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New ideas from dead CEOs

Lasting lessons from business leaders who've gone to the great corner office in the sky.

Thomas Watson Sr.: IBM
Thomas Watson Sr.: IBM
Obstacle:
A small town boy tries to learn salesmanship in an era when salesmen are con men, as likely to be tarred and feathered as trusted.

Innovation:
Tie your customer to your sales force by providing extraordinary, dependable service, while tying the salesmen to the company by treating them fairly and offering generous incentives.

Lesson for today:
You can sell more products by demonstrating dependable service and turning "con" men into trusted advisers.

Giannini

Watson Sr.

Watson Jr.

Ash

Lauder

Sarnoff

Kroc

Morita

Walton

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