February 28, 2008
“ Wanna-be entrepreneurs focus way too much on trying to find the very best idea before launching. Real entrepreneurs grab an idea and start moving—and adapt their vision of the business as they go.
Inc.
February 27, 2008
“

The best leaders are not the “follow me over the hill” type. Rather, they’re the people who lead from the heart as well as the head, and whose leadership style springs from their fundamental character and values. Key concepts include:

- Leadership style can be broken down into takers and givers. Takers are often charismatic personalities who end up making decisions to enrich their own coffers and careers. Givers, on the other hand, create value and empower employees to become leaders.
- The life of a leader can be lonely. Seek continuing help from mentors and truthful advisers.
- Authentic leadership can be taught through a series of steps that lead to self-awareness.
Leadership, by Bill George
More on Harvard Working Knowledge
“ Ask yourself these questions:
• What unmet outside customer needs can and should my business meet and what results should I expect?
• What business innovations will meet these needs and/or create new needs and what must I let go of so that I can properly invest resources for tomorrow?
• What are the core capabilities that my organization brings to our value proposition and how do we design our front room to provide those capabiities, e.g., the right people, the right organization, the right tools and support?
• How do I best leverage other’s front rooms for those non-critical activites that are part of my value-chain? How can I best collaborate with and integrate the inside to deliver true value to customers?
• How do I make sure that I am making decisions only about the few things that really require me to be the decision-maker, all other necessary decisions are properly delegated, and all decision-making is disciplined and becomes action, not just policy?
Drucker’s Guide to the 21st Century
Read more in this very inspirational document: ChangeThis :: The Silent Revolution: Peter Drucker’s Voice Still Resonates
“ Economists call this “nominal price rigidity.” My salary is not tweaked each month to reflect the latest inflation figures, and neither is yours. Restaurants do not reprint their menus, nor wholesale firms their catalogs, if the cost of their inputs changes by a penny.
From Slate.com: WHY IT’S SO HARD FOR COMPANIES TO RAISE PRICES.
February 25, 2008
The interdependent components of strategy
"The Disney Way" oh, how I hate thee, as a book, so far
February 24, 2008
5 links—retail-saturation, RFID's costs, elements of fun, tricking shoppers, & home-cinemas
February 23, 2008
Books as research-material for a blog? A discussion.
Why luxury is not the answer to cinemas' problems
February 21, 2008
Some final notes about IKEA's business
February 19, 2008
IKEA's global expansion part II - time-line & notes
February 18, 2008
Last book: Ikea's 11 secrets… next book: The Disney Way
February 17, 2008
5 links - cool vs. tech, touch-screens, women, pizza, & bookstores
February 16, 2008
Hot or Not commercials - Axe's "Chocolate Man" vs. Eristoff Black
February 15, 2008
Franchising - faux or real entrepreneurship?