Another Way

Building Companies That Last…and Last…and Last

By: Dave Whorton, Bo Burlingham - contributor

Narrated by: Mitch Crawford

Dave Whorton was John Doerr's associate partner at high-flying Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers during Silicon Valley's big shift. After Netscape's IPO, he witnessed the VC industry pivot from a proven forty-year playbook of managing risk to something much more aggressive: Get big fast. Don't worry about profitability. Cash out and find another venture.

And for a while, Whorton took part in this whirlwind as he pursued his dream of becoming the next Hewlett or Packard. It wasn't long, though, before it all got to be too much. Whorton recognized that if "get big fast" was the formula for building a great technology company in the twenty-first century, he was happy to let someone else do it. It just wasn't for him.

Whorton went on a journey to find a better way to build companies: a way focused on long-term stability and steady growth, funded through profitability; a way in which leaders were committed to a Purpose greater than personal wealth generation, to being People First, and making their companies endure. He calls these companies "Evergreen."

Whorton's story, combined with his Evergreen 7Ps® framework, offers practical steps to create and lead enduring businesses.

©2025 Dave Whorton (P)2025 Ascent Audio

Fantastic book! -Excellent contemporary history and highly valuable perspective of modern finance and business models

This is a really compelling book for anyone interested in understanding how modern American capital markets got to where they are today, and the roles played by VC, PE and tech firms.
Dave gives us a front row seat to his on-stage perspective, taking us on a very personal and fascinating tour of the 1980’s to today, as only someone who’s lived through the modern tech /finance boom could do.
In some ways, his finding of ‘evergreen’ companies and their sustaining principles should not be surprising – and yet, somehow we have come to a point where these sound concepts may seem alien to many.
Kudos to Dave and the stalwart companies who are going somewhat against the grain with their commitment to building businesses (with relationships, products and services, customers and employees) that work for the benefit of all, and over the long run.
Long may they thrive!

Inspiring!

Great book! Really inspiring. If you are a fan of Great Game of Business or Small Giants you will love this.

Counter intuitive business strategy, told well

I enjoyed the narrative quality of this book. I’ve looked into this sort of stuff a lot, and have founded both bootstrapped and venture-backed companies. His lessons resonate and I’m going to find ways to apply them to my businesses going forward.