My guest today is Brad Jacobs. Brad’s resumé is remarkable. He has founded seven companies, all of which are billion-dollar or multibillion-dollar businesses. He has done 500 M&A transactions and raised $30 billion dollars of debt and equity capital. Currently, he is the Executive Chairman of XPO, a commercial trucking company that he started in 2011 and has grown into one of the largest logistics businesses in the world. He has also written a book that will be out in January, titled “How to Make a Few Billion Dollars”. Brad’s energy is infectious and our conversation unpacks his strategies for M&A, his propensity for speed, and methods for earning team buy-in. Please enjoy my conversation with Brad Jacobs.
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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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Show Notes
(00:02:11) - (First question) - Identifying key factors in a market before investing
(00:05:07) - Gleaning insights from early acquisition experiences
(00:08:43) - Delving into the seller's mindset during a business sale
(00:12:51) - Weighing pre-built against organic growth strategies in acquisitions
(00:17:20) - Defining the elements of an ideal business
(00:22:49) - Engaging constructively with Wall Street
(00:24:36) - Discussing the substantial buyback of XPO shares
(00:28:16) - Ambition as a recurring theme in entrepreneurial success
(00:30:17) - Emphasizing the need to facilitate team agility
(00:32:35) - Highlighting the joys of post-acquisition integration
(00:36:09) - Drawing lessons from Ludwig Jesselson's principles
(00:40:34) - Comparing the risks and rewards of early versus late adoption
(00:44:09) - Reflecting on errors made in trend analysis
(00:48:59) - Strategies for implementing new technologies in enterprises
(00:51:59) - The significance of thought experiments in strategic decision-making
(00:56:00) - Recalling transformative events from his early years
(00: 57:22) - Outlining what makes a meeting 'electric'
(01: 01:53) - Sharing experiences with exemplary leadership
(01:05:02) - Strategies for maximizing team potential
(01:07:37) - Deciding the right time to step away from a business
(01:08:58) - Unveiling unexpected challenges in entrepreneurship
(01:18:45) - Philosophies for leading a fulfilling life
(01:21:04) - Finishing How To Make A Few Billion Dollars
(01:22:53) - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for Brad
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy