Focus: The Future of Your Company Depends on It

Description

How can IBM have $65 billion in revenues and still lose money? Although PepsiCo has nearly twice the sales and assets of Coca-Cola, Coke's stock is worth more than twice as much. Again and again, the financial pages report similar stories. In plain and effective language, internationally known marketing expert and bestselling author Al Ries explains why IBM, PepsiCo and other revenue-rich companies often fail to perform on the balance sheet. His common-sense approach to business management focuses on keeping a business doing what it does best, eschewing the temptation to diversify into unrelated enterprises. Using real-world examples, Ries shows that in industry after industry, it is the companies that resist diversification, and focus instead on owning a category in consumers' minds, that dominate their markets. He offers solid guidance to get companies back on target, explaining how to get focused and how to stay focused. His no-nonsense advice lays out a workable blueprint for any company's evolution that can increase market share and shareholder value while keeping an eye squarely on the future."A very important book, well documented, well argued, but destined to be controversial. Next time your company is tempted to broaden or diversify, I guarantee that you will think twice."--Philip Kotler, J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management