Surviving The Test of Time

In a recent article in Business Week, the authors recall the oldest US businesses and industries that have survived the test of time.

Companies like Caswell-Massey (c. 1752, soap & perfume), Jim Beam (c. 1975, spirits), John Deere (c. 1837, equipment), Heinz (c. 1869, food), Apple (c. 1976, technology), and Amazon (c. 1994, ecommerce).

What are the common characteristics among these unsexy, boring, and incredibly successful industry titans?

Hiring the right people, patience, and importantly, responding to consumer needs (market agility).

The corresponding leadership lessons to be gleaned from these exemplars for leaders of small growing enterprises are described in a new book by co-authors Peter Brooks and Gerry Starsia, SURVIVAL to SUCCESS: Leading Small, High-Growth Enterprises.