Shortlisted for The FT Business Book of the Year Award
It's widely accepted in business that great companies grow their revenues and profits year after year - but bigger is not necessarily better. In Small Giants, journalist Bo Burlingham takes us deep inside fourteen remarkable privately held companies, from a brewery to a record label, that chose a different path to success.
These organizations quietly rejected the pressure of endless growth, deciding to focus more on satisfying business goals - being the best at what they do, creating a stimulating place to work, providing perfect customer service and making important contributions to their communities.
But what are the magic ingredients that make these companies unique? Why and how does their approach work in such widely varying industries? And what lessons can we learn from them? A fresh, inspirational guide to business strategy, Small Giants will help any entrepeneur consider new directions to make their company great.
Industry Reviews
Bo Burlingham's done for private companies what Jim Collins did for public companies in "Good to Great." (Steve Pearlstein, "The Washington Post")
It aims to do for small private companies what "In Search of Excellence" did two decades ago for big public companies: shine a light on a handful of business practices the author admires, and which he believes are the reason some companies consistently do better than others. (Joseph Nocera, "The New York Times")
"Small Giants" is one of the most relevant and articulate arguments for staying bold and creative, intimate and manageable as I have ever read. I guarantee that expression and the arguments for staying small will cause a collective sigh of relief from thousands of entrepreneurs. (Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop)
Bo Burlinghams done for private companies what Jim Collins did for public companies in "Good to Great." (Steve Pearlstein, "The Washington Post")
Bo Burlinghamas done for private companies what Jim Collins did for public companies in "Good to Great." (Steve Pearlstein, "The Washington Post")
This well-written book should inspire thousands of entrepreneurs to reject a mantra of growth for growth's sake in favor of a passionate dedication to becoming the absolute best. Bo Burlingham reminds us of a vital truth: big does not equal great, and great does not equal big. (Jim Collins, author of "Good to Great")
With new management books arriving by the boatload, Bo Burlingham has somehow managed the near impossible?he's given us a true original. Moreover, in the process he may have ?discovered? the most interesting and under-reported corner of the U.S. economy. In short, "Small Giants" is a Large Masterpiece. Bo's reporting is stupendous, and his writing and storytelling skills make the book equal parts fun and profound. (Tom Peters, author of "In Search of Excellence")
The fourteen companies that Bo Burlingham... features in his new book "Small Giants" demonstrate conclusively that a company can resist the temptation to keep getting bigger and bigger?and wind up better for it. (Cecil Johnson, "The Fort Worth Star- Telegram")
For all you harried entrepreneurs out there, Bo Burlingham has a reassuring message: Relax. Bigger isn?t necessarily better. The wonderful stories in "Small Giants" show you how to prosper by retaining the vision of excellence that got you into business in the first place. (Rosabeth Moss Kanter, author of "Confidence")
