HoldCo Builders

chevron_right

How I Built a Business Portfolio of $150M AUM | Sunny Desai Interview

whatshot 11 snips

Oct 12, 2023

Guest

Sunny Desai

Sunny Desai, Founder and CEO of Desai Companies, shares his journey from novice in M&A to executing multiple successful deals annually. He reveals the secrets behind his first pivotal deal and how executive coaching helped him navigate challenges. Sunny discusses inventive uses of capital, the value of journaling, and the mindset shifts necessary for growth. He highlights the importance of strategic planning in business and reflects on advice from his mother. Plus, he delves into why Indian-Origin CEOs excel in leadership roles.

45:36

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Limit Acquisitions for Focus

Limit acquisitions to three or fewer per year to maintain focus and ensure quality deals.
Prioritize the best deals to avoid spreading resources too thin.

insights

INSIGHT

M&A as a Toolbox

M&A skills are like a toolbox allowing creative solutions beyond one's original expertise.
Acquiring businesses and applying proven management frameworks accelerates growth.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Life Planning Backward

Plan your entire life by starting with your ultimate goals and working backward into daily actions.
This daily alignment makes decision-making easier and more effective.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Strategic Growth in the Hotel Industry

02:11 • 14min

chevron_right

Navigating Tough Business Decisions

16:03 • 2min

chevron_right

Resilience and Reflection in Entrepreneurship

17:46 • 16min

chevron_right

Strategic Investment Insights

34:02 • 3min

chevron_right

Exploring the Core Values of the SCI Business Philosophy

37:17 • 3min

chevron_right

Money, Happiness, and Time

39:52 • 4min

chevron_right

Quickfire Questions and Investment Insights

43:58 • 2min

chevron_right

#383

• Mentioned in 45 episodes

The essays of Warren Buffett

Lessons for Corporate America

Warren Buffett

This book is a comprehensive collection of Warren Buffett's annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, edited by Lawrence A. Cunningham. It provides valuable insights into Buffett's investment philosophy, corporate management, and business strategies. The letters are organized into thematic chapters, making it easier for readers to understand Buffett's views on various topics such as value investing, executive compensation, and market fluctuations. The book is praised for its clarity, wisdom, and practical advice, making it a definitive source for understanding Buffett's approach to business and investing.

#203

• Mentioned in 67 episodes

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

A Guide to Wealth and Happiness

Naval Ravikant

Eric Jorgenson

Tim Ferriss

The Almanack of Naval Ravikant is a compilation of Naval's thoughts on fundamental principles for happiness, wealth creation, decision-making, and personal growth. The book distills his insights from the last ten years into practical advice, guiding readers on how to walk their own unique path toward a happier, wealthier life. It emphasizes the importance of compound interest, leveraging resources, and productizing oneself. The book also delves into key aspects of life, including relationships, health, and purpose, offering a holistic approach to wealth and happiness.

• Mentioned in 436 episodes

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

The book is divided into two parts. The first part recounts Frankl's harrowing experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. He describes the inhumane conditions and the psychological and emotional struggles of the prisoners. The second part introduces Frankl's theory of logotherapy, which posits that the primary human drive is the search for meaning, rather than pleasure. Frankl argues that meaning can be found through three main avenues: work (doing something significant), love (caring for another), and suffering (finding meaning in one's own suffering). The book emphasizes the importance of finding purpose and meaning in life, even in the most adverse conditions, as a key factor in survival and personal growth.

#68

• Mentioned in 133 episodes

Traction

Get a Grip on Your Business

Gino Wickman

In Traction, Gino Wickman provides a systematic approach to achieving business success through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The book focuses on six key components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. It helps business leaders clarify their vision, align their leadership team, solve common business problems, and foster healthy communication and discipline within the organization. The EOS system is designed to help businesses overcome frustrations such as lack of control, people issues, insufficient profit, hitting the ceiling, and feeling stuck. The book offers practical tools, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to drive sustainable growth and improve business operations.

#19

• Mentioned in 235 episodes

The Psychology of Money

Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

Morgan Housel

In 'The Psychology of Money,' Morgan Housel delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of financial decisions. The book consists of 19 short stories that illustrate how personal history, worldview, emotions, and biases influence financial outcomes. Housel emphasizes the importance of behavior over knowledge in managing money, highlighting the power of compounding, the dangers of greed, and the pursuit of happiness beyond mere wealth accumulation. He advocates for a frugal lifestyle, long-term perspective, and a balanced approach to investing, stressing that financial success is more about mindset and discipline than about technical financial knowledge.

Sunny Desai is the founder and CEO of Desai Companies, a diversified integrated holding company with a diversified portfolio and over $150,000,000 AUM.

On this episode, PrivatEquityGuy & Sunny discuss:

- details of Sunny's first deal that made a huge difference and how his net worth went up a lot!

- how Sunny went from knowing nothing about M&A to being a master at M&A with 3-4 deals a year

- how to be really creative with capital.

- how to skip 20 years of learning

- Sunny shares his most challenging 3-year period building a business (he shares exact methods on what got him through it)- his executive coach advised him to "Plan your whole life and work backwards into daily actions." What does it really mean (Step-by-Step Plan)?!

- Sunny strategy as a long-term owner- how journaling improved the way Sunny runs his business

- what Sunny's mother tells him every month

- Why and how Indian-Origin CEOs rule the world?

- Sunny's “best book” recommendation

Follow PrivatEquityGuy on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/PrivatEquityGuy

Join HoldCo Builders weekly newsletter on finding deals, raising capital, and growing small niche manufacturing businesses: https://privatequityguy.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Sunny on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sunnysdesai

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books