{"product_id":"the-soft-edge-9781118829424","title":"The Soft Edge","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat Does it Take to Get Ahead Now--And Stay There?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh performance has always required shrewd strategy and superb execution. These factors remain critical, especially given today's unprecedented business climate. But Rich Karlgaard--Forbes publisher, entrepreneur, investor, and board director--takes a surprising turn and argues that there is now a third element that's required for competitive advantage. It fosters innovation, it accelerates strategy and execution, and it cannot be copied or bought. It is found in a perhaps surprising place--your company's values.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eKarlgaard examined a variety of enduring companies and found that they have one thing in common; all have leveraged their deepest values alongside strategy and execution, allowing them to fuel growth as well as weather hard times. Karlgaard shares these stories and identifies the five key variables that make up every organization's \"soft edge\" \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTrust: \u003c\/b\u003e Northwestern Mutual has built a $25 million dollar revenue juggernaut on trust, the foundation of lasting success. Learn how to create an environment that engenders trust and propels high performance.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eSmarts: \u003c\/b\u003e In most technical fields your formal education quickly becomes out of date. How do you keep up? Learn how the Mayo Clinic, Stanford University women's basketball team, and others stay on top by relentlessly pursuing an advantage through smarts.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTeamwork: \u003c\/b\u003e Since collaboration and innovation are a must in the global economy, effective teamwork is vital. Learn how global giant FedEx stays focused and how nimble Nest Labs relies on lean teams with cognitive diversity.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eTaste: \u003c\/b\u003e Clever product design and integration are proxies for intelligence because they make customers feel smart. But taste goes further into deep emotional engagement. Specialized Bicycles calls it \"the elusive spot between data truth and human truth.\" How can you consistently make products or services that trigger these emotional touch points?\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eStory: \u003c\/b\u003e Companies that achieve lasting success have an enduring and emotionally appealing story. What's your company's story? How do you tell it \u003ci\u003eyour\u003c\/i\u003e way? Gain the ability to create a powerful narrative in a world where outsiders often exercise the louder voice.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRich Karlgaard\u003c\/b\u003e is the publisher of \u003ci\u003eForbes\u003c\/i\u003e magazine and author of its \"Innovation Rules\" column. He has been a longtime panelist on cable TV's most popular business show, as well as a successful entrepreneur; Karlgaard co-founded \u003ci\u003eUpside\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, Garage.com, and Silicon Valley's premier business forum, the 7,500-member Churchill Club. He is a past regional winner of Ernst \u0026amp; Young's \"Entrepreneur of the Year\" award. Karlgaard, a Stanford graduate, resides in Silicon Valley. For more information, please visit RichKarlgaard.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50524269707538,"sku":"9781118829424","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_72233519-dc34-43dc-95e1-ec7f0f437341.jpg?v=1731175892","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-soft-edge-9781118829424","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}