AM I BEING TOO SUBTLE? Straight Talk From a Business Rebel by Sam Zell
Billionaire Sam Zell is truly the real deal. Real Estate, Public Companies, Motorcycle Trips and Red Jumpsuits!
I have been a long time fan of Sam Zell. He has earned the nickname The Grave Dancer by taking properties and companies that were all but dead and turning them around for huge profits.
You can see the article from 1982 that cemented his moniker here: http://www.samzell.com/wp-content/uploads/1982_The_Grave_Dancer.pdf
In the late 1980s and early 1990s he was one of the earliest guys into REIT. He had already made a fortune acquiring properties using syndication and then partnering with institutional equity. Next he took what he knew about properties and Tax law and used that with public companies . His next act was to combine the two with REITS.
“I’ve spent my whole life testing my limits.” – SAM ZELL
“If you’re really good at what you do, you have the freedom to be who you really are.” – SAM ZELL
No one has ever accused Sam Zell of being conventional. One of the savviest, most mysterious, and most controversial investors today, he built his real estate empire by zigging when everyone else zagged. Despite a few notable failures, most famously that of the Tribune Company, his success with his own investment firm Equity Group Investments, and his ownership of companies like Sealy, Santa Fe Energy Resources, and Schwinn Bicycles is undeniable, and he remains one of the few truly self-made multi-billionaires in the United States.
Zell takes readers inside his world, where the secrets of success are embedded in the dramatic and often surprising stories of his youth and business life. He tells the remarkable story of how the son of Holocaust survivors was able to grow the Equity network, which includes some of the nation’s largest commercial real estate companies, and expand across industries–from real estate and railcars to energy, logistics, and others–amassing enormous wealth from nothing.
Instead of handing out the same old advice, Zell cuts the bull and talks straight about how to make it in business. The books is packed with his characteristic nuggets of insight, such as:
- Trying to be right 100% of the time leads to paralysis.
- Business is not a battle to be waged. It’s a puzzle to be solved.
- Keep it simple.
- Liquidity equals value.
- When others are going right, look left.
The book’s chapters are often named after articles that Zell has written, and in them he expands upon a specific theme whether that be the housing market crash of 1987 or personal stories from his childhood. Every single story has a point, a lesson, which is interwoven into the text and the eventual lesson that Zell wants to get through in a chapter. This book can appeal to not just real estate professionals but also a general audience looking to change the way they go about their professional life.
Author Background: Sam Zell is the chairman of Equity Group Investments, the private investment firm he founded in 1968, and the chairman of five NYSE companies. He is an entrepreneur and investor who is active in a diverse range of industries, such as energy, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and communications, and of course real estate. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Helen.
I highly recommend this book!
LEGAL AND TAX COUNSEL: Concordia Realty Corporation and Michael J. Flight and their affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction or undertaking. Concordia Realty Corporation and Michael J. Flight highly encourage individuals and investors to seek the counsel of a qualified attorney as well as seek the counsel of a tax professional or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to determine if there are any potential tax liabilities or consequences as the result of anything contained herein. NO GUARANTEE: All users of this website should understand there are NO GUARANTEES of any success, outcome or profitability of any transaction or undertaking, expressed or implied by Concordia Realty Corporation and Michael J. Flight or any of its members, shareholders, officers or affiliates and will NOT be liable for any financial or other losses or damages incurred as a result of any undertaking. Go HERE to view complete DISCLOSURES.
About the Author: Michael J. Flight
Let your investment dreams take flight with the expert help of Michael Flight, principal investor at Concordia Realty.
Michael has worked for more than 28 years and handled more than $500 million worth of real estate transactions on behalf of his clients at Concordia Realty. Michael began his business in the realm of retail real estate, with Concordia Realty now handling third-party property and asset management services for a variety of commercial real estate investments.
He also specializes in revitalizing distressed investments for partners, adding value for clients … including banks, insurance companies, and hedge funds. Michael has consulted for some of the top investment and development companies in the world … and now his knowledge is available to YOU.
Are you searching for someone who can maximize the full potential of your property? Not only do Michael and his team at Concordia specialize in intensive hands-on property management, but they also bring the right relationships with attorneys, consultants, and contractors to the table.
With extensive experience in development, leasing, sales, property management, and innovative financing techniques, Michael and his trained team have the ability to make your property into the cash cow you know it can be.
Ready to take flight? Use the CONTACT page HERE, and a member of the Concordia team will be in touch promptly!
