Company Rules: Or Everything I Know About Business I Learned from the CIA

Written by Mike Baker

Narrated by Mike Baker

How do the principles of global espionage apply to building and growing a business? In Company Rules, Or Everything I Know About Business I Learned From the CIA, Mike Baker shares the nine make-or-break tactics that he mastered during his tenure with the Central Intelligence Agency and details how he used them to succeed in the private sector. These exclusive rules, once only accessible to the intelligence community, are laid out step-by-step and can be put into practice on your own terms.

Leaving behind a life of international intrigue, Baker took on a new venture when he met a “pipe-smoking British fraud investigator” by the name of Mike Comer who was launching an ambitious startup, Maxima, in London’s West End. While Baker didn’t know the first thing about fraud investigation at the time, he realized that he could use what he learned in his CIA training to help bring the startup to prominence. While at Maxima, Baker recognized that success in business is dependent upon information-gathering, and as he notes, “Whoever has the best intelligence…wins.” From the Company Rules like Know Your Risk Appetite and Immediately Admit Your Mistakes, to Define Your Mission and Identify and Resolve Threats, Baker demonstrates that the business world isn't as unlike the spy world as one might think.

Baker lays out the nine Company Rules clearly and precisely, intermixing them with accounts of riveting adventures from his time in the private sector. The tactical rules can be applied to any start-up, growing, or established business. Company Rules, Or Everything I Know About Business I Learned from the CIA is full of valuable insight for entrepreneurs and managers alike who are seeking a structured method to build a foundation for success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Originals
• Release date: Jan 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094456539

Mike Baker

During a career spanning nearly two decades as an operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mike Baker specialized in counterterrorism, counternarcotics, and counterinsurgency operations. He engaged in, organized, and supervised operations around the globe, working in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Europe, the former Soviet Union, and elsewhere. He was recognized professionally for outstanding performance and for operational achievements in hostile environments. After leaving government service, Baker cofounded Diligence LLC, a global intelligence, investigations, risk management, and security firm that grew during the following decade and a half into one of the acknowledged industry leaders. As a principal partner, he led the company as it expanded around the world, opening offices in London, New York, Washington, DC, Moscow, São Paulo, Brussels, and Geneva. Along with other senior partners, Baker established the company’s security operations in Iraq, building a team of over 300 expat and local personnel involved in security and information collection. Following a successful management buyout in late 2020 of the Diligence USA LLC business, Baker merged the company’s operations into the crisis communications and policy firm Portman Square Group (PSG.) While the name has changed, the company boasts the same outstanding staff and commitment to providing the best in investigative support, due diligence, strategic intelligence collection, and risk mitigation services. PSG maintains offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Chicago, Boise, Phoenix, Monterrey, Mexico, and London. PSG provides support to a wide range of Fortune 50 companies, financial institutions, leading law firms, and high-net-wealth individuals around the globe. Baker’s investors and advisers over the years have included William H. Webster, the former director of both the CIA and the FBI; Haley Barbour, the former governor of Mississippi and former head of the Republican National Committee; and Edward Mathias, senior adviser to the Carlyle Group. Baker is a regular contributor to the national and international media on intelligence, security, counterterrorist issues, geopolitical affairs, and cybersecurity, appearing regularly on networks including CNN, Fox News, Sky, and the BBC, as well as appearing frequently on Joe Rogan’s podcast. In addition, Baker is the host of the Discovery’s popular television series Black Files Declassified, now entering its third season.

Reviews for Company Rules

[reese · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was very good but some parts were repetitive or didn’t need as much explanation

[Dane Rossenrode · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mike gives great advice for most businesses. I would recommend it.

[mgreene · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is book is both wonderful and extremely helpful. Highly recommended.

[Nana Yaw · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Crap; a book of your own achievements as a spy in both the "public" and "private" sectors?

[Anthony D. Frisolone · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mike Baker lays out simple and easy-to-understand business principles using his own experiences. Very easy to use and inspiring for those of us in government service and looking to make the leap to the private sector.

[Red Moon Essentials · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great read. Took lots of notes. Definitely more confident in building my business.

[Karan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Some good business relationships advices and keep it short and simple to understand

[Louise · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Short, sweet, to the point. Packed full of information. Highly recommend it

[Anthony Amodu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple and direct to point no unnecessary theatrics by the author

[Kenny David · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Concise and well explained. Great book to read for everyone.

[Richard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love it very well my self thanks for all

[Wilma Branstetter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I heard about this book via a radio interview on the Michael Berry Show (KTRH, Houston) and appreciate the author narration.

[genius limitless · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

very captivating and knowledgeable respect goes out to the writer that took the time to write this well appreciated. blessings

[Anthony Yap · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a nice book /audiobook, very useful lessons in business and life

[vince · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great sense of humor, wish i’d heard the not for public consumption of some of the stories! Goat Roap!

[Josh Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Neat, compact, direct, but full of immediately actionable suggestions to improve your effectiveness no matter what type of business you are in. No nonsense and a very fulfilling listen. Looking forward to more work from this author, hopefully, in the future.

[Phil Ellis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very practical and fun to listen to! The stories are engaging and knowing that the author has real world experience made an extremely credible. Not a lot of fluff! Mike’s narration was excellent as well.

[lamyra · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was an interesting tell with some great rules to be apart of! Ha! If more followed this CIA strategy. Insightful in branching out to try something new (self employment) or pursuing new. My favorite line, that I love jotted down so far is “ I wanted to see if I had the ability to succeed outside of ______. For him it was the CIA assignment- walking away with no retirement, security, etc.

Definitely will review again for the things I missed. Grateful for the scrib’d suggestion! Thank you

[Chamberlain Chitagu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Insightful book rules useful for entrepreneurs to use transferable skills

[Jordan Trent · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome book! Definitely worth it and the lessons offer a lot to chew on.

[R J · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent business advice, a fresh perspective and some truly incredible story telling!

[mark wurster · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mike's book was informative; supplying useful, timely information, delivered in bites that are suitable for driving to work, and on your PC at work. I look forward to his next project.

[Bizwiz81 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. Enjoyed it. I already practice many of his tactics but it is refreshing hearing how to instruct how to do them and their importance.
Plan on re-reading it and taking notes to create action plans for my team.
Already shared it with my CEO.

[Toni Golden · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this interesting and intriguing book with practical business application!

[Andrea Jordan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great points linking his experience to effective business operations strategies. I can concur with many of his recommendation’s because I’ve used them in my leadership journey, and it’s worked. So, I am happy to hear a person of his background has done similar things and found success. I almost learned some great points I would like to implement. I’ll be listening to the book a few times and used it as a reference guide.

[David Wood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interesting and some real nuggets of wisdom. No fluff. Many authors would have padded it. I wish more would get to the point like Baker has here.

[farid kosaryan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mike clearly explained the intelligence required for the success of a company.

[Bill Schulz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simple, CIA-sexy guidelines that just about every entrepreneur overlooks when starting a business. Absolutely loved Baker’s invaluable, often surprisingly funny, advice.

[rob brumfield · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Engaging and light, fun listen that did well to reinforce core business principles and emphasis the importance of others.

I think personally my favorite takeaway is the term “setting the table” when describing the state of preparation for any meeting. Definitely something I’ll incorporate into my lingo and mentality going forward.

Excellent listen for someone looking to goal set for 2023; you’ll find something in here to focus and inspire you!

[Shehroze Malik · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Phenomenal book! I’m looping this audiobook until it is memorized!