(Business 2.0) – Ralph Waldo Emerson once famously called consistency "the hobgoblin of little minds." But we'd like to think that's because he never had the chance to meet the folks on the pages that follow—big brains all, with one very important attribute in common: the ability to consistently deliver results that are anything but ordinary. How do they do it, quarter after quarter, year after year, in good economies and bad? Turns out a lot of it comes down to, yes, consistency. To Meg Whitman, it's keeping her focus squarely on the legions of buyers and sellers who are her business. For Jeff Bezos it means never falling into the trap of reacting to the competition. Barry Diller tells us the key is to always follow his curiosity. Anthony Zuiker, creator of C.S.I., says it's all about sticking to the highest standards instead of going for the quick buck.

Over the next 13 pages, you'll hear plenty of similarly good advice from some of the most renowned people in business. We guarantee you'll find at least one valuable lesson in every exchange. And if you learn to execute these ideas consistently, nothing can prevent 2005 from being your most successful year ever.