Mohnish Pabrai Talk at TiE SoCal (Irvine, CA) on Marketing & Branding - Feb 24, 2014

Published in 1982, 'In Search of Excellence' by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman is a landmark management book. It analyzes 43 top-performing companies from the Fortune 500, using the McKinsey 7-S model, to identify eight common themes that contributed to their success. These themes include a bias for action, staying close to the customer, promoting autonomy and entrepreneurship, productivity through people, hands-on and value-driven management, focusing on core business, maintaining a simple organizational structure, and fostering simultaneous loose-tight properties. The book emphasizes the importance of people, customers, and action in achieving business excellence and has been widely influential in management practices.

In 'Power vs. Force,' Dr. David R. Hawkins explores the distinction between power and force, arguing that anything below the 200 level of consciousness is negative and life-destructive, while anything above is positive and life-sustaining. The book uses Applied Kinesiology and concepts from particle physics, nonlinear dynamics, and chaos theory to support its study of human behavior. It is divided into three parts, focusing on the nature of power and force, the quality of human interactions, and the evolution of human consciousness. Hawkins advocates for aligning oneself with positive, life-sustaining elements to enhance personal power and integrity.

In this highly acclaimed book, Dr. Robert B. Cialdini explains the psychology behind why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically. The book outlines six universal principles of influence: Reciprocation, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Liking, Authority, and Scarcity. The new and expanded edition includes a seventh principle, Unity, along with new research, insights, and examples. Cialdini uses memorable stories and relatable examples to make the subject accessible and easy to understand, helping readers become more skilled persuaders and defend themselves against unethical influence attempts.

In this autobiography, Sam Walton shares his life story and business philosophy, detailing how he transformed a small dime store into the global retail giant Walmart. The book is rich with anecdotes and insights into Walton's leadership style, entrepreneurial spirit, and the 'rules of the road' that guided him on both Main Street and Wall Street. It highlights his humility, frugality, and commitment to customer service, as well as the challenges and setbacks he faced along the way. The narrative provides a deep understanding of Walmart's culture and foundational principles, making it a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Marketing High Technology is a pragmatic guide that explores the competitive world of high-tech marketing. William H. Davidow shares insights from his experience at Intel, highlighting the importance of marketing in differentiating products in a standardized market. The book outlines sixteen principles for effective marketing and discusses case studies from industry-shaking clashes.