Excerpts:
p 5 – “First, they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” ~Ghandi
p 20 – (after being suspended from school for something he didn’t do) ” … sometimes the truth alone isn’t enough, and that presentation of the truth is just as important as the truth.”
p 22 – “…it was pretty painful to bet the farm on something that didn’t work out.”
Lessons Learned from Poker That Can Also Be Applied to Business (p 64-66):
Evaluating Market Opportunities
- Table selection (the business/market you choose) is the most important decision you can make
- It’s okay to switch tables if you discover it’s too hard to win at your table
- If there are too many competitors (some irrational or inexperienced), even if you’re the best it’s a lot harder to win.
Other topics in this section: Marketing and Branding, Financials, Strategy, Continual Learning, Culture,
p 121 – “…great companies have a greater purpose and bigger vision beyond just making money.” (referring to Jim Collins’ book “Good to Great”)
p 142 – branding through customer service…
p 172 – provides a few sample interview questions at Zappos.
p 177 – “The role of a manager is to remove obstacles and enable his/her direct reports to succeed. This means that the best leaders are servant-leaders. They serve those they lead.”
p 177 – “Many of the company’s best ideas have been the direct result of informal interactions outside the office.”
p 178 – On core value Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit by Robin P. “My husband passed away under tragic circumstances in December of 2007. I couldn’t begin to think of what that was going to mean for our children, our family, or for me … As much as Zappos meant to me before, the things they did after my husband passed amazed and humbled me … My visiting family had never heard of these kinds of gestures given by a workplace. I just smiled and said “Wonderful. That’s what Zappos is.” …In the end, the most important contributions from my extended family at Zappos were support and friendship. Zappos was my refuge and healing place that gave me everything I needed to continue on with my life.”
p 184 – “Your personal core values define who you are, and a company’s core values ultimately define the company’s character and brand.
For individuals, character is destiny.
For organizations, culture is destiny.
p 210 – “Top 10 Questions to Ask When Looking for Investors and Board Members”…
p 222 – link to video about Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hxX_Q5CnaA
>> Book has to be returned to library. Future entries from pages 88, 118, 122, 136, 13, 142, 144, 154, 158 (Zappos’ 10 Core Values), 164, 178, 184, 186, 192, 232, 224, 244,
P.S. If you’re in Las Vegas, take a tour of Zappos’ Headquarters