Decide and Conquer: 44 Decisions that will Make or Break All Leaders

by David Siegel

Success boils down to one making good decisions. Learn the right framework now that can make all the difference later when faced with terrible options, deep anxiety and fear of failure. Access the decision framework David Siegel used when he took over as CEO of Meetup, the world’s leading platform for making connections and finding your community. Let David’s success during one of the most tumultuous times in his company’s history help guide you on your own path. Decide and Conquer helps all leaders navigate the big decisions that will impact their future and make their organizations a success. David outlines the 44 challenges leaders face when starting a new position, then shows you the decision framework he applied to overcome challenges in his own role. David takes you on an epic journey of corporate and personal survival that includes industry titans like Adam Neumann, Barry Diller, Jack Welch, Bill Ackman, and other leaders. In Decide and Conquer , you will learn By applying the principles he had learned in previous leadership positions, David was able to make the many critical decisions that would mean life or death for Meetup when WeWork decided to sell the company. From deciding to accept the position and negotiating terms to managing a seemingly endless series of crises during the sale and global pandemic, Decide and Conquer walks readers through the key decisions they will face with invaluable advice for each one.

Genres: Leadership, Personal Development, Business, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 8, 2022

Reviews

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a dream of becoming a CEO? I guess this book will help you to understand what it means and will drive you through a wonderful story of a confident and bold CEO. There are so many learning lion and inspiration as well as passion in each page. Regardless where a career will bring you, this book can teach a lot about multiple business aspects.

[Catherine Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

As business books go, this is a standout. The personality of the author shines through and it's an enjoyable read. David Siegel has had an interesting career and writing this book is meant to be a gift to others. Even before I read his "Gratitude" in lieu of Acknowledgements at the end of the book, it was evident that his worldview is grounded in gratitude, generosity, and a genuine desire to positively impact the world. He was a good choice to replace Meetup's founder and first CEO, Scott Heiferman.

The format of the book makes it easy to digest specific points or lessons Siegel wants to be clear about. It doesn't interrupt the flow of his storytelling, which is very engaging. There was a lot of tension and cliffhangers in this book. It kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.

It brought to mind Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces in that it feels like an odyssey by the time we conclude the book. There are hurdles, setbacks, and plot twists in what is astonishingly a short two-year period. And then . . . the pandemic!

This was time well spent. It is a very modern tale with practical lessons on what it takes to lead a global tech business that is still very much dependent on people. It's also a singular story of one man's journey in navigating the sometimes choppy seas of a 21st-century career path.

[Amir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siegel's book on leadership is laden with his own journey as the CEO of MeetUp, which began during its turbulent ownership by WeWork -- the most colossal venture failure of the social media revolution, having raised $22 billion in capital and ultimately going bankrupt. Into this chaotic, hilariously run company, Siegel steps in to run their division meetup.com - a web app that brings humans together. Siegel explores the hard part of making hard decisions, such as downsizing to achieve profitability, keeping the culture humming after a reduction in force, and focusing on the company's core mission while maintaining his integrity. The book also explores his journey to spin the company out, including discussing the opportunity with over 100 potential private equity partners, before ultimately working with an old friend to buy the company.

The book is an quick and enjoyable read, with important tips and structure bold-faced in order to highlight the 44 decisions that will make or break a leader. Good read.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re reading this review, just buy this book - you’ll love it! David tells the story, day by day, of running Meetup during a period of crisis at WeWork, and it’s an exciting adventure to see how he nimbly rescues Meetup during WeWork’s demise. I ended up reading the entire book in one night- it’s that engrossing!

If you enjoy the Gimlet podcast Startup or watching the show Succession, you’re in for both a great story and a number of great insights into how to build a company. David brings pragmatic and tactical advice about how to navigate difficult moments, such as how to build trust with your organization, how to communicate with your staff in a crisis, and how to manage the worst role of a CEO -- layoffs. David brings a rare candor to these moments, and you feel like you are in the room as he navigates these difficult decisions and conversations.

[Ben Wiener · Rating 5 out of 5]

As David writes, “Come for the drama, stay for the decisions.”
Decide and Conquer is a well-designed playbook for leaders of dynamic, growth-oriented companies. His brutally honest and self-critical assessment of many of his key decisions shed thoughtful light on how to navigate both common and uncommon leadership scenarios and quandaries.

[Deb Schell]

This was a fantastic book, I couldn't keep it down! I really enjoyed learning about David's experience!

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best and easiest leadership books I've read lately. Many practical takeaways that can be easily applied.