Category Archives: Company Building

At first glance, the only apparent difference between a small company and a big company is the amount of revenue and market share. If only it were that simple. When companies grow, they must change beyond simply getting bigger. Business Growth is an Evolutionary Process The average $10 million business is far different from the average $100 million business, which is different still from the average $1 billion business. As a business grows and becomes more complex, it will constantly face new...

Much of what we believe about what it takes to scale a successful company and keep it growing is just plain wrong. Despite all the conventional wisdom about the greatness of America’s entrepreneurial culture, the fact is most companies start small and stay that way. Think that’s an overstatement? Consider this: In the United States, only seven tenths of one percent (0.7%) of all companies will ever reach $50 million in annual revenues. And an even smaller number, only one in a...

by Rich Teerlink and Lee Ozley “More Than a Motorcycle” is the story behind the story of the transformation of an American icon, as told by the two individuals most deeply involved in that process. The book chronicles the triumphs and setbacks along Harley-Davidson’s difficult journey from a traditional ‘command-and-control’ culture to an open, participative learning environment. Teerlink and Ozley deliver three fundamental messages: people are a company’s only sustainable competitive advantage; there is no ‘quick fix’ to effect lasting, beneficial organizational

by Howard Schultz and Dori Jones Yang Howard Schultz, chairman and CEO of Starbucks, and writer-researcher Yang trace the growth and development of Starbucks from a single store in Seattle, which in 1973 sold only dark-roasted coffee beans, to the international business success it has become today. Schultz’s initial goals were to introduce Americans to really great coffee, provide people with a “third place” to gather, and treat his employees with dignity. The extent to which he succeeded and the obstacles encountered

by Gordon Bethune In “From Worst to First,” Gordon Bethune tells how he led the transformation of twice-bankrupt Continental Airlines into a award winning company after years as an unprofitable airline hated by employees and customers alike. Under Bethune’s leadership, Continental became one of the most respected and reliable airlines in the industry. According to Bethune, everything you do to create a successful company will depend on your ability to create, develop and maintain good, healthy, honest and straightforward relationships. Bethune argues

by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank “Built from Scratch” is about two businessmen who achieve the American Dream by fundamentally changing home-improvement retailing. Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, cofounders of the Home Depot, explain how they established the first national chain in the industry by concentrating on low prices, customer service, and strong leadership values. Marcus and Blank began Home Depot in Atlanta with little backing and lost $1 million in its first year of operation, but today Home Depot is one

by Michael Dell and Catherine Freedman At nineteen, Michael Dell started his company as a freshman at the University of Texas with $1,000 and has since built an industry powerhouse. As Dell journeys through his childhood adventures, ups and downs, and mistakes made along the way, he reflects on invaluable lessons learned. Michael Dell’s revolutionary insight has allowed him to persevere against all odds, and “Direct from Dell” contains valuable information for any business leader. His strategies will show you effective ways

by Sam Walton In “Made in America,” Sam Walton offers plenty of advice and detail about how he managed to work against the odds and challenges of growing up in the Great Depression to becoming the richest man in America. In a story rich with anecdotes, Sam Walton explains the philosophies and strategies behind Wal-Mart’s rise from nothing to be the largest retailer in the world in one generation. Nobody can deny Sam Walton’s success and everybody can learn from his story.

by Jim Collins and William Lazier In “Beyond Entrepreneurship,” Collins and Lazier aim to help entrepreneurs make the shift from starting a successful business to building a great company by focusing on leadership style, vision, strategy, innovation, and tactical excellence. Collins and Lazier argue that great companies meet four criteria: sustain high performance, play a significant leadership role in shaping their industries, are admired and respected, and remain successful for generations. This is a practical handbook for turning an existing small to

by Rita McGrath and Ian MacMillan “The Entrepreneurial Mindset” is a blueprint for building entrepreneurial organizations. Rita Gunther McGrath and Ian MacMillan have written both a guide to energizing the organization to find tomorrow’s opportunities and a set of entrepreneurial principles, which can be used to transform your market. Using lessons drawn from leading entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial companies, “The Entrepreneurial Mindset” presents a set of practices for capitalizing on uncertainty and rapid change. This book provides simple but powerful ways to stop