Throughout his storied career, Aswath Damodaran has searched for the universal key to demystifying corporate finance and valuation. Now, at last, he offers the groundbreaking answer to readers everywhere. It turns out there is a corporate lifecycle very much like our own, with unique stages of growth and decline. And just as we must learn to act our age, so too must companies. By better understanding how corporations age and the characteristics of each stage of their lifecycle, we can unlock the secrets behind any businesses? behavior and optimize our management and investment decisions accordingly. As the corporate lifecycle touches virtually every aspect of business, this book is for anyone with skin in the corporate finance game?from managers to investors, from novices to seasoned pros.