Big Think Strategy

How to Leverage Bold Ideas and Leave Small Thinking Behind

By: Bernd H. Schmitt

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

How did Apple rebound from a decade-long slump? By creating a product, the iPod, that transformed not just the company, but the entire music industry. How did Whole Foods turn itself into a supermarket empire? By challenging the sacred cows of the food business. And how did Dove differentiate its line of beauty products? By creating the concept of "real beauty".

In Big Think Strategy, Bernd Schmitt shows you how to "think big" by sourcing and implementing bold ideas that change markets.

We all know that businesses need creative and innovative strategies to compete. But as Schmitt points out, conventional corporate wisdom, which eschews risk taking and rewards small thinking, discourages the kind of bold ideas needed to change markets. Big Think Strategy is the antidote to such corporate inertia. Through business case studies and commentaries on cultural phenomena, Schmitt uncovers the essence of bold leadership and the sources of revolutionary change.

Schmitt carefully breaks down his approach to create simple tools that can be adapted and applied within any company. He gives step-by-step instructions for sourcing innovative ideas, evaluating them, turning them into strategy, and executing them, as well as how to establish organizational structures that will sustain long-term "big thinking" within your company.

Schmitt's irreverent narrative style makes for lively, entertaining listening, as he draws on his diverse personal passions, steak, classical music, and good haircuts, to make his points. In Big Think Strategy, you will learn how to look outside the box for the bold, new ideas that will drive your firm's success.

©2007 Bernd H. Schmitt (P)2008 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"There is not a bolder, more creative thinker in marketing than Schmitt; and so it is no surprise that Big Think Strategy provides a much-needed fresh look at strategy. It is a must-read for leaders at all levels of the organization." (Kevin Lane Keller, Professor of Marketing, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth)

Great Book and highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book and loved how the author presented the concept of the Big Think. It was a book I listened to while walking every night trying to get in shape. It seemed every 20 ft I was telling myself, "hey, hes right on the money on that." I also liked the examples given. Nothing was to difficult. Lastly, I found teh book was interesting and exciting to read the whol eway through. No dips or chapters that sucked...the whole thing was very fluid.

So confused

I cant tell if the book was worthless ti me or maybe the author was just so far above me intellectually that I couldn’t see the wisdom. Either way, not my cup of tea.