Ro's Recz

I enjoy learning more about successful companies, and this particular book talks about Uber. I think reading the stories of the biggest companies proves that even they have HUGE issues.

This book details the history of Uber, and how everything in the company starts from the top-down. Ultimately, the win at all costs culture at Uber all started from Travis Kalanick (the founder). This is what made the company so successful and built it into the $25 billion dollar company it is today. Uber was willing to take enormous risks and engage in questionable behavior to compete with the taxi industry, as well as competitors such as Lyft.

As you will read in the book though, Uber’s culture is what caused its downfall in 2018, and is also why Kalanick is no longer the CEO. I find it really interesting that what makes a company so successful originally can also be its Achilles Heel once it reaches a certain stage. Ultimately, Kalanick is a brilliant guy, as well as an incredibly passionate leader/motivator; still, he had no one at the company who could check his influence, and the power ultimately corrupted him.

There are some incredibly crude, almost unbelievable stories in the book, and it may make you want to switch to using a company such as Lyft instead. Still, I think it is good to understand how these iconic companies really operate. This way, we can begin to differentiate the service itself from the people who work at the company.

Finally, it is worth noting that the new CEO of Uber, Dara Khrosrowshahi, is a no nonsense, strictly business type of leader. He has been the CEO of Uber for a couple of years now, and it seems like Uber is finally beginning to fix itself under his leadership.

Super Pumped Recommendation Rating: 3.5

1: Something worth checking out if you have time

2: Something that is a hit for some people, but not a must for everyone

3: Something worth prioritizing if interested

4: Something worth making time to check out

5: An absolute home run, worth going out of your way for