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Billion or Bust!: Growing a Tech Company in Texas
Billion or Bust! . . . Surprise Bestseller!As president and then CEO of cloud provider Rackspace, Lanham Napier grew the company from $5 million to over $1 billion in revenues and $5 billion in market value while creating thousands of jobs. Under his leadership, especially growing its trademarked, high-quality customer service, Fanatical Support, Rackspace gained thousands of customers and industry dominance. A lifelong Texan, Lanham grew the company in his home state, overseeing the development of phenomenal new headquarters (a converted mall) in San Antonio and leading the company’s IPO. Further, he obsessed over how to increase employee engagement, and he exuberantly succeeded in his goal. But, when Microsoft, Amazon, and Google entered the industry in force, everything changed . . . including Lanham’s relationship with Rackspace executives and the company’s board of directors. Lanham believed he had three options for leading the Rackspace response to the intense competition. But in fact, the board showed him that there was a fourth option (a very difficult one), which he had never even considered.Readers love the authenticity of this book and made it a bestseller for coaching and mentoring and for business management.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2019
9 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Lanham Napier
1 book4 followersLanham Napier is a lifelong Texan. He loves his wife, his kids, his truck, tacos, and hanging out with friends enjoying a Shiner Bock (beer). He also loves reading biographies and business books, working with awesome teams, growing companies. and the amazing possibilities of artificial intelligence. Presently CEO of BuildGroup (permanent capital and pragmatic coaching), he attended Harvard Business School and worked at Merrill Lynch before joining Rackspace as CFO. He became president and then CEO, growing the cloud-services company to nearly $2 billion by 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 21, 2019
It’s been a while since I read a book about someone’s personal success, but Lanham Napier’s “Billion or Bust!” about his years at Rackspace intrigued me. I always enjoyed learning how someone would take a great idea or opportunity and turn it into something monumental. A book like this can be inspiring, and even if it doesn’t turn into astronomical money for me, the I-can-improve-my-life feeling can lead to financial upgrades.
Author Lanham Napier writes in a casual style, outlining the challenges of growing a company in layman’s terms. While we are not receiving the technical aspects, we are treated to the view of one man’s dreams and excitement as those dreams came to fruition. Mr. Napier readily admits his own mistakes and does air some of the behind-the-scenes dirty laundry. Throughout the book, though, he is always respectful to everyone mentioned.
As the book neared the finish, the author unveils a company crisis, reminding me of a well-written novel. “Billion or Bust!” quickly transformed into a page-turner and I wondered how this latest and seemingly insurmountable challenge would be resolved. Some of the author’s most revealing thoughts on business are revealed in the final chapters. “Success isn’t a natural state. The natural state is, I believe, for companies to fail.” To some, that thought might sound extremely negative. To me, it is a warning and something to always remember when one begins to feel complacent. Focusing on the goal, the main thing, should never be forgotten.
As a personal executive memoir, the book is entertaining and even without a deep introspective filled with industry terms, I was able to glean personal insights. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to Viva La Brand for a complimentary copy of this book.
Author Lanham Napier writes in a casual style, outlining the challenges of growing a company in layman’s terms. While we are not receiving the technical aspects, we are treated to the view of one man’s dreams and excitement as those dreams came to fruition. Mr. Napier readily admits his own mistakes and does air some of the behind-the-scenes dirty laundry. Throughout the book, though, he is always respectful to everyone mentioned.
As the book neared the finish, the author unveils a company crisis, reminding me of a well-written novel. “Billion or Bust!” quickly transformed into a page-turner and I wondered how this latest and seemingly insurmountable challenge would be resolved. Some of the author’s most revealing thoughts on business are revealed in the final chapters. “Success isn’t a natural state. The natural state is, I believe, for companies to fail.” To some, that thought might sound extremely negative. To me, it is a warning and something to always remember when one begins to feel complacent. Focusing on the goal, the main thing, should never be forgotten.
As a personal executive memoir, the book is entertaining and even without a deep introspective filled with industry terms, I was able to glean personal insights. Highly recommended. Five stars.
My thanks to Viva La Brand for a complimentary copy of this book.
June 22, 2019
Napier's lifelong passion to create jobs and grow Rackspace ($1 billion+ revenues) is fascinating!
Billion or Bust! was a read unlike what I anticipated. After reading the first few lines, I realized it would be an entertaining narrative memoir as opposed to a purely technical account of a start-up company. Billion or Bust! is a humorous and honest look into Napier's time as the CFO and CEO of Rackspace. We see Napier's organic steps throughout the story, in meeting key people from the outset, and the types of challenges he faces until his last day. While using his talents to do the impossible in Lanham Land, the results are astounding. Billion or Bust! allows us to see the road that took Rackspace to over $1 billion in revenues and where the fork in the road eventually led Napier to step away. I recommend this book for tech executives and for the average non-techie person like me searching for an insightful look into the tech industry through one high-powered executive's eyes.
Billion or Bust! was a read unlike what I anticipated. After reading the first few lines, I realized it would be an entertaining narrative memoir as opposed to a purely technical account of a start-up company. Billion or Bust! is a humorous and honest look into Napier's time as the CFO and CEO of Rackspace. We see Napier's organic steps throughout the story, in meeting key people from the outset, and the types of challenges he faces until his last day. While using his talents to do the impossible in Lanham Land, the results are astounding. Billion or Bust! allows us to see the road that took Rackspace to over $1 billion in revenues and where the fork in the road eventually led Napier to step away. I recommend this book for tech executives and for the average non-techie person like me searching for an insightful look into the tech industry through one high-powered executive's eyes.
June 9, 2019
Lantham Napier's colloquial writing style gives a good feel of the community spirit of Rackspace, Inc. and the customer support heart of the business known as Fanatical Support. This book shows how location, in this case San Antonio, influenced company culture and contributed to its ultimate success. You don't often hear about the early years of the tech scene in Texas and Napier provides an honest window into this world. Reading how his commitment and passion for job creation, high demanding customers, and strong employee engagement led to the accomplishment of his 1 billion revenue goal was refreshing.
June 19, 2022
Starting a tech company in TX
This is a very interesting memoir of a native Texans adventures in the tech industry. He narrates how he started his tech business and how the industry changed once the giants entered en masse. He goes on to detail how he had to change his way of thinking and operating to ensure the survival of his company.
This was very interesting as I love to hear about those who are always swimming against the grain and come out on top. This was very encouraging and inspirational.
This is a very interesting memoir of a native Texans adventures in the tech industry. He narrates how he started his tech business and how the industry changed once the giants entered en masse. He goes on to detail how he had to change his way of thinking and operating to ensure the survival of his company.
This was very interesting as I love to hear about those who are always swimming against the grain and come out on top. This was very encouraging and inspirational.
June 13, 2019
Billion or Bust is a great read ! Lanham writes about the development of his business Rackspace in a conversational style from the failure of the business to its eventual success. Lanham uses a very personal tone to convey his struggle about how the success of a good business takes time and dedication to develop.
September 21, 2019
Lanham Napier's tale of growing a tech company in San Antonio, taking an old mall and turning it in to a state-of-the-art office, and working with a team to provide "fanatical" customer service is a quick, fun read. It's Napier's authenticity and vulnerability that makes it a great read.
October 14, 2019
Relationship and Decisions
Nice read which emphasizes on the balance between relationship at work vs. decision making. Narrative also touches on the Texan way of service and commitment to loyalty and values
Nice read which emphasizes on the balance between relationship at work vs. decision making. Narrative also touches on the Texan way of service and commitment to loyalty and values
May 26, 2019
I liked it, but I wrote it, so that makes sense.
June 16, 2019
Billion or Bust! is a smooth, enjoyable read that gains speed as a rift develops between Napier and the two other most senior executives at Rackspace (Weston and Moorman). Napier looks back at it all with the maturity and self-reckoning of a man who's moved past the turmoil and can appreciate all that was accomplished. The narrative is written in a straightforward, folksy style, making Napier instantly relatable, the kind of guy you'd rather have a beer with than oppose in the marketplace.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews