1. What is your Business Model? Great companies describe the essence of what makes them unique in a simple and compelling manner. For Walmart, it is lowest price. Walmart revolutionized retailing by focusing upon operational excellence. The firm does a better job of supply chain management than any company in its space. As a consequence, they are able to ruthlessly drive down costs and offer lower prices. Four Seasons differentiates itself through the quality of service. Isadore Sharp explained how Four Seasons can charge twice the room rate of Hilton or Westin by saying: "It is because we do common things uncommonly well." The level of response of great leaders in...

Have you ever seen the impact a leaky faucet can make on a bar of soap? After a while, the small drops of water can leave a significant dent in the soap bar. That same effect can be seen when marketing to prospective clients through a slow but steady flow of email communications, phone calls, articles and other promotional efforts. It's...

Social media websites have given consumers a voice and power previously limited to corporate public relations departments and major news organizations. Now, anyone with an internet connection can share a positive or negative consumer experience with the entire world. This transformation has impacted customers' expectations for how companies...