10. Consolidate for Cool
In 1997, I was at Dell headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, leading a seminar with Michael Dell, Kevin Rollins and other Dell managers, when rival Compaq announced its intention to acquire Tandem for $3 billion. The following year Compaq's $9.6-billion acquisition of Digital Equipment Corporation made it the world's second-largest computer company. One industry analyst at the time congratulated Compaq for moving up to the major leagues and not "screwing around with the Dells and Gateways" of the world anymore. Although analysts and observers were predicting catastrophe for Dell, I can tell you the reaction at Dell headquarters to both of Compaq's acquisitions: They cheered the news!
The Dell people expected Compaq to be ...
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