Saurabh Mukherjea's The Unusual Billionaires looks at Indian companies that have built lasting value, including Marico, Page Industries, Axis Bank, and HDFC Bank. Below are the main ideas, each with a practical takeaway. What counts as a great company? The book says there's no standard definition. A great company attracts top talent, earns respect in the business world, and usually trades at a premium. Share price is one measure, but Mukherjea sets two concrete tests: Non-financial companies: 10% revenue growth and 15% ROCE (return on capital employed) every year. Financial companies: 15% loan book growth and 15% ROE every year. Takeaway: Set success metrics that fit your industry, and check yourself against them regularly. Persistence and the IBAS framework The book opens its argument with a line from Robert Half: persistence makes the impossible possible, the possible likely, and the likely definite. It then uses John Kay's IBAS framework: innovation, brands and reputatio...