The Real Deal, Sandy Weill
The Real Deal, Sandy Weill
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
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The Real Deal
My Life in Business and Philanthropy

Author: Sandy Weill, Judah S. Kraushaar

Narrator: Harry Chase, Chuck Prince, Sandy Weill

Abridged: 6 hr 45 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/09/2006


Synopsis

"Shortly after we set up shop, the four of us and our wives convened at Arthur's home on Long Island to celebrate. It was a festive occasion, and we all openly shared our aspirations. To this day, I remember the others stressing over and over their desire to become wealthy. Given that Joanie and I were raising two toddlers and lived nearly hand-to-mouth, the talk was certainly seductive. Still, what I remember most from that dinner was my declaration that the money should be secondary-what mattered more to me was to build a great firm: one that would lead the industry, employ lots of people, endure over many years, and, importantly, command respect. Over the next forty-three years, I never altered my priorities."-- The Real Deal The Sandy Weill story is truly one for the ages. Starting with $30,000 in borrowed cash in 1960, and relying on uncanny entrepreneurial instincts, Sandy created one of the leading securities firms in the U.S. and became one of the best known businessmen in the world. After selling his company to American Express and becoming its president, he experienced a professional setback. Undaunted, he cannily parlayed it into a second career, starting over with a sleepy consumer loan company called Commercial Credit, which over the next seventeen years he transformed into the leading global bank, Citigroup. During this span, Weill as chairman and CEO delivered an astounding 2,600 percent return to investors-better than legendary CEO Jack Welch or investor Warren Buffett during that same period.Yet success is never an easy path, and Weill divulges the highs and lows.

His ascent to power has been documented by the media over the years, but never before has Weill revealed the brutally honest and unvarnished side of an astonishing life and career.And Weill goes further, sharing his love of philanthropy, a journey that took him "from a mediocre bass drummer in my high-school marching band to the chairmanship of Carnegie Hall." He brings readers into his personal life, introducing them to his wife, Joan, his daily inspiration, and discussing his relationships with competitors and colleagues alike, including proteges like Peter Cohen and Jamie Dimon. Along the way, he shares the most important lessons he learned in business and in life.

From a middle-class Brooklyn childhood to corporate legend, philanthropist, financier, and chairman emeritus of Citigroup Inc., The Real Deal tells a remarkable story-that of a financial superstar who always loved the game more than the gold.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Christopher on June 05, 2019

"Picking one's spot in the philanthropic world should be a personal matter; however, I'd recommend some principles for how business leaders might become more engaged. First, it's important to make long-term commitments and accordingly select causes where one's passion will last. Second, one should l......more

Goodreads review by John on August 21, 2017

This was actually a pretty fascinating autobiography of one of the most powerful executives on Wall Street. Yes, he's the hero of his own narrative, and yes, there are some parts that seem more like justifications for certain actions, but it's still a pretty fascinating read.......more

Goodreads review by Stefan on March 02, 2022

A good overview of the career of Sandy Weill. Would have loved more details of how things happened under the hood. Seemed very superficial.......more

Goodreads review by Peter August on August 24, 2023

Mentoren til Jamie Dimon. (Best aa lese etter man har lest "Last Man Standing")......more

Goodreads review by Matt on December 17, 2010

One of my favorite CEO autobiographies. Coincidently, I read this right before WaMu collapsed and was acquired by Chase. Weill's stories about Dimon should have been a warning.......more