Business Storybook

What can you learn from the most successful companies in the world? The Capital One Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled an unlikely credit card startup to revolutionize the credit industry. After twenty-five years in the credit card business, Capital One has earned its place in wallets across the world. When the company's two young founders set out to individualize credit, the financial world thought they were crazy... until it was clear that they weren't. Working in the banking industry, Richard Fairbank and Nigel Morris saw that the one-size-fits all standard that the credit card companies employed was leaving big money on the table. They cracked the code and figured out how to customize the credit card experience by offering personalized designs, credit limits, and rewards, revolutionizing the way the credit card industry operated. Known for their ubiquitous advertising campaigns with A-list talent such as Jennifer Garner and Samuel L. Jackson, the youngest bank in the business was once turned down by every one of their competitors but has since grown to dominate the industry. Through the story of Capital One, you'll learn: • How to recognize underserved sections of a market. • How rejection by every company in the business doesn't mean it's time to quit. • How to determine what people want and how to get it to them. • And how to employ marketing campaigns that will change the way people live.

Imagine if you could see the playbook that returned a struggling tech empire to the top of the tech leaderboard. The Microsoft Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled the tech company to once again become a leading tech innovator. It wasn't so long ago that Microsoft and its Windows operating system dominated the tech industry so much so that they faced antitrust charges for what was perceived by many to be predatory, monopolistic practices. Less than a decade later, the tide had turned and Microsoft lost its dominance in the personal tech marketplace amidst the launch of the iPhone, the rise of Google, and the cloud computing phenomenon. But, now, Microsoft is back on top. The company's value is soaring and once again Microsoft is being recognized as a tech leader once again. What changed? Since Satya Nadella took over as CEO, the company has gone through significant changes. The company culture has become one of creativity and innovation, no longer requiring that all products revolve around Windows. The company has reevaluated their business lines, getting rid of underperforming initiatives such as smartphones, and focused on the area of growth where the company excelled: the cloud. Through the story of Microsoft, you'll learn: • How to build a nimble company culture that supports innovation and growth. • How to return a forgotten brand to the spotlight. • How to recognize and build upon successful business lines, while letting go of underperforming initiatives. • When to change the entire way you do business. And much, much more.

What can you learn from the most successful companies in the world? The Spanx Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled entrepreneur Sara Blakely to dominate the shapewear industry and become a billionaire. Sara Blakely had a problem. She had a beautiful pair of white designer pants hanging in her closet just calling out to her to wear them, even though they accented her least favorite feature: cellulite. After searching high and low for a solution and coming up empty, an idea was born: Spanx. The Spanx Story chronicles Sara's journey from long nights researching patent and trademark law, to years of cold shoulders she received from the titans of the pantyhose industry, to the cold call that led to the shelves of Nieman Marcus. It was a long road of incredible hard work and determination that led Spanx to become the iconic brand it is today. This book educates and inspires entrepreneurs and innovators to find the problem for their solutions and persevere through all of the hard work that goes into building a billion-dollar company. Through Sara's story, you will learn: • How to develop an idea and turn it into a business. • How to start a company with very little capital by thinking outside of the box and dedicating every spare moment to your goal. • How to recognize when it's better to hire a CEO than to be the CEO. And, how to stay the course and continue to believe in your idea, despite naysayers and going against an industry resistant to innovation.

Imagine if you were there, taking notes, as a small pizza joint became one of the most successful restaurants in the world. The Domino's Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and business practices that made the iconic pizza chain the innovative restaurant and e-commerce leader it is today. As one of the most technologically advanced fast-food chains in the market, Domino's has cemented their reputation for innovation, paved in industry-leading profits. In February 2018, according to Ad Age, Domino's unseated Pizza Hut to become the largest pizza seller worldwide in terms of sales. Rather than just tampering with a recipe that was working, they decided to think outside of the pizza box by creating digital tools that emphasized convenience and put the customer first. For the first time, the adaptable strategies behind the rise and dominance of Domino's are outlined in these pages. Through the story of the Domino's, you'll learn: • How to create meaningful innovation without changing the core of the product that people already love. • How to recognize and take advantage of unique opportunities to alleviate your customers' pain points. • How to grow a company by taking a holistic approach to the business. • And, the importance of delivering a quality experience that will keep customers calling for more.

Imagine if you could be a fly on the wall as a family enterprise becomes one of the most successful companies in the world. The Target Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled the big box store to become the retail giant it is today. In an industry that has seen constant disruption over the last two decades, Target has experienced tremendous growth. Establishing a strong eCommerce business and cultivating a sought-after in-store experience has kept this iconic brand at the top of the retail game. From same-day fulfillment to brand partnerships, Target has successfully fought the domination of online marketplaces by thinking outside the big box. The growth, prosperity, and expansion strategies that can be gleaned from the history of the Target Corporation amounts to a masterclass in business. Yet, the Target story has never been adequately presented. Until now. Through the story of Target, you'll learn: • How to remain nimble in times of tremendous change. • How to reinvent a six-decade-old iconic brand. • How to know when to build it yourself or bring in the experts. • When to change the entire way you do business. And much, much more.

What can you learn from the world's most successful companies? The Marvel Studios Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled a struggling comic book publisher to parlay the power of myth and storytelling to become one of history's most successful movie studios. Marvel characters have been shaping pop culture for decades and when comic books were no longer keeping the company afloat, Marvel Studios was born. Marvel Studios is the multibillion-dollar home to iconic franchises. They are known for creating brilliant multilayered worlds and storylines that allow their audiences to escape into a fantasy and inspire the creative side of every viewer. But, behind those visionaries is a well-oiled storytelling machine dedicated to getting the Hulk's smash fists in the hands of every child and a sea of Spiderman costumes deployed every Halloween. This book educates readers on how one of the largest creative companies in the planetary universe runs their business and keeps their fans and their parent company, Disney, counting the profits. Through the story of Marvel Studios, you'll learn: How to recognize and pursue additional revenue streams. How a company can successfully balance the creative with business to appease investors and fans alike. And how to keep a decades-old superhero franchise new and exciting without losing sight of its roots.

What can you learn from the most successful companies in the world? The NBA Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled the exciting basketball league to become the powerhouse it is today. Today's NBA is filled with larger-than-life figures, like LeBron James, James Harden and Stephen Curry, who effortlessly dominate the courts. But it wasn't always so glamorous. The multi-billion-dollar league has grown from humble roots into a sports powerhouse that is loved around the world due to savvy digital marketing and a global focus. Thanks to the popularity of individual players and team rivalries, the NBA has survived league mergers and financial crisis. Teams have earned the respect of millions of loyal fans who are dedicated to the success of each and every organization within the league. Through the story of the NBA, you'll learn: • How to keep a dream alive when it seems like no one wants to see it come true. • How a company can find their way out of a financial crisis. • How presentation is the secret sauce to the success of any show. • And how a company can build a loyal fanbase who will do anything to keep them on top.