Am I Being Too Subtle?

The Adventures of a Business Maverick

De: Sam Zell

Narrado por: Sam Zell

The traits that make Sam Zell one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs also make him one of the most surprising, enigmatic, and entertaining mavericks in American business.

Self-made billionaire Sam Zell consistently sees what others don't. From finding a market for overpriced Playboy magazines among his junior high classmates, to buying real estate on the cheap after a market crash, to investing in often unglamorous industries with long-term value, Zell acts boldly on supply and demand trends to grab the first-mover advantage. And he can find opportunity virtually anywhere - from an arcane piece of legislation to a desert meeting in Abu Dhabi.

"If everyone is going left, look right," Zell often says. To him, conventional wisdom is nothing but a reference point. Year after year, deal after deal, he shuts out the noise of the crowd, gathers as much information as possible, then trusts his own instincts. He credits much of his independent thinking to his parents, who were Jewish refugees from World War II.

Talk to any two people and you might get wild swings in their descriptions of Zell. A media firestorm ensued when the Tribune Company went into bankruptcy a year after he agreed to steward the enterprise. At the same time, his razor-sharp instincts are legendary on Wall Street, and he has sponsored over a dozen IPOs. He's known as the Grave Dancer for his strategy of targeting troubled assets, yet he's created thousands of jobs. Within his own organization, he has an inordinate number of employees at every level who are fiercely loyal and have worked for him for decades.

Zell's got a big personality; he is often contrarian, blunt, and irreverent, and always curious and hardworking. This is the guy who started wearing jeans to work in the 1960s, when offices were a sea of gray suits. He's the guy who told The Wall Street Journal in 1985, "If it ain't fun, we don't do it." He rides motorcycles with his friends, the Zell's Angels, around the world and he keeps ducks on the deck outside his office.

As he writes: "I simply don't buy into many of the made-up rules of social convention. The bottom line is: If you're really good at what you do, you have the freedom to be who you really are."

Am I Being Too Subtle? - a reference to Zell's favorite way to underscore a point - takes listeners on a ride across his business terrain, sharing with honesty and humor stories of the times he got it right, when he didn't, and most important, what he learned in the process.

This is an indispensable guide for the next generation of disrupters, entrepreneurs, and investors.

©2017 Sam Zell (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"The notoriously blunt businessman shares the ups and downs of his career and the lessons he’s learned in business - with just a little profanity - in a new book, Am I Being Too Subtle?" (The Wall Street Journal)

"Here we have the real Sam Zell: one of our nation’s most interesting, provocative, and successful practitioners of business and life. He’s a wise man who hates fuzzy thinking. He is a biker, wearer of leathers and jeans and boots and his signature quirky beard. He points his skis straight downhill. You know, all the usual things that the few really smart (but not too smart for their own good) business people do." (Steve Roth, chairman and CEO of Vornado Realty Trust)

"A highly readable and revealingly personal book filled with unique insights and unvarnished straight talk about business, people - their quirks and potentials - and about life itself." (The Huffington Post)

Excellent story, but ....

If you could sum up Am I Being Too Subtle? in three words, what would they be?

Fascinating
Inspiring
Insightful

What was one of the most memorable moments of Am I Being Too Subtle??

The early chapters on Mr. Zell's parents, including their escape from Poland, are important and fascinating.

What didn’t you like about Sam Zell’s performance?

Mr. Zell has many fine qualities. A good, or even mediocre, speaking voice is not one of them. He should have chosen someone else - anyone else - to narrate the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many fine moments. Hard to pick one.

Any additional comments?

I recommend you buy the book in other than audible form.

Like a friend leaving

Sam’s book was absolutely amazing I love that he read it himself and when it was over it’s like having a friend leave after a wonderful vacation together! Sounds like he invented business casual and lack of corporate bureaucracy! I love that he cuts everybody in on the deals they’re doing so that everyone’s running in the same direction genius!

tells it as it is

Good to hear Zell narrate this. Has more meaning $39B exit in 2007 how good is that. This guy knows how to get shit done.

gravedancer

E xcellent story from extrodinary man.
I truly enjoyed the story, the main take away for me is: stay true to yourself, don' t take yourself too seriously and your word and reputation means everything.
A lot to learn and thank you Sam for sharing your story.

#1FAN of Sam Zell

Chances are you’ve heard of the businessman Sam Zell. Chances are you want to know more. This is a fascinating read. Highly recommend!

Good for meeting Sam Zell

Living in Los Angeles, I first learned about Sam when he acquired the Los Angeles Times. His moves were not well received locally. Listening to the book, however, I learned a great deal about him. He became successful for a reason, and his move with the Times are now understandable. I also started a book he recommended about William Zeckendorf. I'm enjoying it.

good audio book

I enjoyed Sam's life story. Truly a rags to riches tale from a real estate mogul.

True Life Lessons from a Real Estate Tycoon

I like this guy even more after reading this book. Zell doesn't like to talk much about his family and personal stuff but he does talk about his life lessons that anyone can apply throughout their career. Zell is a normal guy even though they built a monster business, but he is able to explain the extraordinary things that they did differently to make them more successful.

Nice insight into analyzing deals

Nice insight into analyzing deals. Sam’s genius and storytelling make this a must for anyone
who’s in business.

Excellent Book

An absolutely inspirational book about a man who wouldn’t do things the “conventional” way. Thanks Sam!