Delivering Happiness: Post #3

Corporate Culture: Tony has a LOT to say about how to build the kind of corporate culture that makes a real difference. And he did it at Zappos so simply and authentically—he asked people. He sent out an e-mail entitled “Zappos Culture Book” asking anyone who wished to send him 100-500 words about what the Zappos culture meant to them (and what it was like, what they liked about it, and how it was different). He credits the culture building as one of the main reasons they hit their big corporate goals in their early days. He also provides a primer for any company that wants to create its own “Culture Book.” See pp.137-142.

Delivering Happiness: Post #2

Poker and Business: After the sale of his first company, Tony did what most people do—he learned how to play poker! Actually, he studied it with the same intensity he did with business and got good at knowing the odds. I learned that by sticking with a consistent strategy in hold ‘em poker the odds were stacked in a good player’s favor. Forget house games like roulette and blackjack…the house always wins long term. Hsieh deduces a number of poker corollaries that he used in his next company and recommends to all. See pp. 64-66. For example: “Don’t play games you don’t understand, even if you see lots of people making money from them.” There are a lot of ex-dot.comers who would have benefited from this advice. Read the rest of these for some excellent advice.

Delivering Happiness: Introduction

Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh (Business Plus, 2010). Reviewed by Steve Gladis, Ph.D.

Tony Hsieh (pronounced Shay) has written both his autobiography and a case study for the new economy: The Internet-based economy. Both are equally interesting and compelling journeys. At the ripe old age of 24 and after learning some tough business lessons, Tony sold LinkExchange for a tidy sum of $265 million, built a tribe of friends who had a great time living and playing together, learned to play poker, and became an venture capitalist (through Venture Frogs) in emerging companies. Eventually, he and Alfred, his life-long business partner, invested in an online shoe company start up, Zappos.com, founded by Nick Swinmurn, who had bet his future on the idea that “…e-commerce will continue to grow. And it is likely that people will continue to wear shoes in the foreseeable future.” Written in a conversational style that’s both authentic and engaging, the book stands as a primer for anyone starting a business from the ground up. His comparing business and poker, developing corporate values and culture, and delivering happiness to your employees and customers are the stuff that should be taught in any MBA program. Kudos, Tony. Nice work all around.