The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch [Hardcover]

R. Donahue Peebles (Author), J. P. Faber (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470099305 | ISBN-13: 978-0470099308 | Publication Date: April 13, 2007 | Edition: 1

Praise for The Peebles Principles

"Don Peebles is an example of what entrepreneurs are all about. In this engaging and witty book, Peebles shares insights from his own success in the world of high- powered real estate. What makes this book different is Peebles doesn't just focus on the positive, he discusses the failures too--something every entrepreneur can expect in his journey to success. This book should be on every aspiring business- person's bookshelf to be read again and again."
--Robert L. Johnson, Founder, BET and Owner, Charlotte Bobcats

"The Peebles Principles provides a fun read and a bird's-eye view of the ever- changing world of a real estate entrepreneur. It is a good gut check for would-be entrepreneurs to ask if they have what it takes."
--Dr. Peter D. Linnemann, Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania

"Wow! What magnificent inspiration The Peebles Principles is for anyone seeking to be involved in business. The ground rules found in each chapter are absolute gems, and those alone make the book worth buying."
--Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc.

"This book is a brilliant example of entrepreneurship, creativity, and principles. Peebles walks you through many of his successful deals, from their inception to their completion. Once you start the book you won't be able to put it down until you've finished the last page."
--Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Founder and Chairman, Sunglass Hut International Inc.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For those who dream of becoming power brokers-sophisticated but not flamboyant, confident but not egotistical, a master dealmaker never defeated by setbacks, and all without losing your integrity-you'll want to invest in this delicious account of wheeling, dealing and (other people's) stealing. Reading like a novel-with subplots galore-this title from the CEO of the largest African-American-owned real estate development firm in the country illustrates Peeble's ten principles for achievement while recounting his rise to power. It's hard not to like Peebles, an affable guide whose grandfather was a Washington D.C. doorman for 41 years, and whose grandson now owns a Marriott in the same city. Through the series of mind-boggling moves that put him on top, Peebles shows how his early success "was based on my ability to control some essential aspect of the deal....in the classic terms of supply and demand, you've got to control one or the other." Peebles is unafraid to draw back the curtain, using failures as well as triumphs to formulate his principles, among them "Be the last man standing" and "If the key is not working, be prepared to change the lock." A master at positioning his development bids as the most logical choice-which he does again and again-Peebles shows how "a fair shot at winning" is the only advantage one needs to succeed.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

At the tender age of nineteen, Donahue Peebles entered the business jungle with no resources beyond his native smarts, a decent education, and a powerful drive to succeed. Seven years later he became a multimillionaire. Today, with a net worth of more than a quarter-billion dollars, he commands a real estate empire stretching from the boulevards of Washington, D.C., to the sparkling beaches of Miami Beach to the glitzy strips of Las Vegas. How did this determined young entrepreneur achieve such spectacular success so quickly? Can others learn his secrets and emulate his accomplishments? Can you?

Part The Art of the Deal and part Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun, The Peebles Principles distills the lessons Mr. Peebles has learned on his journey from congressional page to CEO of the largest Black-owned real estate development firm in the nation. These crisp, straightforward principles can help any motivated entrepreneur go from dirt poor to filthy rich in a hurry.

In entertaining first-person accounts of his most important deals, Mr. Peebles reveals how each transaction required him to find new resources within himself to ensure its success. ?Through this process, he discovered valuable principles that would aid him in all of his future endeavors. Some lessons are motivational and inspirational; many are hardball business how-to's that apply in any industry and any type of transaction.

Key Peebles Principles include:

• Make your money going into the deal

• Control of the deal is more important than cash

• Being lucky means being ready

• If the key doesn't fit, change the lock

• Be a bulldog on details

• Listen to your first instinct

• Respond quickly to attacks

• Find out what the other side really wants and give it to them

• Turn vinegar into wine; setbacks are opportunities in disguise

• Seeing value is everything

• Be the last man standing

Colorful and detailed behind-the-scenes accounts of each transaction provide a real-world business context for each principle and show you how to apply them in practice.

Complete with a unique discussion of the importance of politics in business and how to make it work in your favor, The Peebles Principles is the indispensable resource for anyone eager to turn dreams of business success into reality very, very fast.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 13, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470099305
• ISBN-13: 978-0470099308
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensible Entrepreneurs' Guidebook, April 15, 2007

By 

Manager from New Jersey (Summit, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch (Hardcover)

Peebles is not afraid to share the details of his success-- and failure- in this book that shares his own name. Peebles started his business in Washigton DC as a property assesor-- which started out as a family business. A driven man he quickly reviewed the business landscape and realized what kinds of networks and contacts he needed to build a business. Peebles grew this business into a investment and property development business until today-- where he owns office buildings, hotels and apartment buildings throughout the US. What is great about this book--in comparison to other entrepeneur stories, is that Peebles takes you inside the deals that made his business and shares the tennants of success. These principles, as he calls them, are applicable to anyone who wants to get started in their own business.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should Be Required Reading!, September 23, 2007

By 

LATONJA D. MUHAMMAD (Detroit, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch (Hardcover)

I can't stop talking about this book! I first heard Mr. Peebles on the Steve Harvey morning show. I was impressed. Then, I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at a Michigan Minority Business Development Council/General Motors event. I was even more impressed. I took home my autographed copy of his book that day and began reading it. I was addicted! I could not put it down! Every spare moment I had, I was in this book! He literally becomes your mentor. This book is a practical application manual. He shares what went wrong and what went right, he names names and pulls no punches! Mr. Peebles has put to shame many other authors, claiming to want to teach us how to become rich in real estate or other industries, for holding out on us!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, Honest, Practical Advice, May 19, 2007

By 

Jordan Paul (West Palm Beach Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur's Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch (Hardcover)

This is a great book that provides real insight into what it takes to complete complex real estate transactions. Unlike many other business autobiographies, Peebles shares both his successes and failures. This honesty separates the book from others in its genre and makes it an invaluable read for anyone looking to succeed in the real estate field or any other transaction oriented business.

This book is an enjoyable read with lots of outstanding war stories and practical advice that will serve as a valuable tool for both the novice real estate investor and the experienced deal maker. In fact, the more experience one has the more the book will resonate. As the owner of a real estate investment firm I plan to buy several copies and make it required reading for my team.