ManagersRealm: February 2007 Archives

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Feb28	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 82 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 Know More: Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway, Business Culture, Business Fundamentals, Business Leaders, Business Reputation, commodity business, Focus, Great Leader, Great Managers, Making Decisions, Management Style, Motivation, Understand Your Business Tied Their Fortunes to Their Partners Fortunes In a move that a large number of business leaders won't and don't do, Warren Buffett and chief partner Charlie Munger put their money where their mouths are. The vast majority of their stock ownership and net-worth is in Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) stock. Buffett said, “…we can guarantee that your financial fortunes will move in lockstep with ours for whatever period of time you elect to be our partner.” That was Buffetts' way of saying that they don't risk partners' money while they have their money stashed away in some other investment. And he and Munger have been true to their word. Their fortunes go up and down with the fortunes of Berkshire. This is important because it shows the level of confidence the men have in their outlook on business and the purpose the company exists. It also shows a level of integrity that is an example to other business leaders. Continue Reading Posted at 8:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb28	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 4 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 Force of PersonalitySome people have stood in wonder of Jack Welch and his ability to cast an influence across the company the size of GE at the time, when some managers have difficulty putting their stamp on just a few... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 49 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 Wal-Mart's Business CultureNo matter what the current management and leadership of Wal-Mart (WMT) say, I think they're missing it when they try to become all things to all people in the newer markets they're entering.While they deny it, they're trying... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 38 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 The Ultimate Power of Being GenuineThe topic of being genuine is so important, that there's probably not enough to say about that would do it justice. Those who really understand this as managers and leaders, can propel their businesses to... Continue Reading Posted at 2:19 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb27	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 53 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 Thinking of Leaving a LegacyWe've talked a bit about Richard Branson's foray into the final frontier with his desire to get Virgin Galactic off the ground - literally.Even when you consider all the advantages to what it will do for... Continue Reading Posted at 9:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 81 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 Know When to Hold 'em, Know When to Fold 'emFor a long time there was a concern by shareholders on the succession of Buffett. For quite a time there was nothing done about it. While that has been remedied now,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 3 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 He Didn't Hold Back Who He WasOne of the places where workers at General Electric (GE) got to know their boss and everything that he was - personally and professionally - was at the meetings he held over a long... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 48 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 There are always SurprisesThere is one thing that anyone that's owned or managed a business knows: there will always be surprises. When considering that, we need to not assume that all surprises for a business will be bad.Like Sam Walton... Continue Reading Posted at 6:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 37 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 We are not a CommodityContrary to what the vast majority of people believed or believe about air travel, Kelleher refused to think of it as a commodity business. Kelleher went further and even said that the airline business itself wasn't... Continue Reading Posted at 2:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb26	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 47 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Sell More for LessThe vast majority of people would look at the simple statement above and believe it's so obvious that anybody could do it. First I want to say that selling more for less isn't the only way to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 52 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Big Risk, Big PaybackI remember one time when Warren Buffett mentioned that he and the insurance companies under his fold would be willing to insure anybody if they're willing to pay the premium. In other words, he's willing to take... Continue Reading Posted at 10:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett to Release New Shareholder Letter on Thursday Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Whether it's Warren Buffett's outlook on investing, managing a company or economic insight, for those in the know, his annual report has become required reading for anyone wanting to gain insight into the Oracle of Omaha.Members of huge companies and... Continue Reading Posted at 6:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 46 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Blasts American CEOs for their spendthrift ways. It used to exasperate Sam Walton to watch the way American CEOs spent money. The lack of discipline by many of them was almost beyond his comprehension.Now I know that there's another side... Continue Reading Posted at 5:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 80 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Some People Never Get ItWhile Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) never make any secret of what their strategy is for the company, or what is the motivator behind purchasing companies or stock in companies, you still get people talking... Continue Reading Posted at 2:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb25	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 2 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 To Grow Long-Term, Eat the Short-TermAt a meeting of managers across the many units and divisions of General Electric (GE), Welch was hit with a barrage of questions that were customary for the open meetings that were encouraged during Welch's... Continue Reading Posted at 7:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 36 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 Understanding the Power of Market GrowthWhen Southwest Airlines carved out their specific market niche, there were many who wondered what would happen when their competitors started coming after them. With Southwest (LUV), there was a time that in spite of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 51 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 Seeing What Others Don't SeeWe're continuing on with the theme with Richard Branson of "big matters" and seeing things where others have a "glazed-over eye look over."One person recently reported when Branson was in the Mojave Aiport saying this: "Last... Continue Reading Posted at 5:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 45 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 Win/Win PartnershipsOne of the problems in writing about some of the great business leaders is that what is sometimes very commonly practiced today, even 20 to 30 years ago may have not even been part of the business management experience.That's... Continue Reading Posted at 2:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb24	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 1 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 Jack Welch the Master PainterIn a statement that probably either brings affirmation or disagreement immediately, Noel Tichy, a longtime General Electric (GE) observer and University of Michigan management professor said concerning Welch that "The two greatest corporate leaders of this... Continue Reading Posted at 9:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 79 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 Do it Right AwayThere are times in business when something needs to be done as soon as possible, rather than wait. Buffett found that out when he decided to try to sell the derivitive division of General Re when he... Continue Reading Posted at 9:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 50 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 Branson traffics in opportunism. One of those skills that some of the greatest business leaders ever seem to all have: the ability to spot underperforming companies. Of course what makes them great business leaders is not just the ability to... Continue Reading Posted at 8:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 35 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 "We're going to be the next Southwest Airlines"Kelleher has talked about a time when competitors were boasting that they "We're going to be the next Southwest Airlines." The great thing about having a true competitive advantage is that by its... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb23	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 44 Gary Bourgeault February 23, 2007 Did not emphasize much on formal education/training of employees.Walton within the specific business he mastered, understood what it was he needed in people to manage one of his stores. In response, he put very little value on formal education or training... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda Calms Shattered Nerves of Workers Gary Bourgeault February 23, 2007 Not only has the announcement of employee cutbacks of 13,000 rattled the nerves of Chrysler employees, but the continuous rumors that come out in the media has them even more on edge as they try to figure out their futures... Continue Reading Posted at 5:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 78 Gary Bourgeault February 23, 2007 Consistency - Not ups and downsEvery time that the stock market may offer some growth that outperforms Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) in the short-term, you get people coming out of the woodwork talking about the failure of Buffett's management and investment... Continue Reading Posted at 1:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb22	List of Contaminated Food Products Grows Gary Bourgeault February 22, 2007 In a little over a week, food companies have recalled a number of products suspected of being contaminated. Besides peanut butter, there has been "fresh cantaloupe, baby food, chicken strips and now mushrooms" added to the list of products.With the... Continue Reading Posted at 2:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 49 Gary Bourgeault February 22, 2007 Size does matterAnother one of Branson's 10 rules for success was that size does matter. When considering this, there are a couple of things that are important to understand what that meant with Branson.For Branson size wasn't necessarily how big... Continue Reading Posted at 2:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 34 Gary Bourgeault February 22, 2007 Build Bridges Between PeopleThere was a time with Southwest Airlines (LUV) where their people voted themselves out of its union and were insecure about their future.In response Kelleher gave them a personal contract signed by him, providing grievance and arbitration... Continue Reading Posted at 1:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb21	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 33 Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 Liberating Your PeopleWhen talking about Kelleher and Southwest's commitment for job security for his people, he added that while it was extremely important, it wasn't enough.He said while embracing job security, there had to be the additional element of creating... Continue Reading Posted at 9:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Great Chance to Put the Spotlight on Your Business for Free Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 The Know More Media online business network has announced the launch of a new blog called BIZZspotlight, which will empower businesses to communicate to viewers about what it is that makes them who they are.Founders of Know More Media, Tim... Continue Reading Posted at 6:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 43 Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 "Management by looking over your shoulder"Sam Walton had a lot of different aspects to his management style, that seemed to take in the various personalities of those he worked with; especially his managers.A.L. Johnson, Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart once said,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 48 Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 Smile for the cameras! When we consider that Branson thinks the idea of smiling for the cameras is one of his top ten foundations for success, at a glance it seems almost silly or irrelevent. I think this is the... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb20	Supreme Court Overturns Tobacco Award Gary Bourgeault February 20, 2007 In a 5-4 decision, the supreme court struck down a $79.5 million award to the widow of a smoker. At the same time they refused to rule on the issue of whether punitive-damage awards are excessive.The specific issue that was... Continue Reading Posted at 10:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 32 Gary Bourgeault February 20, 2007 Our commitment to job security has helped us keep our labor force smaller and more productive than our competitors.When Kelleher talks about job security and keeping the job force smaller, he's talking about eh management of hiring. He resisted hiring... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jet Blue Response Gary Bourgeault February 20, 2007 In response to the recent debacle with their passengers, Jet Blue CEO David Neeleman, calling the crisis a "a huge bump in the road," has introduced a customer bill of rights in hopes of winning back its customers after the... Continue Reading Posted at 3:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb19	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 77 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 Successful products, services or businesses, not sectors or specific areasThere aren't a lot of people or companies that can exist as successful conglomerates. Very few leaders know how to put something together and keep it together in a profitable way.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 42 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 Managing by Wearing You DownIt's funny, in the odd sense of the word, how paradoxical the traits of management seem to be when you talk about them in relationship to being great managers and what seems to be contradictory actions.David Glass,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 47 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 Keep it casualThere have been an awful lot of stories in the past years that have talked about how relate to workers if you're in management. Branson is one of those who loves to keep it casual and loose.When you... Continue Reading Posted at 9:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 31 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 What You Get in ReturnOffering ownership in a company so that can share in its success is nothing new of course, many companies do this. Like Herb Kelleher said one time, "We also have provided profit sharing to all employees... Continue Reading Posted at 3:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb18	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 76 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 Hands-off Management Means ContinuityWe've talked here about Warren Buffett's legendary hands-off approach to management that draws great managers to the company like bugs to a light. Even when buying big companies where the CEOs are the founders, they don't mind... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 41 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 The Surprising Main Thrust of Sam Walton In a lot of the posts about Sam Walton and his vision for Wal-Mart (WMT), we've talked a lot about his passion with offering the lowest prices at all times. By extension, this... Continue Reading Posted at 7:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 46 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 Be a common, regular person.When you look at the life and career of Richard Branson, from the outside the comment that one of the 10 keys to success is to be common person, almost seems the opposite of who Branson... Continue Reading Posted at 7:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Airline Industry and Why We Need Emergency Measures in Place Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 When Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, commented on the recent debacle with customers stranded on airplanes, he said concerning JetBlue (JBLU) that "The airline can't say, 'We didn't know, we didn't anticipate, this didn't happen... Continue Reading Posted at 2:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 30 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 Rewards Connected to PerformanceOne of the issues that comes up during difficult times is always the issue of executive pay. With Herb Kelleher and his people at Southwest Airlines (LUV), they were commited to low price fares, and as a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb17	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 75 Gary Bourgeault February 17, 2007 Sit on going forward until it makes senseWhen Warren Buffett talks about the discipline of sitting on something and not going forward until it makes sense, he hits on one of the most lacking skills, disiplines and tools that can... Continue Reading Posted at 9:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 40 Gary Bourgeault February 17, 2007 Details CountWhen it came to a specific vision and purpose for the company, Sam Walton had it down pat, but that didn't make him an impractical leader. On the contrary he was legendary for following up and remembering details on... Continue Reading Posted at 4:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Peanut Butter Warning Widened by FDA Gary Bourgeault February 17, 2007 Widening their warning concerning the salmonella-contaminated peanut butter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that all Peter Pan peanut butter bought since May 2006 should be gotten rid of.While there haven't been any confirmed cases connected to... Continue Reading Posted at 4:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb16	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 45 Gary Bourgeault February 16, 2007 Don't lead "sheep", herd "cats"One of Branson's ten top success tips is he encourages us to "don't lead "sheep", herd "cats." A major point he's obviously making is that when you consider cats, they can't be herded. He's talking about... Continue Reading Posted at 5:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	ConAgra's Negligence: Failure to its Customers Gary Bourgeault February 16, 2007 ConAgra Foods has a huge problem on their hands, as they largely failed their customers by not catching bad peanut butter before it came off the line.Government officials say that this is the first case of salmonella outbreak in the U.S.... Continue Reading Posted at 1:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb15	Eight More Factories Hit by Chrysler Downsizing Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 The details of the 13,000 job cuts announced by Chrsyler are starting to come out as eight more factories will be affected other than the original three mentioned. There will be 11,000 production jobs cut, plus another 2,000 white collar... Continue Reading Posted at 9:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hershey to Cut 1,500 Jobs Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 In a move that the company says will save $190 million a year, Hershey Co. (HSY) says they'll be moving a larger piece of the company production to Mexico.The candy maker said that the restructuring plan will cut back about... Continue Reading Posted at 9:19 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 29 Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 You can't have a culture of commitment and performance without equitable employee compensationWhen talking about the extreme importance of creating a culture of commmitment, Kelleher said that it would be impossible "without equitable employee compensation." Considering the outrageous pay packages... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 74 Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 Don't make decisions ruled by emotionsThe statement above of not making decisions based upon emotions, is about as simple and seemingly easy to copy for anyone. But the truth is that it's one of the hardest disciplines to maintain while... Continue Reading Posted at 1:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb14	Retail Sales Mixed So Far This Year Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 Retail sales at department and general merchandise stores have surged so far this year, coming in at a hefty 1.3 percent, the largest monthly gain in a year. Another strong sector was retail sales related to homes; like furniture and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 39 Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 "If you don't want to work weekends, you shouldn't be in retail."When Sam Walton declared the idea that "If you don't want to work weekends, you shouldn't be in retail," he was making a statement that was for the purpose... Continue Reading Posted at 9:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 44 Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 Haggle: everything is negotiable.One thing for the most part can never be known, is how far someone you're negotiating with is willing to go. That's one of the reasons why Richard Branson said, "Haggle: everything is negotiable. There's no doubt... Continue Reading Posted at 5:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chrysler to Cut 13,000 Jobs Over Next 3 Years Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 Chrysler announced today that its restructuring plan will result in 13,000 jobs being cut over the next 3 years. The restructuring could also lead to a Daimler Chryler separation before it's all over.The cuts will be equal to about 16... Continue Reading Posted at 2:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 28 Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 We Need to Help Our People See the Great Difference They're MakingWhen anybody is only going about their daily work without understanding their part in the overall picture, and the importance of what they're doing, there is something that is... Continue Reading Posted at 12:03 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb13	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 73 Gary Bourgeault February 13, 2007 Know When to AdaptThere are years when Warren Buffett has found very of little value that he can invest in for Berkshire (BRK-A), and as a result has had to try to figure out ways to increase value for his... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb12	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 27 Gary Bourgeault February 12, 2007 Make it Bigger Than ThemKelleher continually impressed upon his people that Southwest (LUV) was bigger than them, something that they could be proud of working for years down the road.To his people in the field he would always say, "that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 38 Gary Bourgeault February 12, 2007 Sam Walton wanted to be the BEST retailer and NOT the BIGGEST!Contrary to what a lot of people think, Sam Walton never started out, or had in his mind to be the biggest retailer in the world. His only purpose... Continue Reading Posted at 1:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb11	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 26 Gary Bourgeault February 11, 2007 The Strength of a Genuine Business CultureKelleher made an important statement about the cost-consciousness of Southwest Airlines (LUV) that shows the strength and power of a culture that is permeated with what it believes and stands for.When talking about being... Continue Reading Posted at 6:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 43 Gary Bourgeault February 11, 2007 There's Respect and There's RespectWhen Branson was trying to get Virgin airlines going, he ran into some trouble early on, and didn't have the cash on hand to cover what he needed - he was ordered to pay up by... Continue Reading Posted at 4:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 72 Gary Bourgeault February 11, 2007 Understanding the Principle of FloatWhile the importance of "float" has been pretty well known for a long time, many business leaders and managers really don't understand the potential that it they miss out on by not concentrating more attention on... Continue Reading Posted at 2:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb10	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 37 Gary Bourgeault February 10, 2007 Selling YourselfWhen Wal-Mart (WMT) floated an IPO and were a public company, a representative from T. Rowe Price sought him out at an airport to talk about it with Sam. Sam made a believer out of him that the company... Continue Reading Posted at 3:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 42 Gary Bourgeault February 10, 2007 Immerse Yourself In What You're Interested InRichard Branson talked one time on how he operated to get a competitive edge. He said that when the company became interested in something, before they ever tipped their hand, they took one big... Continue Reading Posted at 2:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb 9	Will CEO Pay Rebellion Have a Long-term Impact? Gary Bourgeault February 9, 2007 With the ouster of Home Depot's (HD) Bob Nardelli and his resultant compensation package that was valued at about $210 million and Pfizer's (PFE) Henry A. McKinnell's which came to almost $200 million, it has brought the spotlight on excessive... Continue Reading Posted at 8:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 25 Gary Bourgeault February 9, 2007 Working for a Worthy CauseAs you know from our continual talks on Herb Kelleher, it was one of his major achievements to communicate to his people the message of what Southwest Airlines (LUV) was in its essense. The result was... Continue Reading Posted at 3:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 36 Gary Bourgeault February 9, 2007 One Simple Competitive Advantage Walton ImplementedAt the time that when Wal-Mart (WMT) had yet to be named, Bob Bogle, the first manager of Walton's Five and Dime suggested to Walton to name the store WalMart. The reason? At the time the... Continue Reading Posted at 1:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb 8	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 71 Gary Bourgeault February 8, 2007 Problems Must be Able to be SolvedNot only is Buffett able to look at a company and project out what he sees its ability to produce for years ahead, he is also able to look at a company and the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 41 Gary Bourgeault February 8, 2007 You've got to challenge the big onesLike some of our other managers and business leaders we talk about

Feb28	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 82 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 Know More: Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway, Business Culture, Business Fundamentals, Business Leaders, Business Reputation, commodity business, Focus, Great Leader, Great Managers, Making Decisions, Management Style, Motivation, Understand Your Business Tied Their Fortunes to Their Partners Fortunes In a move that a large number of business leaders won't and don't do, Warren Buffett and chief partner Charlie Munger put their money where their mouths are. The vast majority of their stock ownership and net-worth is in Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) stock. Buffett said, “…we can guarantee that your financial fortunes will move in lockstep with ours for whatever period of time you elect to be our partner.” That was Buffetts' way of saying that they don't risk partners' money while they have their money stashed away in some other investment. And he and Munger have been true to their word. Their fortunes go up and down with the fortunes of Berkshire. This is important because it shows the level of confidence the men have in their outlook on business and the purpose the company exists. It also shows a level of integrity that is an example to other business leaders. Continue Reading Posted at 8:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb28	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 4 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 Force of PersonalitySome people have stood in wonder of Jack Welch and his ability to cast an influence across the company the size of GE at the time, when some managers have difficulty putting their stamp on just a few... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 49 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 Wal-Mart's Business CultureNo matter what the current management and leadership of Wal-Mart (WMT) say, I think they're missing it when they try to become all things to all people in the newer markets they're entering.While they deny it, they're trying... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 38 Gary Bourgeault February 28, 2007 The Ultimate Power of Being GenuineThe topic of being genuine is so important, that there's probably not enough to say about that would do it justice. Those who really understand this as managers and leaders, can propel their businesses to... Continue Reading Posted at 2:19 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb27	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 53 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 Thinking of Leaving a LegacyWe've talked a bit about Richard Branson's foray into the final frontier with his desire to get Virgin Galactic off the ground - literally.Even when you consider all the advantages to what it will do for... Continue Reading Posted at 9:48 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 81 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 Know When to Hold 'em, Know When to Fold 'emFor a long time there was a concern by shareholders on the succession of Buffett. For quite a time there was nothing done about it. While that has been remedied now,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 3 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 He Didn't Hold Back Who He WasOne of the places where workers at General Electric (GE) got to know their boss and everything that he was - personally and professionally - was at the meetings he held over a long... Continue Reading Posted at 7:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 48 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 There are always SurprisesThere is one thing that anyone that's owned or managed a business knows: there will always be surprises. When considering that, we need to not assume that all surprises for a business will be bad.Like Sam Walton... Continue Reading Posted at 6:12 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 37 Gary Bourgeault February 27, 2007 We are not a CommodityContrary to what the vast majority of people believed or believe about air travel, Kelleher refused to think of it as a commodity business. Kelleher went further and even said that the airline business itself wasn't... Continue Reading Posted at 2:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb26	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 47 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Sell More for LessThe vast majority of people would look at the simple statement above and believe it's so obvious that anybody could do it. First I want to say that selling more for less isn't the only way to... Continue Reading Posted at 11:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 52 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Big Risk, Big PaybackI remember one time when Warren Buffett mentioned that he and the insurance companies under his fold would be willing to insure anybody if they're willing to pay the premium. In other words, he's willing to take... Continue Reading Posted at 10:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett to Release New Shareholder Letter on Thursday Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Whether it's Warren Buffett's outlook on investing, managing a company or economic insight, for those in the know, his annual report has become required reading for anyone wanting to gain insight into the Oracle of Omaha.Members of huge companies and... Continue Reading Posted at 6:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 46 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Blasts American CEOs for their spendthrift ways. It used to exasperate Sam Walton to watch the way American CEOs spent money. The lack of discipline by many of them was almost beyond his comprehension.Now I know that there's another side... Continue Reading Posted at 5:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 80 Gary Bourgeault February 26, 2007 Some People Never Get ItWhile Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) never make any secret of what their strategy is for the company, or what is the motivator behind purchasing companies or stock in companies, you still get people talking... Continue Reading Posted at 2:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb25	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 2 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 To Grow Long-Term, Eat the Short-TermAt a meeting of managers across the many units and divisions of General Electric (GE), Welch was hit with a barrage of questions that were customary for the open meetings that were encouraged during Welch's... Continue Reading Posted at 7:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 36 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 Understanding the Power of Market GrowthWhen Southwest Airlines carved out their specific market niche, there were many who wondered what would happen when their competitors started coming after them. With Southwest (LUV), there was a time that in spite of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 51 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 Seeing What Others Don't SeeWe're continuing on with the theme with Richard Branson of "big matters" and seeing things where others have a "glazed-over eye look over."One person recently reported when Branson was in the Mojave Aiport saying this: "Last... Continue Reading Posted at 5:54 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 45 Gary Bourgeault February 25, 2007 Win/Win PartnershipsOne of the problems in writing about some of the great business leaders is that what is sometimes very commonly practiced today, even 20 to 30 years ago may have not even been part of the business management experience.That's... Continue Reading Posted at 2:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb24	The Jack Welch Management Mystique - 1 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 Jack Welch the Master PainterIn a statement that probably either brings affirmation or disagreement immediately, Noel Tichy, a longtime General Electric (GE) observer and University of Michigan management professor said concerning Welch that "The two greatest corporate leaders of this... Continue Reading Posted at 9:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 79 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 Do it Right AwayThere are times in business when something needs to be done as soon as possible, rather than wait. Buffett found that out when he decided to try to sell the derivitive division of General Re when he... Continue Reading Posted at 9:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 50 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 Branson traffics in opportunism. One of those skills that some of the greatest business leaders ever seem to all have: the ability to spot underperforming companies. Of course what makes them great business leaders is not just the ability to... Continue Reading Posted at 8:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 35 Gary Bourgeault February 24, 2007 "We're going to be the next Southwest Airlines"Kelleher has talked about a time when competitors were boasting that they "We're going to be the next Southwest Airlines." The great thing about having a true competitive advantage is that by its... Continue Reading Posted at 4:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb23	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 44 Gary Bourgeault February 23, 2007 Did not emphasize much on formal education/training of employees.Walton within the specific business he mastered, understood what it was he needed in people to manage one of his stores. In response, he put very little value on formal education or training... Continue Reading Posted at 8:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda Calms Shattered Nerves of Workers Gary Bourgeault February 23, 2007 Not only has the announcement of employee cutbacks of 13,000 rattled the nerves of Chrysler employees, but the continuous rumors that come out in the media has them even more on edge as they try to figure out their futures... Continue Reading Posted at 5:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 78 Gary Bourgeault February 23, 2007 Consistency - Not ups and downsEvery time that the stock market may offer some growth that outperforms Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) in the short-term, you get people coming out of the woodwork talking about the failure of Buffett's management and investment... Continue Reading Posted at 1:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb22	List of Contaminated Food Products Grows Gary Bourgeault February 22, 2007 In a little over a week, food companies have recalled a number of products suspected of being contaminated. Besides peanut butter, there has been "fresh cantaloupe, baby food, chicken strips and now mushrooms" added to the list of products.With the... Continue Reading Posted at 2:35 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 49 Gary Bourgeault February 22, 2007 Size does matterAnother one of Branson's 10 rules for success was that size does matter. When considering this, there are a couple of things that are important to understand what that meant with Branson.For Branson size wasn't necessarily how big... Continue Reading Posted at 2:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 34 Gary Bourgeault February 22, 2007 Build Bridges Between PeopleThere was a time with Southwest Airlines (LUV) where their people voted themselves out of its union and were insecure about their future.In response Kelleher gave them a personal contract signed by him, providing grievance and arbitration... Continue Reading Posted at 1:24 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb21	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 33 Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 Liberating Your PeopleWhen talking about Kelleher and Southwest's commitment for job security for his people, he added that while it was extremely important, it wasn't enough.He said while embracing job security, there had to be the additional element of creating... Continue Reading Posted at 9:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Great Chance to Put the Spotlight on Your Business for Free Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 The Know More Media online business network has announced the launch of a new blog called BIZZspotlight, which will empower businesses to communicate to viewers about what it is that makes them who they are.Founders of Know More Media, Tim... Continue Reading Posted at 6:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 43 Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 "Management by looking over your shoulder"Sam Walton had a lot of different aspects to his management style, that seemed to take in the various personalities of those he worked with; especially his managers.A.L. Johnson, Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart once said,... Continue Reading Posted at 6:06 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 48 Gary Bourgeault February 21, 2007 Smile for the cameras! When we consider that Branson thinks the idea of smiling for the cameras is one of his top ten foundations for success, at a glance it seems almost silly or irrelevent. I think this is the... Continue Reading Posted at 3:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb20	Supreme Court Overturns Tobacco Award Gary Bourgeault February 20, 2007 In a 5-4 decision, the supreme court struck down a $79.5 million award to the widow of a smoker. At the same time they refused to rule on the issue of whether punitive-damage awards are excessive.The specific issue that was... Continue Reading Posted at 10:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 32 Gary Bourgeault February 20, 2007 Our commitment to job security has helped us keep our labor force smaller and more productive than our competitors.When Kelleher talks about job security and keeping the job force smaller, he's talking about eh management of hiring. He resisted hiring... Continue Reading Posted at 8:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Jet Blue Response Gary Bourgeault February 20, 2007 In response to the recent debacle with their passengers, Jet Blue CEO David Neeleman, calling the crisis a "a huge bump in the road," has introduced a customer bill of rights in hopes of winning back its customers after the... Continue Reading Posted at 3:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb19	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 77 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 Successful products, services or businesses, not sectors or specific areasThere aren't a lot of people or companies that can exist as successful conglomerates. Very few leaders know how to put something together and keep it together in a profitable way.... Continue Reading Posted at 10:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 42 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 Managing by Wearing You DownIt's funny, in the odd sense of the word, how paradoxical the traits of management seem to be when you talk about them in relationship to being great managers and what seems to be contradictory actions.David Glass,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 47 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 Keep it casualThere have been an awful lot of stories in the past years that have talked about how relate to workers if you're in management. Branson is one of those who loves to keep it casual and loose.When you... Continue Reading Posted at 9:37 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 31 Gary Bourgeault February 19, 2007 What You Get in ReturnOffering ownership in a company so that can share in its success is nothing new of course, many companies do this. Like Herb Kelleher said one time, "We also have provided profit sharing to all employees... Continue Reading Posted at 3:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb18	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 76 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 Hands-off Management Means ContinuityWe've talked here about Warren Buffett's legendary hands-off approach to management that draws great managers to the company like bugs to a light. Even when buying big companies where the CEOs are the founders, they don't mind... Continue Reading Posted at 10:04 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 41 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 The Surprising Main Thrust of Sam Walton In a lot of the posts about Sam Walton and his vision for Wal-Mart (WMT), we've talked a lot about his passion with offering the lowest prices at all times. By extension, this... Continue Reading Posted at 7:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 46 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 Be a common, regular person.When you look at the life and career of Richard Branson, from the outside the comment that one of the 10 keys to success is to be common person, almost seems the opposite of who Branson... Continue Reading Posted at 7:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Airline Industry and Why We Need Emergency Measures in Place Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 When Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chairman of the House Transportation Committee, commented on the recent debacle with customers stranded on airplanes, he said concerning JetBlue (JBLU) that "The airline can't say, 'We didn't know, we didn't anticipate, this didn't happen... Continue Reading Posted at 2:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 30 Gary Bourgeault February 18, 2007 Rewards Connected to PerformanceOne of the issues that comes up during difficult times is always the issue of executive pay. With Herb Kelleher and his people at Southwest Airlines (LUV), they were commited to low price fares, and as a... Continue Reading Posted at 1:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb17	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 75 Gary Bourgeault February 17, 2007 Sit on going forward until it makes senseWhen Warren Buffett talks about the discipline of sitting on something and not going forward until it makes sense, he hits on one of the most lacking skills, disiplines and tools that can... Continue Reading Posted at 9:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 40 Gary Bourgeault February 17, 2007 Details CountWhen it came to a specific vision and purpose for the company, Sam Walton had it down pat, but that didn't make him an impractical leader. On the contrary he was legendary for following up and remembering details on... Continue Reading Posted at 4:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Peanut Butter Warning Widened by FDA Gary Bourgeault February 17, 2007 Widening their warning concerning the salmonella-contaminated peanut butter, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that all Peter Pan peanut butter bought since May 2006 should be gotten rid of.While there haven't been any confirmed cases connected to... Continue Reading Posted at 4:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb16	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 45 Gary Bourgeault February 16, 2007 Don't lead "sheep", herd "cats"One of Branson's ten top success tips is he encourages us to "don't lead "sheep", herd "cats." A major point he's obviously making is that when you consider cats, they can't be herded. He's talking about... Continue Reading Posted at 5:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	ConAgra's Negligence: Failure to its Customers Gary Bourgeault February 16, 2007 ConAgra Foods has a huge problem on their hands, as they largely failed their customers by not catching bad peanut butter before it came off the line.Government officials say that this is the first case of salmonella outbreak in the U.S.... Continue Reading Posted at 1:30 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb15	Eight More Factories Hit by Chrysler Downsizing Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 The details of the 13,000 job cuts announced by Chrsyler are starting to come out as eight more factories will be affected other than the original three mentioned. There will be 11,000 production jobs cut, plus another 2,000 white collar... Continue Reading Posted at 9:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Hershey to Cut 1,500 Jobs Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 In a move that the company says will save $190 million a year, Hershey Co. (HSY) says they'll be moving a larger piece of the company production to Mexico.The candy maker said that the restructuring plan will cut back about... Continue Reading Posted at 9:19 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 29 Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 You can't have a culture of commitment and performance without equitable employee compensationWhen talking about the extreme importance of creating a culture of commmitment, Kelleher said that it would be impossible "without equitable employee compensation." Considering the outrageous pay packages... Continue Reading Posted at 6:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 74 Gary Bourgeault February 15, 2007 Don't make decisions ruled by emotionsThe statement above of not making decisions based upon emotions, is about as simple and seemingly easy to copy for anyone. But the truth is that it's one of the hardest disciplines to maintain while... Continue Reading Posted at 1:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb14	Retail Sales Mixed So Far This Year Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 Retail sales at department and general merchandise stores have surged so far this year, coming in at a hefty 1.3 percent, the largest monthly gain in a year. Another strong sector was retail sales related to homes; like furniture and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 39 Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 "If you don't want to work weekends, you shouldn't be in retail."When Sam Walton declared the idea that "If you don't want to work weekends, you shouldn't be in retail," he was making a statement that was for the purpose... Continue Reading Posted at 9:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 44 Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 Haggle: everything is negotiable.One thing for the most part can never be known, is how far someone you're negotiating with is willing to go. That's one of the reasons why Richard Branson said, "Haggle: everything is negotiable. There's no doubt... Continue Reading Posted at 5:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Chrysler to Cut 13,000 Jobs Over Next 3 Years Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 Chrysler announced today that its restructuring plan will result in 13,000 jobs being cut over the next 3 years. The restructuring could also lead to a Daimler Chryler separation before it's all over.The cuts will be equal to about 16... Continue Reading Posted at 2:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 28 Gary Bourgeault February 14, 2007 We Need to Help Our People See the Great Difference They're MakingWhen anybody is only going about their daily work without understanding their part in the overall picture, and the importance of what they're doing, there is something that is... Continue Reading Posted at 12:03 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb13	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 73 Gary Bourgeault February 13, 2007 Know When to AdaptThere are years when Warren Buffett has found very of little value that he can invest in for Berkshire (BRK-A), and as a result has had to try to figure out ways to increase value for his... Continue Reading Posted at 5:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb12	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 27 Gary Bourgeault February 12, 2007 Make it Bigger Than ThemKelleher continually impressed upon his people that Southwest (LUV) was bigger than them, something that they could be proud of working for years down the road.To his people in the field he would always say, "that... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 38 Gary Bourgeault February 12, 2007 Sam Walton wanted to be the BEST retailer and NOT the BIGGEST!Contrary to what a lot of people think, Sam Walton never started out, or had in his mind to be the biggest retailer in the world. His only purpose... Continue Reading Posted at 1:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb11	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 26 Gary Bourgeault February 11, 2007 The Strength of a Genuine Business CultureKelleher made an important statement about the cost-consciousness of Southwest Airlines (LUV) that shows the strength and power of a culture that is permeated with what it believes and stands for.When talking about being... Continue Reading Posted at 6:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 43 Gary Bourgeault February 11, 2007 There's Respect and There's RespectWhen Branson was trying to get Virgin airlines going, he ran into some trouble early on, and didn't have the cash on hand to cover what he needed - he was ordered to pay up by... Continue Reading Posted at 4:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 72 Gary Bourgeault February 11, 2007 Understanding the Principle of FloatWhile the importance of "float" has been pretty well known for a long time, many business leaders and managers really don't understand the potential that it they miss out on by not concentrating more attention on... Continue Reading Posted at 2:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb10	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 37 Gary Bourgeault February 10, 2007 Selling YourselfWhen Wal-Mart (WMT) floated an IPO and were a public company, a representative from T. Rowe Price sought him out at an airport to talk about it with Sam. Sam made a believer out of him that the company... Continue Reading Posted at 3:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 42 Gary Bourgeault February 10, 2007 Immerse Yourself In What You're Interested InRichard Branson talked one time on how he operated to get a competitive edge. He said that when the company became interested in something, before they ever tipped their hand, they took one big... Continue Reading Posted at 2:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb 9	Will CEO Pay Rebellion Have a Long-term Impact? Gary Bourgeault February 9, 2007 With the ouster of Home Depot's (HD) Bob Nardelli and his resultant compensation package that was valued at about $210 million and Pfizer's (PFE) Henry A. McKinnell's which came to almost $200 million, it has brought the spotlight on excessive... Continue Reading Posted at 8:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Herb Kelleher: The Method Behind His Madness - 25 Gary Bourgeault February 9, 2007 Working for a Worthy CauseAs you know from our continual talks on Herb Kelleher, it was one of his major achievements to communicate to his people the message of what Southwest Airlines (LUV) was in its essense. The result was... Continue Reading Posted at 3:16 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The Common Sense Management of Sam Walton - 36 Gary Bourgeault February 9, 2007 One Simple Competitive Advantage Walton ImplementedAt the time that when Wal-Mart (WMT) had yet to be named, Bob Bogle, the first manager of Walton's Five and Dime suggested to Walton to name the store WalMart. The reason? At the time the... Continue Reading Posted at 1:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Feb 8	Warren Buffett and Secrets of Management - 71 Gary Bourgeault February 8, 2007 Problems Must be Able to be SolvedNot only is Buffett able to look at a company and project out what he sees its ability to produce for years ahead, he is also able to look at a company and the... Continue Reading Posted at 6:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Richard Branson - Lessons in Business, Management and Life - 41 Gary Bourgeault February 8, 2007 You've got to challenge the big onesLike some of our other managers and business leaders we talk about

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