Shortform Books

Tele-Communications Inc. History: New CEO, New Rules

Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) was a cable television provider founded in 1958. It grew to be the largest cable company in the country, owning both cable providers and content programming. It was acquired by AT&T in 1999 for $43.5 billion in stock and, through a series of transactions, would ultimately become Comcast. As CEO from 1972 to 1991, John Malone pursued a virtuous cycle strategy—grow subscriber count through acquisitions of cable providers, which would give scale to negotiate lower fees with content providers, which would make acquisitions of cable companies further cheaper.

Warren Buffett’s Diversification Strategy (+How to Apply It)

Does diversifying your portfolio really work? How can Warren Buffett’s diversification advice help you grow your business? Like most successful CEOs, Warren Buffett understands the value of diversification. Read about how Warren Buffett’s diversification of his company, Berkshire Hathaway, and how having a diverse portfolio helped the company grow with Buffett as CEO.

Tom Murphy, Capital Cities: Simple Strategies Get Results

Who is Tom Murphy, Capital Cities CEO, who facilitated the sale of Capital Cities Broadcasting to Disney in 1996? How did Murphy create such a valuable company? Tom Murphy was the CEO of Capital Cities Broadcasting, a media company owning television stations, radio stations, and print publications, from 1966 to 1996. Murphy implemented management strategies that dramatically increased the annual return rate, making him one of the most successful CEOs of a media company during that period. Read about how Tom Murphy grew the company leading up to the famous Disney deal.

Qualities of a CEO—Management and Strategy Tools for Success

How can a CEO becomes a great CEO? Can a COO learn better management practices to increase profits? In The Outsiders, author William Thorndike analyzes the management styles and business decisions of eight successful CEOs who all had unorthodox management styles to determine that qualities of a CEO. These Outsider CEOs all thought outside the box, but they had in common the management style and qualities of a good CEO.

Warren Buffett: Value Investing and His Long-Term Strategy

How did Warren Buffett become one of the most successful CEOs of all time? And what is the Warren Buffet value investing strategy? Born in 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, Warren Buffett was the son of a stockbroker and the grandson of a grocery store owner. His early entrepreneurial activities included paper routes and reselling soft drinks. His business grew over time, and so did Warren Buffett’s value investing strategy, moving from strictly value investing into and investing style that included more complex stocks for the long term.

Capital Cities Broadcasting: History and Rise to Media Giant

What made Capital Cities Broadcasting successful? Was it the CEO, or good business practices, or both? Capital Cities Broadcasting was a media company owning television stations, radio stations, and print publications. CEO Tom Murphy, in charge from 1966 to 1996, implemented management strategies that showed a 19.9% annual return rate, compared to the 10.1% for the S&P 500 and 13.2% return for leading media companies. Tom Murphy, Capital Cities Broadcasting CEO, enacted several business policies during his tenure there that helped the company grow and succeed. Read about the history and major successes of Capital Cities Broadcasting.

The 8 Best CEOs of All Time—And Why They’re So Successful

It’s a big question: who are the best CEOs of all time? What makes them the best? Some big names come to mind when we consider the best CEOs of all time, including old business giants who built some of the biggest companies we know today. While there were undoubtedly many great CEOs, William Thorndike poses in The Outsiders, that the most successful CEOs are the ones that were the most profitable and grew their companies by following unorthodox business strategies. Read about the 8 best CEO’s of all time and why being an “outsider” makes them great CEOs.

Qualities of a Good Doctor: Dr. Paul Kalanithi’s Philosophy

What are some of the qualities of a good doctor? How can doctors achieve good relationships with patients, get results, and learn how to be a good doctor? Through his experiences in medical school and his love of literature, Dr. Paul Kalanithi spent his life searching for meaning and connectedness. He formed philosophies about how the qualities of a good doctor, and worked on applying and developing further even when he was diagnosed with lung cancer so he could have the characteristics of a great doctor.

Teledyne History: How Rapid Expansion Built an Empire

What is Teledyne, and why is the company featured in The Outsiders as one of the most successful companies of all time? Teledyne is an industrial conglomerate founded in 1960, currently involved in businesses ranging from aerospace electronics to digital imaging. CEO Henry Singleton was the founder and its CEO until 1991. Under Henry Singleton’s leadership, Teledyne saw significant growth. Learn about Teledyne and how Henry Singleton helped it becomes successful.

Paul Kalanithi—Lessons Shep Nuland Taught Me

What can your mentors teach you? Can those lessons apply to greater questions of life, death, and the mysteries of the universe? Paul Kalanithi believed so, and relied on educators like Shep Nuland to help him form his core values. Shep Nuland was an influential mentor for Paul Kalanithi. Shep Nuland was an American surgeon, educator, and writer who worked with Paul Kalanithi while Kalanithi studied at Yale Medical School. Shep Nuland helped guide Paul in his education and form his philosophy about treating patients and life and death.