SMB (small to medium size businesses) executives often envy (and hate) giant companies because their size can give them advantages (real and perceived) that the SMB don’t enjoy. At the same time, most SMB’s dream of a day when they too are giants in their markets.
Be careful what you ask for. You may get it. Executives will have a better chance of achieving, and maintaining, size with the benefit of a little bit of history of what usually happens to big companies.
The American Business History Center offers a great short article featuring an executive summary of the history of companies that once dominated their industries and why “Giant Companies Rarely Survive.”
If you want to avoid the fate of giants, I’ve previously recommended in this space Jim Collins’ least acknowledged (and perhaps most important) book: “How the Mighty Fall.” If you want a great overview of Mr. Collins’ warning to every business, check out this short interview with Mr. Collins regarding the lessons of book on the Charlie Rose show.
