No son los grandes los que se comen a los pequenos / It's Not the Big That Eat the Small

by Jennings Haughton

The tortoise and the hare--not to mention a popular '60s-era adage--warned us that Speed Kills. Not so fast, contend Jason Jennings and Laurence Haughton, international consultants who have worked together since 1976. In It's Not the Big That Eat the Small... It's the Fast That Eat the Slow, the two argue that only the swiftest of corporations will thrive in the 21st century. They then outline a program, based on best practices developed by contemporary speedsters like Charles Schwab and AOL that readers can work into their own businesses by similarly focusing on "commerce, resource deployment, and people." Its four parts examine ways to create environments that anticipate the future, reassess operations and personnel and make appropriate adjustments whenever necessary, launch a "crusade" while "staying beneath the radar," and maintain velocity through institutionalization and close customer relationships. "This book will show you how to think and move faster than your competition," they write, adding that "being faster doesn't mean being out of breath. It means being smarter." Many of their suggestions will be familiar to those who follow the business of business improvement, but the singular (and quite convincing) context to which Jennings and Haughton now apply them help make this book unique. --Howard Rothman

Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Nonfiction, Leadership, Management

245 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the first Audible.com book I bought and also my first business book. Lots of great anecdotes on how large companies get bogged down by bureaucracy, incumbent turtles and bozos, and the absence of rules such as learning from mistakes, implementing innovation, letting the best idea win. One idea from the book (which I see appear elsewhere, and probably did not originate from the book) is what to do when you don't like your job: put up with it, leave, or try to change it. The book does give tips on how to change your corporate culture: start a crusade for change, surround yourself with others who want the change to occur.

The book gives examples of companies such as Clear Channel (whom I hate for their monopolistic business practices) AOL, Charles Schwab, Hotmail, Telepizza (a pizza chain in Europe), H&M.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are only mildy curious about the topic, give it a pass. If you really want some good ideas and are going to take a few notes along the way, pick it up.

This is one of those books where the title pretty much tells you the idea. I heard the author a few years ago give a presentation on this topic. Quite frankly, it was a better presentation. The book reads like typical consultant fodder - I will use five businesses as the perfect examples of my ideas and then beat you to death with them.

As much as I think Jennings has a lot of good ideas and many excellent points to make, the book easily could have been half the length. I had to stop myself a few times to realize that I hadn't jumped back in the text because the examples were exactly the same towards the end of the book as they were in the beginning.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been inspired by it so much I apply it to the context of my small business. This book validates the way I believe great service should be delivered thought It can be tiring to always be moving fast, so this is a point I find we need to decide for ourselves when speed may kill us vs help us.

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a few years old now, there are quite a few nuggets of good information in there. The benefit of all theses years hanging okay actually gives you a good protective on the subject and examples used.

[Cathy Sites · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this for work - an absolute chore! Very dated and barely relevant. References to Montgomery Wards- something which some of my co-workers never even heard of. If you're into Charles Schwab's story on repeat (and repeat each chapter) then maybe this one is for you.

[Stamen Stoev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Бързината в наше време не е изключение. Тя е ежедневие. И колкото по-бързо се научим да бъдем гъвкави, толкова по-бързо и успешно ще реализираме своите идеи. Ако са достатъчно добри, разбира се.

[Janine Phelan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but repetitive. Very good ideas

[Tab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite business books and one I've requested employees read. Innovation comes from those companies and individuals who can invent and adapt quickly, change as needed and move at a speed normally not capable by large organizations with heavy bureaucracy. There's a few points within the book that make me scratch my head and question the direction of the author, however these are overshadowed by the overall message.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

it shows the reality....to the fast that eat the slow... just like the rabbit and turtle tale...you know...

[Arie K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book beside Good to Great, need to be quick to grab every opportunities available.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! It's a quick and easy read but also filled with valuable ideas.

[Troy Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a great book

[Steve Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal favourite from the book is the different topics that are indicators to bring monumental changes from legislation / regulation changes to consumer consumption pattern.