Tough Calls from the Corner Office

About the Author

Harlan Steinbaum, a seasoned and accomplished business leader, has had a prolific career in the retail drug industry. He served as the chairman and CEO of Medicare-Glaser, one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the United States, and was also the chairman of Express Scripts, Inc., a leading pharmacy benefit management company that evolved into a multibillion-dollar public corporation. Steinbaum’s vast experience and insightful perspective have culminated in his compelling work, Tough Calls from the Corner Office.

Main Idea

In Tough Calls from the Corner Office, Harlan Steinbaum explores the pivotal decisions that have defined the careers of some of the most successful business leaders. By sharing these stories, Steinbaum provides a blueprint for aspiring leaders, offering invaluable lessons on decision-making, risk-taking, and leadership. The book highlights that defining moments are not always about the most profitable decisions but those that shape one's career and personal growth.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Impact of Defining Moments
3. The Road Taken: Making Key Career Choices
4. Leaving the Mother Ship: Taking the Entrepreneurial Leap
5. Love and Marriage: Finding or Shedding Business Partners
6. Betting the Farm: Risking Success for More Success
7. Hearts and Minds: Creating a New Corporate Culture
8. The Mother of Invention: Transforming the Company’s Business Model
9. Sea Change: Repositioning, Refocusing and Renewing a Business
10. When to Fold ‘Em: Knowing When It’s Time to Step Aside
11. Paths to Service: Defining Moments That Transcend Business
12. Conclusion

The Impact of Defining Moments

Defining moments are pivotal decisions or actions that significantly impact one's career. As Steinbaum explains, "A defining moment isn’t always the decision that makes the most money... It’s a moment that shapes us as individuals and as businesspeople and sets the trajectory for the events that follow." These moments often involve significant risks and require a deep level of self-awareness and courage.

Throughout the book, Steinbaum provides numerous examples of such defining moments, illustrating how they can alter the course of a career and a company. For instance, his own decision to buy back his family business marked a turning point that defined his future in business. This personal narrative sets the tone for the rest of the book, emphasizing the profound impact of tough decisions.

"Many of us won’t know our defining moment until we reflect on our careers after the passage of time to see how certain events, decisions and judgments played out - when we can measure their effect on us and our work." - Harlan Steinbaum

The Road Taken: Making Key Career Choices

Career-defining decisions often occur during periods of transition. For instance, Danny Meyer, head of the Union Square Hospitality Group, faced a tough choice early in his career: should he stay in a stable job in sales or follow his passion for the restaurant business? Meyer’s decision to follow his heart led him to become one of the most successful restaurateurs in the world.