The Breakthrough Company: How Everyday Companies Become Extraordinary Performers
304
The Breakthrough Company: How Everyday Companies Become Extraordinary Performers
304Paperback
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Overview
The vast majority of small businesses stay small–and not by choice. Only the most savvy and persistent–a tiny one tenth of one percent–break through to the very highest ranks. In The Breakthrough Company, technology CEO and Fortune 500 consultant Keith McFarland draws upon an extensive empirical study to reveal exactly how everyday companies become extraordinary, showing that breakthrough success is associated with a clearly identifiable set of strategies and skills that anyone in any business can emulate–from small startup to industry leader.
With powerful and specific action steps concluding each chapter–and invaluable advice on virtually every page from business leaders who’ve taken their companies to extraordinary levels of growth and profitability–The Breakthrough Company is stuffed with real-world tools and myth-busting insights that can be used by anyone wanting his or her business to join this exclusive circle.
“Think Good to Great for those still small enough to think big.”
—Bob Eckert, chairman and CEO, Mattel, Inc.
“If you’re looking for a breakthrough, break open this book.”
—Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
Featuring a bonus excerpt from Keith McFarland’s new book, Bounce
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780307352194 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Crown Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 09/01/2009 |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Sales rank: | 226,478 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.20(w) x 7.96(h) x 0.71(d) |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Throwing the Dyno 9
Crowning the Company 27
Upping the Ante 55
Building Company Character 93
Navigating the Business Bermuda Triangle 121
Erecting Scaffolding 145
Enlisting Insultants 167
Graduating from Tough Times U 187
Building Breakthrough Capabilities 201
Afterword: Post-Breakthrough-Avoiding Breakdown 225
Research Note A 229
Research Note B 235
Research Note C 247
Endnotes 249
Index 262
What People are Saying About This
"Keith McFarland is about to be added to the list of the top business thinkers—Tom Peters, Jim Collins, Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey. If you buy only one business book in 2008, this one should be it."
—Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
"Greatly needed! Features marvelous analysis of the principles that enable entrepreneurial enterprises to survive and thrive. It will inspire those in charge to become true leaders by rejecting 'small' goals rooted in ego and embracing visionary values that impart moral authority up and down the organizational ladder. I urge you to read this book: it's impressively researched, beautifully illustrated, and clearly written."
—Stephen R. Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
“McFarland successfully tackles the ever-present question for ambitious entrepreneurs: just how do you go from small to big–and prosper? This book has the makings of a classic.”
—Steve Forbes, President & CEO, Editor-in-Chief, Forbes
“THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is a book that refreshingly and persuasively backs up — with a wealth of hard evidence — its contrarian claims regarding how to elevate a growing business to undreamt of levels…Think GOOD TO GREAT for those still small enough to think big.”
—Bob Eckert, Chairman & CEO, Mattel, Inc
"Disdainful of too-easily-accepted 'common wisdom,' zealous at getting to the real facts of what makes some companies stall out and others thrive, Keith McFarland's THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY offers a goldmine of insight to anyone who's ever dreamed that the business they lead can become a 'player.'"
—The Honorable Jack Kemp, Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Former Vice-Presidential Candidate, Former US Congressman.
"A seriously great book…Drawing from an unusually detailed and careful study of both excellent and average performers, McFarland offers a set of powerful insights into building a breakthrough organization. Managers and employees alike will find his conclusions at once provocative and useful, since they focus on the ways that ordinary people combine to do extraordinary things.”
—William Barnett, Thomas M. Siebel Professor in Business, Leadership, Strategy & Organizations, Graduate Business School, Stanford University
“The Breakthrough Company rocks! Start this book and you’ll find yourself looking forward to evenings, weekends and plane flights so you can read more! More than even the iconic books in this category, this look at the key issues for growing companies provides a deep dive in terms of substance and real-world examples. The margins of my own copy are quite literally covered with notes on ideas inspired by what McFarland has to say.”
—Brad Duea, President, Napster
“This book is unique. Every paragraph has tucked within it one jewel of insight—- and sometimes more. Fair warning to anyone who immerses himself in this analysis: you’ll find yourself underlining every page!”
—Bob Galvin, formerly, CEO Motorola
“THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is in-your-gut persuasive. The best books, like this one, change your mind about something important–and with each rereading prove freshly inspirational. McFarland's insightful drill-down doesn't just answer the questions that keep growth-company leaders up at night, it’s an invaluable compass pointing the way to best-in-class performance."
—Bob Geiman, Partner, Polaris Venture Partners
“In THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY Keith McFarland gives us the clever metaphor of the Business Bermuda Triangle. The book provides insightful observations and advice that will help guide a business leader through pivotal times of a company’s growth. McFarland’s focus on the realities of managing costs, listening to customers and responding with agility to external factors makes this book a compelling “how to” on thriving in today's business world.”
—Shantanu Narayen, President and COO, Adobe Systems
“I loved THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY…it’s a cornerstone business book and a must read for any senior executive. McFarland, backed by considerable research, describes the characteristics that allow a small to medium size company to grow into a breathrough company —one that’s significant, lasting and influences the market.”
—Caroline Little, CEO & Publisher, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI)
“Most business books really should really be articles–THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is different. As a CEO of a company approaching a billion in revenues, I can tell you that his book passes the ‘Monday Morning Test’–you’ll finish it with a list of things you’ll do differently on Monday morning. I only wish Keith had published the book years ago!”
—Scott Olivet, CEO, Oakley Inc.
"In an increasingly entrepreneurial economy, fast-growing, innovative firms will be absolutely central to future economic success. With keen insight and extensive analysis, McFarland helps to fill a gap in our
—Carl J. Schramm, President and CEO, Kauffman Foundation, and author of The International Imperative