I’ve always appreciated the Jewish proverb which states that good is the enemy of great. This has been applied many ways over the years, but it’s especially useful in reminding us of the negative consequences that can come from merely settling for for “good” when we are capable of so much more, whether we’re talking […]
One of the saddest things you’ll ever see is a leader who doesn’t lead. They want the title, they want the position, they want the power, they want whatever it is they want, but they don’t want to serve. They don’t want to make tough decisions, they don’t want to take responsibility, they don’t really […]
Jack Welch gave me some of the best business/career/strategy advice I’ve ever received. Now, to be fair, he didn’t do it in one of our intimate conversations. Mr. Welch and I have never had any intimate conversations. Or any other manner of conversation. In fact, we’ve never even met. But I do consider him to […]
I know for years now you’ve heard me say plenty of times, “Don’t cut the price, build the brand.” And I’ve given you plenty of reasons to think that way, and several of you have offered some even better reasons in your e-mails and posted comments as to why you refuse to compete on price, […]
One of my favorite parts of the original Men in Black movie is where agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) of the Men in Black agency is giving new agent J (Wil Smith) a tour of the facility. J asks the question, “So…what branch of the government do we report to, anyway?” To which K replies, […]
Looks like CVS is taking a bold step to ensure that its actions are congruent with its mission. If you haven’t heard this story yet, you can find it by clicking on the picture below. Every book you ever read about strategy says that the mission and core values of the organization should drive every […]
One of my favorite quotes is from statistician George E.P. Box: “All models are wrong; Some models are useful.” Indeed, no model is perfect or inclusive on any subject, and I think you should look at as many as you can on any important topic, then determine your own uses for what you find and […]
Procter & Gamble is considered a “best of breed” company. Their stock is considered a must-own by the vast majority of stock analysts, and their legacy has spanned two centuries. One reason for their ongoing success is the power of their brands. One reason they have such powerful brands is because they stay so close […]
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