49. Why Outsiders Always Win: 8 Unorthodox CEO's You've Never Heard Of

The Sam Ovens Podcast

Ask people who the best performing CEO in history was and they'll tell you "Jack Welch". What's interesting, is that Jack Welch was far from the best performing CEO. He's not even on the map! People tend to judge a CEO's performance based on their level of "fame" and "popularity". Not their numbers. Jack Welch was a charismatic, extraverted CEO who made a lot of public appearances and grew his fame. This is why people say his name because they remember him and he's the popular, socially acceptable answer to the question if you want to fit in and seems smart to somebody who isn't smart. But in reality, Jack Welches numbers suck. Probably because he was out taking photos and shaking hands instead of focusing on his business. The best performing CEO's of all time are quiet people you've never heard of. They're quiet, humble, analytical engineers who shy away from the spotlight, have zero interest in fame and focus incessantly on adding value, allocating capital and improving efficiency. They're outsiders. In today's podcast, I explain why outsiders always win, and how you can become one. I also share some book recommendations as well as 3 companies letters to shareholders you must read if you want to succeed in business.