Thinking Inside the Box: The 12 Timeless Rules for Managing a Successful Business

For the past decade and more, everyone in business was told that success in a rapidly changing world required constant "thinking outside the box." The result has often been financially and ethically disastrous. Now, in a radical reassessment of what really works, this book shows that the business world lost its way when it forgot how to think inside the box. Challenging the prevailing wisdom and trend-of-the-minute management advice, award-winning journalist and international businessman Kirk Cheyfitz lays out a set of historically proven principles he calls "The Box" -- the 12 unchanging rules for building, expanding, and maintaining a strong business. Everyone with an interest in business -- whether students, entrepreneurs, corporate managers, consultants, or CEOs -- will benefit from the brilliant and fundamental insights of "Thinking Inside The Box: "- Learn to tell the difference between what can and cannot be controlled by management, and focus on the areas that will make the most difference. - Understand the economic principles that never change so you can devote your attention to the things that are changing all the time. - Rediscover the critical discipline of planning for profit. - Understand why some acquisitions work and most don't. - And much more... The book draws on in-depth research, Cheyfitz's long personal experience as an entrepreneur and corporate manager, and revealing interviews with business leaders such as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Prudential Securities CEO John Strangfeld. Combining these elements, Cheyfitz presents a compelling, reliable, and well-documented account of successful business practices that have met the challenges of theages. With a practical approach and carefully documented examples, Cheyfitz mercilessly exposes the hype and inaccuracies of so-called business gurus preaching the need for constant "revolution" in business. From its very first words -- a preface titled "Don't Do Anything Stupid" -- to its very last, "Thinking Inside The Box" demonstrates that the only way to think outside the box productively is to learn each plank in The Box and practice it daily. For the first time, a book explains what the dot-com crash, the telecom disaster, the Enron collapse, and all the myriad, multibillion-dollar business catastrophes of the last decade have in common -- a total lack of regard for (or complete ignorance of) the basic rules of business. Here, finally, is the indispensable book that shows managers and investors where to find the path to enduring success again.

Review :
Donald J. Hall Jr. President, CEO, and vice chairman, Hallmark Cards, Inc. "Thinking Inside The Box" is a wise and provocative book that will change the way you think about innovation in business. Kirk Cheyfitz reminds us that successful innovation is about being more effective, not just different. He makes the supremely important point that true innovation always must be built on the stable, unchanging foundation of business's timeless fundamentals. We must thank Cheyfitz for guiding us through these fundamental principles, without which innovation has no relevance. Arthur F. RyanChairman and CEO, Prudential Financial, Inc. "Thinking Inside The Box" is packed with valuable information for anyone trying to run a business in the current dramatically changing environment. It will be particularly helpful in showing how managers can make a business truly customer-focused. Kirk Cheyfitz's wide-ranging research and fascinating stories combine historical perspective with back-to-basics common sense. Donald J. Hall Jr.President, CEO, and vice chairman, Hallmark Cards, Inc. "Thinking Inside The Box" is a wise and provocative book that will change the way you think about innovation in business. Kirk Cheyfitz reminds us that successful innovation is about being more effective, not just different. He makes the supremely important point that true innovation always must be built on the stable, unchanging foundation of business's timeless fundamentals. We must thank Cheyfitz for guiding us through these fundamental principles, without which innovation has no relevance. Joe McAdamsPresident and CEO, The Affinity Group, Inc. At last, a blast of fresh air and sanity -- blowing away all the hot air, hype, and trendy buzzwords of so-called business gurus preaching the latest Management Technique of the Week. "Thinking Inside The Box" shows us how to get back to the fundamentals of moving your product or service past competitors and actually providing an executable advantage. A brilliant, pragmatic, much-needed book. Lee A. lacoccaCheyfitz has the guts to point out a simple truth: American business has gotten itself into deep trouble by listening to so-called out-of-the-box ideas from a lot of consultants and gurus who know how to run their mouths but have never run a business. Innovation is a crucial ongoing process, but as Cheyfitz says, everything begins with fundamental business principles that haven't changed since long before Adam Smith first defined capitalism. Everybody in business would profit from reading "Thinking Inside The Box." Stan RappChairman emeritus, MRM Partners Worldwide, author of the "MaxiMarketing" trilogy and "Max-e-Marketing in the Net Future" There is nothing more important to any business -- in sad times or glad times -- than the 12 timeless rules Kirk Cheyfitz spotlights for "Thinking Inside The Box." With the keen eye of an investigative reporter and the experience of his own success in the business world, Cheyfitz cuts through to the bare bones of what you need to know to survive and to prosper in the early years of the twenty-first century. As Cheyfitz shows so clearly, there is little to gain from thinking outside the box until the box itself is a solid platform supporting you underfoot.