The book club provides a casual and fun atmosphere to promote the discussion and debate of current titles in business literature. The plan is to select topics across a wide variety of business professions including, but not limited to, finance, management, strategy, marketing and economics. For the May event, we have selected, "Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose" by Tony Hsieh. A brief description of this book is provided below. A vote will be held at the end of the meeting to select next month's title.
Driving Directions:
Located in SOMA. Three blocks from the Embarcadero BART stop. Plenty of street parking available.
Drinks (6:00 PM to 7:00 PM)
Prospect
300 Spear Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Book Club Meeting (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM)
The Infinity—Club Room
333 Main Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Event Details
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
By Tony Hsieh
Zappos CEO Hsieh offers a compelling account of his transformation from callow Harvard student entrepreneur through his years as a dot-com wunderkind to the creator of a formidable brand. Interest might flag as Hsieh, fresh off selling his Internet company LinkExchange to Yahoo in 1999 for $265 million, kvetches about lacking fulfillment. But as the tech boom bursts, and Hsieh confronts his dwindling investments, his story comes alive. As the funding for his incubator companies dries up and one of his most promising startups, Zappos.com, a shoe retailer, seems doomed, Hsieh blossoms into a mature businessperson, slashing expenses and presciently making customer service the essence of the company's brand. The story becomes suspenseful as Hsieh recounts the stress of operating in survival mode, liquidating his assets to fund the company in its darkest days and seeking out an 11th-hour loan. By the time Zappos is acquired by Amazon for more than $1.2 billion in 2009, Hsieh and his team had built a unique corporate culture dedicated to employee empowerment and the promise of delivering happiness though satisfied customers
and a valued workforce. An uplifting tale of entrepreneurial success, personal growth, and redemption. (From Publishers Weekly.)
Drinks (6:00 PM to 7:00 PM)—Pay for your own drinks
Book Club Meeting (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM)—Free admission
Program
6:00 PM-7:00 PM: Drinks at Prospect (Bar area of restaurant)
7:00 PM-9:00 PM: Book Club Meeting at the Infinity Club Room
Questions
Elena Petrov
646-872-9313