Good Company
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3.6 • 16 Ratings
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
A WALL STREET JOURNAL AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
Featuring an introduction by President Jimmy Carter
The Home Depot cofounder and owner of the NFL's
Atlanta Falcons and MLS's Atlanta United shares a vision and a roadmap for
values-based business.
Arthur M. Blank believes that for good companies, purpose and profit can-and
should-go hand in hand. And he should know. Together with cofounder Bernie
Marcus, Blank built The Home Depot from an idea and a dream to a $50
billion-dollar company, the leading home improvement retailer in the world. And
even while opening a new store every 42 hours, they never lost sight of their
commitment to care for their people and communities. In fact, in 2001, The Home
Depot was voted America's most socially responsible company.
Blank left The Home Depot that same year with a burning question: Could the
values and culture that made that company great be replicated? Good Company
takes readers inside the story of how he did just that-turning around a
struggling NFL team, rebooting a near-bankrupt retail chain, building a
brand-new stadium, revitalizing a blighted neighborhood, launching a startup
soccer club, and more.
"When good companies put the wellbeing of their customers, their
associates, and their communities first, financial success will follow,"
Blank writes. "The entrepreneurs and business leaders of today and
tomorrow have an extraordinary opportunity: to prove that through upholding
values we can create value-for the company, for the customer, and for the
community."
Customer Reviews
The Long View
One of my favorite phrases is that money should be in the car but not in the driver’s seat. If money steers your direction you may get more of it but your values will be in the wrong place. Arthur Blank captures on that idea in his book and further shows how values driven leadership will produce more sustainable results and money. The prerequisite is that you have to take the long view.
Through multiple stories of his experiences Mr. Blank demonstrates how his focus on his core values in his decision making paid dividends in the long run. He also shows where not filling his principles came back to cause problems later. The essence of it all is that doing the right thing does pay off in more ways than financially. In his examples, the big payoff is in the impact these decisions have in the lives of his associates.
Capitalism comes in many flavors. It is not one simple economic theory plaid out every day. Mr. Blank is making an argument that capitalism grounded in service and values grows the whole pot for everybody and provides numerous opportunities. More importantly, this approach to capitalism can allow the room for organizations to take on social justice issues that a money driven company would be too sensitive to approach.
Rehasd
More of a eulogy to one man’s ego. Low on useful content, more on his social agenda and pandering to his Atlanta audience. Disappointing
Good Company
Success in multiple different businesses isn’t an accident or luck. Arthur’s focus on culture and values as opposed to an accounting based ROI has produced results....the book captures the “secret sauce”....