“There’s magic in the water that draws all men away from the land, that leads them over hills, down creeks and streams and rivers to the sea.” —Herman Melville What happens if you start viewing success not as a battlefield but as a vast, unexplored ocean? Â That’s the core idea behind Blue Ocean Strategy, a … Read more
On February 14th, 2021, writer and law professor Michael Perino wrote a Twitter thread about Bonne Maman, the French brand of jam and other sweet treats owned by Andros. The initial narrative captured hearts with its simplicity: an elderly woman expressing her gratitude to a corporation for sheltering her family during the Holocaust. This act … Read more
It started in 2012 with a blunt piece of advice from investor Peter Thiel, who, after dropping a cool $150 million on Airbnb, looked CEO Brian Chesky dead in the eye and said: “Don’t f* up the culture.” Chesky, a little surprised by the colorful language, dug deeper. Thiel explained he loved Airbnb’s culture, but … Read more
As an entrepreneur or business leader, your primary goal is to create an organization that not only survives but thrives at the highest level of excellence. However, many companies plateau at mediocre performance, unable to reach exceptional status. According to organizational psychologist Adam Grant, one key differentiator is identifying and cultivating “giver” employees – those … Read more
Have you ever sat through a meeting that felt frustratingly circular? People rehash the same points, get lost arguing emotions instead of facts, or fail to generate any fresh ideas.  Meanwhile, the clock ticks and you leave without making a decision. Edward de Bono felt your pain. That’s why the lateral thinking legend invented the … Read more
In the early 2000s, Apple and Apple Corps, the company founded by The Beatles, engaged in a lengthy legal dispute over trademark rights related to Apple Computers and Apple Records. The conflict originated in 1981 when Apple Computers was a young startup. As they began achieving commercial success, The Beatles’ company Apple Corps filed a … Read more
The rise of e-commerce in the late 1990s and early 2000s ushered in a major shift in consumer shopping habits and revolutionized retail. As more people began shopping online, brick-and-mortar chains struggled to keep pace with the demand for internet retail. Many were unable to effectively adapt their business models for the digital age. Walmart … Read more
Running a business is like learning a new language – call it “Corporatelese.” Navigating the world of business has its own dense lexicon that must be decoded to foster effective communication between entrepreneurs, managers, and stakeholders. Though corporate jargon often perplexes the uninitiated, taking the time to unpack these concepts is essential for any aspiring … Read more
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and the Genius of Reverse Engineering When Boeing set out to design the 787 Dreamliner in the early 2000s, they wanted to create an airplane that would provide exceptional passenger comfort and long-range capability at greater fuel efficiency than any previous wide-body aircraft. Essentially, they asked – what would the ideal next-generation … Read more
When Indra Nooyi returned to her native India in 2007, newly appointed as PepsiCo’s CEO, she noticed something deeply moving. At every turn, people congratulated not Indra herself but her mother, recognizing her role in nurturing Indra’s journey to success. This awakened something in Indra. She realized that behind every leader, there are often unseen … Read more