation, fearsomeness, tyranny, purism, subtle power, growth, and efficiency. From the Hardcover edition.
The Kinfolk Entrepreneur: Ideas for Meaningful Work (Kinfolk Ser.)
by Nathan WilliamsIn The Kinfolk Entrepreneur, author Nathan Williams introduces readers to 40 creative business owners around the globe, offering an inspiring, in-depth look behind the scenes of their lives and their companies. <P><P>Pairing insightful interviews with striking images of these men and women and their workspaces, The Kinfolk Entrepreneur makes business personal. The book profiles both budding and experienced entrepreneurs across a broad range of industries (from fashion designers to hoteliers) in cities across the globe (from Copenhagen to Dubai). <P>Readers will learn how today’s industry leaders handle both their successes and failures, achieve work-life balance, find motivation in the face of adversity, and so much more.
King Abdullah Economic City: Population Drivers and Cash Flow
by John D. MacomberCEO of high profile new economic city in Saudi Arabia must decide how to allocate limited investment funds across projects under duress. Issues include understanding core economic drivers, planning infrastructure investment and return, attracting multinationals, energy policy, sustainability, urban planning, government incentives and regulations. Students must allocate limited funds, or accept outside investors at distress terms, with respect to city center, retail, resort, residential, education, utilities, commercial sale or leased land, worker housing, and a potential seaport.
The King and I
by Herbert Breslin Anne MidgetteLuciano Pavarotti's longtime manager and friend tells all. All.The King and I is the story of the thirty-six-year-old business relationship between Luciano Pavarotti and his manager, Herbert Breslin, during which Breslin guided what he calls, justifiably, "the greatest career in classical music." During that career, Breslin moved Pavarotti out of the opera house and onto the concert (and the world) stage and into the arms of a huge mass public. How he and Pavarotti changed the landscape of opera is one of the most significant and entertaining stories in the history of classical music, and Herbert Breslin relates the tale in a brash, candid, witty fashion that is often bitingly frank and profane. He also provides a portrait of his friend and client--"a beautiful, simple, lovely guy who turned into a very determined, aggressive, and somewhat unhappy superstar"--that is by turns affectionate and satirical and full of hilarious details and tales out of school, with Pavarotti emerging as something like the ultimate Italian male. The book is also enlivened by the voices of other players in the soap opera drama that was Pavarotti's career, and they are no less uncensored than Herbert Breslin. The last word, in fact, comes from none other than Luciano Pavarotti himself!The King and I is the ultimate backstage book about the greatest opera star of the past century--and it's a delight to read as well.
King Arthur Flour
by Thomas J. Delong Joshua Weiss James HolianSteve Voigt, the CEO of King Arthur Flour, must determine how the company can continue to grow, whilst preserving its unique culture. In 1996, the company was sold to employees in as ESOP transaction. The following decade saw significant growth, despite declining sales for the industry as a whole. The success could be attributed both to the quality of the product and to the company culture, which treated employee-owners with respect and allowed them to meaningfully contribute to the future direction of the company. By 2006, King Arthur flour had grown from 60 employees to over 200 and Voigt was left questioning whether the unique culture, and ESOP structure, would continue to function as the company continued to expand.
King Cotton in Modern America: A Cultural, Political, and Economic History since 1945
by D. Clayton BrownKing Cotton in Modern America places the once kingly crop in historical perspective, showing how "cotton culture" was actually part of the larger culture of the United States despite many regarding its cultivation and sources as hopelessly backward. Leaders in the industry, acting through the National Cotton Council, organized the various and often conflicting segments to make the commodity a viable part of the greater American economy. The industry faced new challenges, particularly the rise of foreign competition in production and the increase of man-made fibers in the consumer market.Modernization and efficiency became key elements for cotton planters. The expansion of cotton- growing areas into the Far West after 1945 enabled American growers to compete in the world market. Internal dissension developed between the traditional cotton growing regions in the South and the new areas in the West, particularly over the USDA cotton allotment program. Mechanization had profound social and economic impacts. Through music and literature, and with special emphasis placed on the meaning of cotton to African Americans in the lore of Memphis's Beale Street, blues music, and African American migration off the land, author D. Clayton Brown carries cotton's story to the present.
King Digital Entertainment
by Federica Gabrieli Davide Sola Jeffrey Rayport Elena CorsiRiccardo Zacconi was the co-founder and CEO of King Digital Entertainment, the video game company which had quickly established itself as the world's leading maker of casual games for mobile devices after the sensational success of its game "Candy Crush Saga." Zacconi had only a few days left to decide what to reply to Activision Blizzard, one of the largest video game publishers in the world, which had offered to acquire King for almost $6 billion. King had already managed to successfully adapt to disruptive technological changes in the course of its history, could it continue to go solo? Or would an acquisition by a complementary video game maker like Activision be the best choice for King to continue to thrive? The clock was ticking but Zacconi knew that whatever the final decision, it had to satisfy one condition: Player was King.
King Larry: The Life and Ruins of a Billionaire Genius
by James D. ScurlockWhen globalization pioneer and reclusive billionaire Larry Hillblom disappeared in 1995, he left behind an international fiasco that is still unraveling today. King Larry is a three-part journey, beginning with the early years of a mercurial young man who grew up fatherless on a peach farm outside of Fresno, California. Months after graduating from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1969, Hillblom cofounded DHL--three years before FedEx was formed--and it quickly became the fastest-growing corporation in history. Hillblom's expatriate life began twelve years later, when he retreated to a small tax haven in the Western Pacific. There, James Scurlock reveals, Hillblom led the resistance to American meddling in the Mariana Islands, rewrote the tax code and real-estate laws, and became a Supreme Court justice--among other unlikely exploits. Hillblom's voracious appetite for underage prostitutes is another facet of his convoluted story, illuminating the realities of the sex and human-trafficking industries in Southeast Asia. But Hillblom's amoral, thrill-seeking nature finally caught up with him when his vintage seaplane disappeared off the coast of Anatahan in May 1995, and he left behind an estate worth close to a billion dollars. Weeks later, five impoverished women and their attorneys came forward to challenge Hillblom's will, his former business partners, and his alma mater, provoking a legal battle that has raged for over fifteen years. From Howard Hughes to Mark Zuckerberg, the public has always been fascinated by larger-than-life entrepreneurs and their eccentricities. Now, James Scurlock engages us with the riveting story of one such man, who dressed in rags and lived in relative obscurity, but who has had a profound and lasting influence--a pioneer who shrank the globe, toppled the postal monopoly, anticipated electronic mail, and, most important, envisioned a world driven by economics rather than by laws.
The King Of California: J.G. Boswell and the Making of A Secret American Empire
by Mark Arax Rick WartzmanJ.G. Boswell was the biggest farmer in America. He built a secret empire while thumbing his nose at nature, politicians, labor unions and every journalist who ever tried to lift the veil on the ultimate "factory in the fields." The King of California is the previously untold account of how a Georgia slave-owning family migrated to California in the early 1920s,drained one of America 's biggest lakes in an act of incredible hubris and carved out the richest cotton empire in the world. Indeed, the sophistication of Boswell 's agricultural operation -from lab to field to gin - is unrivaled anywhere.Much more than a business story, this is a sweeping social history that details the saga of cotton growers who were chased from the South by the boll weevil and brought their black farmhands to California. It is a gripping read with cameos by a cast of famous characters, from Cecil B. DeMille to Cesar Chavez.
King of Capital: The Remarkable Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone
by David Carey John E. MorrisStrippers and Flippers . . . or a New Positive Force Helping to Drive the Economy . . . The untold story of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone, the financier and his financial powerhouse that avoided the self-destructive tendencies of Wall Street. David Carey and John Morris show how Blackstone (and other private equity firms) transformed themselves from gamblers, hostile-takeover artists, and 'barbarians at the gate' into disciplined, risk-conscious investors. The financial establishment--banks and investment bankers such as Citigroup, Bear Stearns, Lehman, UBS, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley--were the cowboys, recklessly assuming risks, leveraging up to astronomical levels and driving the economy to the brink of disaster. Blackstone is now ready to break out once again since it is sitting on billions of dollars that can be invested at a time when the market is starved for capital. The story of a financial revolution--the greatest untold success story on Wall Street: Not only have Blackstone and a small coterie of competitors wrested control of corporations around the globe, but they have emerged as a major force on Wall Street, challenging the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley for dominance. Great human interest story: How Blackstone went from two guys and a secretary to being one of Wall Street's most powerful institutions, far outgrowing its much older rival KKR; and how Steve Schwarzman, with a pay packet one year of $398 million and $684 million from the Blackstone IPO, came to epitomize the spectacular new financial fortunes amassed in the 2000s. Controversial: Analyzes the controversies surrounding Blackstone and whether it and other private equity firms suck the lifeblood out of companies to enrich themselves--or whether they are a force that helps make the companies they own stronger and thereby better competitors. The story by two insiders with access: Insightful and hard-hitting, filled with never-before-revealed details about the workings of a heretofore secretive company that was the personal fiefdom of Schwarzman and Peter Peterson. Forward-looking: How Blackstone and private equity will drive the economy and provide a model for how financing will work.From the Hardcover edition.
The King of Content: Sumner Redstone's Battle for Viacom, CBS, and Everlasting Control of His Media Empire
by Keach HageyThe remarkable story of Sumner Redstone, his family legacy, and the battles for all he controlled.Sumner Murray Redstone (1923–2020), who lived by the credo "content is king," leveraged his father’s chain of drive-in movie theaters into one of the world’s greatest media empires through a series of audacious takeovers designed to ensure his permanent control. Over the course of this meteoric rise, he made his share of enemies and feuded with nearly every member of his family.In The King of Content, Keach Hagey deconstructs Redstone’s rise from Boston’s West End through Harvard Law School to the highest echelons of American business. The ninety-seven-year-old mogul’s life became a tabloid soap opera, the center of acrimonious legal battles throughout his vast holdings, which included Paramount Pictures and two of the largest public media companies, Viacom and CBS. At the heart of these lawsuits was Redstone’s tumultuous love life and complicated relationship with his children. Redstone’s daughter, Shari, has emerged as his de facto successor, but only after she ousted his closest confidant in a fierce power struggle.Yet Redstone’s assets face an existential threat that goes beyond his family, disgruntled ex-girlfriends, or even the management of his companies: the changing nature of media consumption. As more and more people cut their cable cords, CBS, with its focus on sports and broadcast TV, has held steady, while Viacom, with its once-great cable channels like MTV and Nickelodeon, has suffered a precipitous fall. As their rivals merge, the question is whether Shari’s push to undo her father’s last big strategic maneuver and recombine CBS and Viacom will be enough to shore up their future.A biography and corporate whodunit filled with surprising details, The King of Content investigates Redstone’s impact on business and popular culture, as well as the family feuds, corporate battles, and questionable alliances that go back decades—all laid bare in this authoritative book.