Share this
Mister Wong
Digg
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Googlize this
Blinklist
Facebook
Wikio
Hear this text
Print
E-mail
Tags
Surviving the business Bermuda Triangle“Worth a read” is not your ordinary book review; it is a meta-review. In other words, it provides an overview of the opinions contained in a variety of book reviews published in the media at large. This week’s meta-review is of “The Breakthrough Company”, written by Keith McFarland and released in South Africa in September 2009.
What’s it all about?
Only one-tenth of 1% of companies break through to annual sales above $250 million, and many tend to disappear in the Business Bermuda Triangle – a danger zone for start-up companies through which many do not manage to navigate successfully.
Author Keith McFarland spent five years studying more than 7 000 companies and interviewing over 1 500 company executives in order to answer one question: What are the secrets of breakthrough? In other words, how do ordinary companies become extraordinary?
McFarland’s conclusion is that success has little to do with luck and rests largely on identifiable strategies and skills that can be learnt and applied, helping companies to move beyond the entrepreneurial phase through to increased growth, success and sustainability.
“The Breakthrough Company” explodes popular myths about how to achieve success, and provides real-world tools, action steps and a summary of key ideas at the end of each chapter. No matter how small your company, McFarland’s ideas are bound to increase your odds of achieving breakthrough.
“The Breakthrough Company” debuted at first place on the bestseller list of the “Wall Street Journal” and was a bestseller on the lists of “The New York Times”, “USA Today” and “BusinessWeek”.
Who’s the author?
Keith McFarland is an American consultant, author and lecturer on leadership and business growth.
At the age of 26 he became associate dean of the Pepperdine University School of Business and Management, making him one of the youngest business school deans in America. He went on to serve as CEO of two technology companies, and in 2000 founded McFarland Strategy Partners, a strategic advisory company.
What do others say?
“The Breakthrough Company” has received widespread acclaim from the top brass at companies like Forbes, Napster, Motorola and Mattel. The book is said to be impressively researched and well-written, and its real-life examples and tips mean that it is packed with insight.
Although the findings are not necessarily breakthrough insights, they are based on solid research, and the general consensus is that Keith McFarland’s name will soon be added to the list of business greats such as Stephen Covey and Tom Peters.
John C Maxwell’s monthly newsletter “Leadership Wired”: “It’s worth restating how the meticulous research undertaken by McFarland contributes to the force of his ideas. His leadership observations rest on a bedrock of in-depth analysis rather than personal opinion or popular theory. Keen insights, at times counterintuitive and surprising, spring forth from his incisive investigation of breakthrough companies.”
“Graziadio Business Report”: “While every page conveys important information, the tone is like a candid conversation over a cup of coffee.”
Brad Duea, president of Napster: “‘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.”
How do I get hold of it?
“The Breakthrough Company” is published in South Africa by Three Rivers Press. It is available at Exclusive Books for R164.00.
