Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work (more)

Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs built a great company. Now his son, New CEO Paul Jacobs, has to keep it rocking - and measure up to his dad. (more)

Business needs to be held accountable in developing economies. (more)

Embedding accountability into business practices isn't easy. (more)

Nicholas Negroponte's much-hyped $100 laptop is going into production, but skeptics, including Intel, see weaknesses in his plan. (more)

BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and Saab are luring new carbuyers to the old country with discounts, automotive museums and posh road trips, Fortune's Lawrence Ulrich reports. (more)

To stand out in a world of McLuxury, jewelers are reviving their custom divisions. (more)

Jon Johansen became a geek hero by breaking the DVD code. Now he's liberating iTunes - whether Apple likes it or not. (more)

With the crucial midterm elections upon us, political adversaries Terry McAuliffe and Ed Gillespie handicap the race. (more)

Hot spots, fault lines, and events that might have an impact on global risk. (more)

Bowling alley broker Sandy Hansell, 70 Founder, Sandy Hansell & Associates, Southfield, Mich (more)

The Internet giant's Chinese division files suit against its former president's rival portal, Qihoo. (more)

Google sees YouTube as a platform for a new advertising model. (more)

Amidst backdating options scandals, American Tower uses another legal tactic for hiding executive compensation - backdoor options filtered through a subsidiary. (more)

Trust us. It wasn't OPEC or Republicans trying to influence midterm elections. (more)

The New York Times irks publishing houses and news organizations alike by printing quotes from embargoed books. (more)

As he assumes leadership of Anheuser-Busch, August Busch IV must grapple with increased competition and changing tastes. (more)

Alpine Dynamic Dividend's managers use three distinct strategies to boost their portfolio's payout. (more)

The cable industry is winning its war with the telephone companies to sign up customers. Here are three stocks to buy and one to watch. (more)

Today's lower upper class is seething about the ultrawealthy. (more)

A final word: You've read how the great ones do it, and you've gotten some fine advice, both practical and inspirational. Now it's time to climb the mountain. (more)

We talked to everyone from an NFL kicker to a tech CEO to a Hollywood star to find out what goes into the secret sauce of excellence. (more)

Use humility as a weapon. (more)

It's all in the wrist. (more)

Apply pressure. Repeat as needed. (more)

Unleash the Vulcan within. (more)

Make failure work for you. (more)

Watch your behind. (more)

Trust your senses. (more)

Curb your enthusiasms. (more)

Boeing chief James McNerney has now made his mark at three major companies. How? "Help others get better," he says. (more)

A day with Jim Sinegal, the Merchandising Maestro who gets shoppers to buy 2,250-count packs of Q-Tips and mayo by the drum. (more)

The pursuit of excellence need not be single-minded. That serious hobby of yours? It can, believe it or not, make you better in everything you do, Fortune reports. (more)

Earnings can be misleading, and stock prices are too hyperactive. So what's the best way to measure executive performance? (more)

Stand and deliver. Cut a sweet deal. Rev your reading. Make a name stick - and reap the rewards. (more)

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have made 'South Park' the cornerstone of Comedy Central. Here's how they keep it outrageous. (more)

'Moneyball' author Michael Lewis explains how iconoclasts in business and sports find new ways to succeed, and discusses his new book. (more)

The smart money and smart people behind the private-equity boom. (more)

Our second annual ranking of Global 500 companies. (more)