Books on deal-making...

[Dien Rice]

Hi Ankesh,

Originally Posted by Ankesh

The 50 Best (and Worst) Business Deals of All Time - by Michael Craig
But I think you were the one who had referred this book to me in the first place.

Yes, I remember that book! I think I read a big chunk of it... I should hunt it down and refresh my memory.

Another biography that is pretty awesome is Cold Steel. Its the story of Laxmi Mittal and how he went about merging ArcelorMittal - if memory serves me right, Arcelor was bigger than Mittal's steel mills at that point.

That sounds good! Of course, I've heard of Lakshmi Mittal - one of the world's richest people. I'd love to read his story. Thanks for pointing that out!

You can learn a lot from autobiographies, sometimes. I learned some thing about "deal making" from "The Art of the Deal" by Donald Trump (as I mentioned earlier), but also from a biography of Kirk Kerkorian and Richard Branson's (first?) autobiography (he might have another one out now!).

Some time back, I came across these that may be pretty awesome. Haven't bought them myself - but they are checklists on deal making:
http://www.startupplays.com/plays/ho...ero _leverage
http://www.startupplays.com/plays/bu...-like-manpacks

My referral link for startupplays.com:
http://www.startupplays.com/giveaway?refcode=6195b7e5f4
(I don't get paid anything. I just get entered into a contest for their entire library if you signup using my ref if.)

They sound interesting... I'll check it out further!

I think the best thing to do with "deal making" is to just go out and do it!

I try to make sure it is a "win/win" type of proposal, and that I am also bringing something "valuable" to the table, too. (It can be money - but it could also be your time, skills, or other assets.)

It really doesn't matter if the person you want to make a deal with has his last $100 in his pocket, or has a billion dollars in his bank account. As long as it is a "win/win" type of proposal, then there is no reason why that person shouldn't at least consider your offer...

Thanks for sharing that, Ankesh!

Best wishes,

Dien