Memos from the Chairman

by Alan C. Greenberg

Overview

“Ace Greenberg did almost everything better than I do—bridge, magic tricks, dog training, and arbitrage—all the important things in life.” —WARREN BUFFETT

Alan C. Greenberg, the former chairman of Bear, Stearns, and a celebrated philanthropist, was known throughout the financial world for his biting, quirky but invaluable and wise memos. Read by everyone from Warren Buffett to Jeff Bezos to Tom Peters (“I love this book,” the coauthor of In Search of Excellence said), Greenberg’s MEMOS FROM THE CHAIRMAN comprise a unique—and uniquely simple—management philosophy. Make decisions based on common sense. Avoid the herd mentality. Control expenses with unrelenting vigil. Run your business at the highest level of morality. Free your motivated, intelligent people from the chain of command. Always return phone calls promptly and courteously. Never believe your own body odor is perfume. And stay humble, humble, humble.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761153511
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company
Publication date:	03/01/1996
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

ALAN C. GREENBERG is Chairman of The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., and a noted philanthropist.

Read an Excerpt

(From Memos From the Chairman)

Telephone Manners: "Transferring a call seems to require more athletic ability than some of our associates possess. Be prepared for spot checks...those who flunk will get private lessons from me."

Cutting Costs: "At last weeks partners meeting. Haimchinkel pointed out to me that the hors d'oeuvres had been upgraded considerably from peanuts. You will be happy to know that we are now back to peanuts."

Good Times: "The time to stop stupidity and be tough on costs is when times are good. Any schlemiel and most schlamozels try to cut costs when times are bad."

Bad Times: "Now is not the time to hide from clients. It takes real courage to make calls when you know the reception might be hostile."

Arrogance: "Conceit and complacency are dangerous, particularly in our line of work. If I ever feel that the people at Bear Stearns start thinking their body odor is perfume and I cannot convince them otherwise-I will sell my stock."

Excerpted from Memos From The Chairman. Copyright (c) 1996. Reprinted with permission by Workman Publishing.

Editorial Reviews

When Greenberg became chair of the investment banking firm Bear Stearns in 1978, he began the practice of communicating to his staff via memos. While this is accepted practice in the business world, Greenberg's staff soon discovered that their boss wrote memos quite unlike the ones they were used to receiving. This collection of memos written between 1978 and 1995 covers topics ranging from conserving electricity to promptly answering telephones. All are written with gentleness and wit. It is comforting to read memos from an employer who communicates to employees with intelligence and compassion. For business collections.-Andrea C. Dragon, Coll. of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J.

Library Journal

Oh, Haimchinkel Malintz Anaynikal, where were you when I needed your wise counsel? I love this book. If I didn't have a dreaded MBA I might even, at age 53, apply for a job at Bear Stearns.”—Tom Peters, co-author of In Search of Excellence

From the Publisher