Ep185 – Maxine Minter (Founder & GP – Co Ventures) on pre-seed, performance and mental models

This book tells the story of BlackBerry from its humble beginnings above a bagel store in Ontario to its peak as the world's fastest-growing company. It highlights the unlikely partnership between visionary engineer Mike Lazaridis and Harvard Business School grad Jim Balsillie, and how internal feuds and chaotic growth, coupled with the entry of Apple and Google into the mobile phone market, led to the company's downfall. The narrative is based on extensive research and interviews with key players, senior executives, directors, and competitors.

In this book, James P. Carse distinguishes between finite and infinite games. Finite games are instrumental activities with clear rules, boundaries, and winners, such as sports, politics, and wars. Infinite games, on the other hand, are authentic interactions that aim to continue the play, changing rules and boundaries as needed. Carse explores how these concepts apply to various aspects of life, including culture, religion, sexuality, and self-discovery. He argues that finite games offer wealth, status, and power, while infinite games provide something more subtle and grander, such as true freedom and endless possibility. The book offers insights into how approaching life as either a finite or infinite game affects one's choices, satisfaction, and success[2][4][5].

High Output Management is a seminal book by Andrew S. Grove that outlines his management and productivity concepts developed during his tenure at Intel. The book introduces the 'management by objectives' approach, also known as the objectives and key results (OKR) framework. It covers techniques for creating highly productive teams, methods of motivation, and the importance of measurable processes, performance reviews, and training. Grove emphasizes the role of managers in leading and motivating teams, and his book is praised for its practical advice and timeless relevance in various professions and industries.