David Brown | The Art of Business Wars: Battle-Tested Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs from History’s Greatest Rivalries

Show Notes

David is the host of  WONDERY’S CHART-TOPPING BUSINESS WARS PODCASTS and he joins us to share about his newest book, The Art of Business Wars – Battle-Tested Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs from History’s Greatest Rivalries. 

1. 1. Yes, yes, yes and yes! Thrivetime Nation on today’s show we are interviewing David Brown, about his new book, THE ART OF BUSINESS WARS | BATTLE-TESTED LESSONS FOR LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM HISTORY’S GREATEST RIVALRIES!!!
   2. I know that you’ve had a ton of success at this point in your career, but I would love to start off at the bottom and the very beginning of your career. What was your life like growing up and where did you grow up?
   3. When did you first figure out what you wanted to do professionally?
   4. Many of our guests say that they had a key mentor or a key book that they read that really helped them to change their mindset and their approach to success…do you have a key book or mentor in your life that has impacted you the most…I would love to hear that story?
   5. When did you first feel like you were truly beginning to gain traction with your career?
   6. Dave, what inspired you to write your new book, THE ART OF BUSINESS WARS | BATTLE-TESTED LESSONS FOR LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM HISTORY’S GREATEST RIVALRIES!!!?

• David, in your book you shares stories and lessons from history’s greatest business rivalries and examines why some companies triumph while others crumble…tell us about the way the book is laid out…

• Using revered Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu’s insights and pragmatic advice, he masterfully frames some of the biggest business rivalries in history. 

1. 1. David, in your book I know that you share stories about rivalries involving Ford, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Netflix, and Mattel, and many more, are featured…I would love for you to share an example of one of these rivalries?
   2. David, how are some companies able to stay competitive while other companies fail to adapt?

• David, in your mind, why does every entrepreneur need to read, THE ART OF BUSINESS WARS?

1. You come across as a very proactive person…so how do you typically organize the first four hours of your and what time do you typically wake up?
2. What are a few of your daily habits that you believe have allowed you to achieve success?
3. What mentor has made the biggest impact on your career thus far?
4. What has been the biggest adversity that you’ve had to fight through during your career?
5. What advice would you give the younger version of yourself?
6. What message or principle that you wish you could teach everyone?
7. You’ve got the mic, what is one thing that you want to share with the Thrive Nation before you drop the mic?

“A rollicking read about the corporate world’s greatest rivalries. If you’re worried about a well-known competitor or an unseen disruptor—or fascinated by the decisions of founders, the strategies of leaders, or the fates of businesses—this book brings together the best of a hit podcast for your learning and enjoyment.”

— Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Originals, and host of the TED podcast WorkLife

“Anyone who thinks business is all about balance sheets and income statements should be required to read The Art of Business Wars. Whether he’s telling the story of how Apple crushed BlackBerry or how Mattel created Barbie and Ken, David Brown has done a masterful job of getting beneath the numbers to illuminate the real stuff of business: ego, passion, ambition—and all-out combat.”

— Joe Nocera, Bloomberg business columnist

“The Business Wars podcast is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand how new entrants can topple even the most powerful and entrenched industry leaders. The Art of Business Wars leverages the key takeaways from the podcast to illustrate how putting the consumer first exploits the vulnerabilities of incumbents who find it challenging to disrupt their legacy business models. If Blockbuster had learned the ‘art of war’ from Business Wars, maybe they would not have been toppled by Netflix.”

— Rich Greenfield, partner and analyst, LightShed Ventures

Business is a fight for survival. In business as in war, leaders match their wills in pursuit of opposing outcomes, they devise strategies, and marshal resources for victory. Success can turn on the smallest of details; a single tactical blunder can topple an empire. Ultimately, one side triumphs—and victory is all that matters.

In his new book THE ART OF BUSINESS WARS: BATTLE-TESTED LESSONS FOR LEADERS AND ENTREPENUERS FROM HISTORY’S GREATEST RIVALRIES (HarperBusiness, $29.99/$36.99 Can.; Hardcover; ISBN: 9780063019522; on-sale: 4/13/2021), veteran radio host David Brown shares stories and lessons from history’s greatest business rivalries and examines why some companies triumph while others crumble. Using revered Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu’s insights and pragmatic advice, he masterfully frames some of the biggest business rivalries in history. Each rivalry he examines tells a story of combined wits, strategies, and resources. Companies like Ford, McDonald’s, Microsoft, Netflix, and Mattel, and many more, are featured, and Brown chronicles the rise of each company as they vanquish rivals, formulate innovative plans, and adapt to keep up with shifting societal needs. The goal? Stay ahead of the competition and emerge victorious as an industry titan. 

By compiling powerful insights uncovered over hundreds of episodes of the Business Wars podcasts, and more than a year of in-depth research, Brown has developed a formula for business intrigue that uses popular history as a hook to lure readers in. The stories in THE ART OF BUSINESS WARS are fascinating, but the lessons we draw from them—about determination, ingenuity, patience, grit, subtlety, and other traits that contribute to a victorious enterprise—are invaluable, whether you are a software-slinging freelancer or the CEO of a multinational manufacturer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David Brown is the host of the hit Wondery podcasts Business Wars and Business Wars Daily. He is also the co-creator and host of Texas Standard, the Lone Star’s statewide daily news show, and was the former anchor of the Peabody award-winning public radio business program Marketplace. He has been a public radio journalist for more than three decades, winning multiple awards, and is a contributor to All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and other NPR programs. Brown earned his PhD in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He lives with his wife and two children in Austin, Texas.