Summary
Brad Jacobs sets out his approach to building large companies through acquisitions and steady improvements in how they run. Drawing on his career as a CEO and dealmaker, he discusses spotting business trends, investing in technology, choosing deals, and building a strong team.
The book also examines the mental side of leadership: handling problems, questioning familiar assumptions, and staying open to better ideas. It combines business advice with examples from Jacobs's own work. The emphasis is on how he thinks and operates, rather than a step-by-step promise that every reader can repeat his results.
Why read it Our view
Read this to examine the choices behind a business built through acquisitions. Consider how a deal fits a wider plan, what technology changes after the purchase, and whether the team can run what it buys.
Jacobs's examples also give you a way to think about your own response to setbacks. Which problems need a change in the business, and which need a change in how you approach them? Use his account to test your judgement about deals, people, and pressure.
Decisions from the book
Buying software used across the rental industry
- Decision: How to improve the rental business’s technology and view of the equipment market.
- Action: Jacobs bought Wynne Systems, whose software many regional rental companies used.
- Outcome: The purchase gave the company its own platform and access to aggregated, anonymous industry data. Jacobs describes using that view to adjust pricing and assets.
Written about
- Brad JacobsAuthorJacobs sets out his own approach to business building, acquisitions, technology, and leadership.Source