Ken Langone is hustling to pay for college, taking whatever work he can find. Steve Wozniak is hunched over a circuit board, building a computer by hand. Jim Clayton is knocking on doors, selling homes, and learning what people actually need. Fred Smith is in Las Vegas, gambling the last of his company’s cash to […]
February Reading List: 4 Best Books I Read in February 2026 Read More »
Michael Dell is in a University of Texas dorm room, taking apart computers and selling them for a profit. Steve Jobs is in a conference room, telling someone their work isn’t good enough. Edwin Land holds a camera that develops a photo in minutes and realizes the world isn’t ready for it. Play nice, but
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No. 329 | April 24, 2026 Welcome to Friday Five, a short dose of ideas to start the weekend with clarity. Seeing things as they are—not as you wish them to be. Building a brand through engagement. Always asking “what if” about everything. Living well. Those are the themes this week. If this resonates, forward
Friday Five — Seeing Things as They Are, Brand Strategy, and Why “What If” Wins Read More »
It’s the early 1980s in Bangkok. Dietrich Mateschitz is visiting his business partner, Chaleo Yoovidhya. He’s introduced to a local energy tonic, Krating Daeng, popular among truck drivers for its stimulating effects. His jet lag disappears almost immediately. Following this discovery, Mateschitz partners with Chaleo, adapts the tonic for the Western market, and builds the
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No. 328 | April 17, 2026 Welcome to Friday Five, a short dose of ideas to start the weekend with clarity. Keep things simple. Think small. Move fast. Take risks. Experiment. Define success on your own terms. That’s this week’s theme. If this resonates, forward it to someone who’d enjoy it. Most readers discover Friday
Friday Five — Thinking Small Strategy, Simplicity, and Why Speed Wins Read More »
Sam Walton was an avid pilot who owned his own small planes. It was part of his thinking small strategy. He flew himself to rural stores that would one day number in the thousands. Competitors like Sears and Kmart weren’t doing this. Flying to his stores let him hear directly from frontline associates. Walton’s edge
How Sam Walton Built a $50 Billion Company by Thinking Small Strategy Read More »
No. 327 | April 10, 2026 Welcome to Friday Five, a short dose of ideas to start the weekend with clarity. Question what you stand for. Build a culture people buy into. Take risks. Help others. That’s the thread this week. If this issue resonates, forward it to someone who enjoys ideas like this. Most readers find Friday
Friday Five — Knowing You Know Nothing, Ownership Culture, and Why Speed Wins Read More »
Moonlight rides gave Sam Walton a way to connect with his logistics team. He often spent nights riding in the cabs of Walmart delivery trucks. He wanted to hear what drivers were seeing. On one of those late-night trips, a driver suggested backhauling, picking up merchandise on the return trip instead of driving back empty.
The Walmart Secret: Why An Employee Ownership Culture Wins Read More »
No. 326 | April 3, 2026 Welcome to Friday Five, a short dose of ideas to start the weekend with clarity. Choosing a positive headspace is hard when building anything of value. But focusing on your customer puts everything into perspective. In the end, creating quality products and offering unparalleled service is what matters. That’s
Friday Five — Believe You Can, Customer-First Thinking, and Why Quality Wins Read More »
It was the early 1960s in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart founder Sam Walton wanted to spend less on marketing so he could charge less. That meant unconventional, low-cost ways to get attention. It was all part of his customer-first business strategy. As part of it, he offered discounted watermelons and free donkey rides. The goal was
Why Saving Customers Money Is Sam Walton’s Ultimate Customer-First Business Strategy Read More »