The Contrarian Entrepreneur

This chapter examines the unique mindset of an entrepreneur who values contrarian thinking and the balance of recognizing problems and opportunities. It offers insights into the role of reputation, long-term relationships, and resilience from personal experiences in a transformative journey from Poland to America.

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On today’s episode, Clay reviews the wonderful book — Am I Being Too Subtle by Sam Zell.

Sam Zell has an impressive background, having started his career in real estate in the late 1960s.

He was the founder and chairman of Equity Group Investments, a leading private investment firm. Over the course of his career, Sam made many bold moves and investments, earning him a reputation as a savvy and fearless investor. One of Sam’s most notable achievements was his role in creating the modern-day real estate investment trust (REIT) industry. He did this by founding Equity Office Properties Trust in 1997, which became the largest office REIT in the United States. In 2007, he sold the company for a record-breaking $39 billion.

Just prior to passing away on May 18th, 2023, Sam had his final recorded interview with The Investor’s Podcast Network.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

00:00 - Intro

07:38 - The story of Sam’s family escaping Poland in 1939 to head to the United States.

12:08 - Sam’s early entrepreneurial and real estate ventures.

28:15 - How Sam got the nickname as ‘The Grave Dancer’ within the real estate industry.

32:46 - Sam’s investment criteria when buying real estate.

33:36 - How Sam capitalized on finding bargains outside the real estate industry.

50:56 - An overview of Zell’s record-breaking deal in 2007.

59:12 - Sam’s critical insights into building a great culture.

01:06:54 - Sam’s key business principles that helped him become a billionaire.

And so much more!

Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences.

BOOKS AND RESOURCES

Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members.
Sam’s book.
Related Episode: Listen to TIP552: Mastering The Art of Investing: A Deep Dive w/ Sam Zell, or watch the video.
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