Big Bets: Decisions & Leaders That Shaped Southern Company

by Dub Taft, Sam Heys

Big bets are pivotal decisions leaders make when the stakes are high decisions that forge a successful path or retrieve a lost cause at a critical crossroads. Big bets can determine a company's destiny or reshape its future. A century ago, James Mitchell engineer, builder, entrepreneur, and man of the world traveled to the impoverished American South and made the first big bet for Southern Company. Mitchell was so inspired by the hydro potential of Alabama s rivers that he dreamed of developing a series of dams to electrify the Southeast. To bring his dream to life, he sketched out a regional power network, raised money from British investors, and created the first of the three forerunner holding companies that would play prominent roles in Southern Company's history. In the century since, Southern Company and its predecessor companies have faced every conceivable impediment to progress natural and manmade disasters, a hostile takeover, federal invasions, financial ruin, and numerous threats and attempts to pull its business apart and scramble the pieces. Rather than being destroyed by these challenges, Southern Company grew strong, more resilient, and more committed to its mission. That Southern Company has not only survived for a century but also empowered the South to thrive is a reflection of the leaders who emerged to shepherd the company safely into tomorrow. Some had to deal with adversity at every turn. Some had to envision a different future to seize new opportunities. All had to make critical decisions when the moment mattered most. This is their story, the story of the dreams they pursued, the troubles they encountered, and the big bets they made.

Genres: History

534 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Chet Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical account of Southern Company....the power company that encompasses Georgia Power....the company that personally supplies our power in Georgia. Part of the reason for reading this is I know personally Sam Heys, one of the authors, whom I have the pleasure of knowing and working with. From a historical perspective this book is very interesting showing how numerous hurricanes affected the company as well as how the disaster of Three Mile Island affected the licensing of nuclear power plants under Southern Company.

[Morgan Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a little biased because I work for Southern Company but I think that this book, published for the occasion of the company's 100th anniversary, was written very well and is an engaging read.