"Business adviser Cross is a steadfast believer in the power of the American small business. Though half a million new businesses are founded each year, most fail because the founders lack the overarching knowledge of how to run a business. In response, Cross has developed a framework to structure the reader's thinking about how to tackle this challenge. He takes readers through the four dimensions that describe all businesses (needs, positioning, customers, and competencies), his process of Vision Strategy Execution, a business's natural life cycle, managing funds, and demystifying leadership and management, as well as offering scripts for discussions and negotiations, and tips for instituting values a remarkably readable game plan for business success." (Publishers Weekly)
"Cross shares lessons learned from his 25 plus years' experience transforming underperforming companies into industry powerhouses. Today's business environment has shifted from the post-World War II era focus on economies of scale in production and ready access to semiskilled labor, raw materials, and capital to new technologies and lower labor costs. Cross presents solid ideas on how to run smaller enterprises better suited to a 21st-century economy. His practical advice covers how to use simple analytical tools and business metrics to understand the business, how to align all the company's efforts through his "Vision Strategy Execution" structure, and how to review operations continually to take advantage of opportunities and changes in the environment. VERDICT Cross's relatively short guide focuses on pragmatic, realistic suggestions any entrepreneur or CEO can easily adapt to his or her own environment. Recommended for readers interested in starting or running a small business." (Library Journal)
"Take a very bright architect who is trained to know how things 'fit.' Put him in positions of leadership where he invests the front half of his career as a consultant to CEO's and the back half actually being the CEO and what do you get? One incredibly believable person. Read Just Run It! because it will benefit every company leader and provide personal gifts for a lifetime. " (John C. Adams, Retired Chairman and CEO, AutoZone Inc.)
"Save your time and money on consultants. Everything that Dick Cross shares with us comes from one of those rare generous birds who has taken the theoretical and applied it to real time practice of running a company. Just Run It! is a must-read for anyone in management who is searching for strategic enlightenment." (Mike Toth, Founder and Chief Creative Director, Toth & Co)
"Dick Cross's capacity to distill outwardly complicated concepts into comprehensible, value creating action steps is rare. Read the book—you'll learn something and be entertained." (Peter Lamm, Fenway Partners)
"Having owned, operated, and invested in many businesses over the years I can say that Just Run It! goes right to the core of running successful companies—outlining and explaining core platforms succinctly and with emphasis on fundamentals. Dick's focus is 'old school' in that people matter most, both on the inside and with customers/clients on the outside. Just Run It! presents a framework for businesses of all types in dramatically simple and easy-to-read fashion." (Frederic H. Mayerson, Chairman, The Frederic H. Mayerson Group, The Walnut Group)
Just Run It! is a critical reference piece in assessing and managing every investment. The key to success is the best possible understanding up front, a clear vision of where a company can achieve value creation, and most importantly, an actionable plan. (Robert Egan, Alston Capital Partners)
Dick Cross has worked with underperforming companies for more than 25 years, helping mainstream businesses get "unstuck" to achieve their next level of success. Dick has been the Chairman, CEO or President at eight of those companies, and has mentored more than 100 CEOs at others. A frequent lecturer, he is the creator of The President's Course at Harvard's Executive Program at the Graduate School of Design. Dick spent much of his career in private equity circles, including Fenway Partners, and currently serves on the board of numerous corporate, philanthropic and civic organizations. His goal is to spread the word that running your business is easier than you think.
