The Breakthrough Company: How Everyday Companies Become Extraordinary Performers (Hardcover)

by Keith R. McFarland (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Keith McFarland is about to be added to the list of the top business thinkers--Tom Peters, Jim Collins, Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey.  If you buy only one business book in 2008, this one should be it." 
Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

"Greatly needed! Features marvelous analysis of the principles that enable entrepreneurial enterprises to survive and thrive. It will inspire those in charge to become true leaders by rejecting 'small' goals rooted in ego and embracing visionary values that impart moral authority up and down the organizational ladder. I urge you to read this book: it's impressively researched, beautifully illustrated, and clearly written."
Stephen R. Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

McFarland successfully tackles the ever-present question for ambitious entrepreneurs: just how do you go from small to big and prosper?  This book has the makings of a classic.
Steve Forbes, President & CEO, Editor-in-Chief, Forbes

THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is a book that refreshingly and persuasively backs up -- with a wealth of hard evidence -- its contrarian claims regarding how to elevate a growing business to undreamt of levels...Think GOOD TO GREAT for those still small enough to think big.
Bob Eckert, Chairman & CEO, Mattel, Inc

"Disdainful of  too-easily-accepted 'common wisdom,' zealous at getting to the real facts of what makes some companies stall out and others thrive, Keith McFarland's THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY offers a goldmine of insight to anyone who's ever dreamed that the business they lead can become a 'player.'"
The Honorable Jack Kemp, Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Former Vice-Presidential Candidate, Former US Congressman.

"A seriously great book...Drawing from an unusually detailed and careful study of both excellent and average performers, McFarland offers a set of powerful insights into building a breakthrough organization. Managers and employees alike will find his conclusions at once provocative and useful, since they focus on the ways that ordinary people combine to do extraordinary things.
William Barnett, Thomas M. Siebel Professor in Business, Leadership, Strategy & Organizations, Graduate Business School, Stanford University

The Breakthrough Company rocks!  Start this book and you ll find yourself looking forward to evenings, weekends and plane flights so you can read more!  More than even the iconic books in this category, this look at the key issues for growing companies provides a deep dive in terms of substance and real-world examples.  The margins of my own copy are quite literally covered with notes on ideas inspired by what McFarland has to say.
Brad Duea, President, Napster

This book is unique.  Every paragraph has tucked within it one jewel of insight - and sometimes more. Fair warning to anyone who immerses himself in this analysis: you ll find yourself underlining every page!
Bob Galvin, formerly, CEO Motorola

THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is in-your-gut persuasive. The best books, like this one, change your mind about something important and with each rereading prove freshly inspirational.  McFarland's insightful drill-down doesn't just answer the questions that keep growth-company leaders up at night, it s an invaluable compass pointing the way to best-in-class performance."
Bob Geiman, Partner, Polaris Venture Partners

In THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY Keith McFarland gives us the clever metaphor of the Business Bermuda Triangle. The book provides insightful observations and advice that will help guide a business leader through --Caroline Little, CEO & Publisher, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review
"Keith McFarland is about to be added to the list of the top business thinkers--Tom Peters, Jim Collins, Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey.  If you buy only one business book in 2008, this one should be it." 
—Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

"Greatly needed! Features marvelous analysis of the principles that enable entrepreneurial enterprises to survive and thrive. It will inspire those in charge to become true leaders by rejecting 'small' goals rooted in ego and embracing visionary values that impart moral authority up and down the organizational ladder. I urge you to read this book: it's impressively researched, beautifully illustrated, and clearly written."
—Stephen R. Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“McFarland successfully tackles the ever-present question for ambitious entrepreneurs: just how do you go from small to big–and prosper?  This book has the makings of a classic.”
—Steve Forbes, President & CEO, Editor-in-Chief, Forbes

“THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is a book that refreshingly and persuasively backs up -- with a wealth of hard evidence -- its contrarian claims regarding how to elevate a growing business to undreamt of levels…Think GOOD TO GREAT for those still small enough to think big.”
—Bob Eckert, Chairman & CEO, Mattel, Inc

"Disdainful of  too-easily-accepted 'common wisdom,' zealous at getting to the real facts of what makes some companies stall out and others thrive, Keith McFarland's THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY offers a goldmine of insight to anyone who's ever dreamed that the business they lead can become a 'player.'"
—The Honorable Jack Kemp, Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Former Vice-Presidential Candidate, Former US Congressman.

"A seriously great book…Drawing from an unusually detailed and careful study of both excellent and average performers, McFarland offers a set of powerful insights into building a breakthrough organization. Managers and employees alike will find his conclusions at once provocative and useful, since they focus on the ways that ordinary people combine to do extraordinary things.”
—William Barnett, Thomas M. Siebel Professor in Business, Leadership, Strategy & Organizations, Graduate Business School, Stanford University

“The Breakthrough Company rocks!  Start this book and you’ll find yourself looking forward to evenings, weekends and plane flights so you can read more!  More than even the iconic books in this category, this look at the key issues for growing companies provides a deep dive in terms of substance and real-world examples.  The margins of my own copy are quite literally covered with notes on ideas inspired by what McFarland has to say.”
—Brad Duea, President, Napster

“This book is unique.  Every paragraph has tucked within it one jewel of insight—- and sometimes more. Fair warning to anyone who immerses himself in this analysis: you’ll find yourself underlining every page!”
—Bob Galvin, formerly, CEO Motorola

“THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is in-your-gut persuasive. The best books, like this one, change your mind about something important–and with each rereading prove freshly inspirational.  McFarland's insightful drill-down doesn't just answer the questions that keep growth-company leaders up at night, it’s an invaluable compass pointing the way to best-in-class performance."
—Bob Geiman, Partner, Polaris Venture Partners

“In THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY Keith McFarland gives us the clever metaphor of the Business Bermuda Triangle. The book provides insightful observations and advice that will help guide a business leader through pivotal times of a company’s growth. McFarland’s focus on the realities of managing costs, listening to customers and responding with agility to external factors makes this book a compelling “how to” on thriving in today's business world.” 
—Shantanu Narayen, President and COO, Adobe Systems

“I loved THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY…it’s a cornerstone business book and a must read for any senior executive.  McFarland, backed by considerable research, describes the characteristics that allow a small to medium size company to grow into a breathrough company --one that’s significant, lasting and influences the market.”
—Caroline Little, CEO & Publisher, Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI)

“Most business books really should really be articles–THE BREAKTHROUGH COMPANY is different.  As a CEO of a company approaching a billion in revenues, I can tell you that his book passes the ‘Monday Morning Test’–you’ll finish it with a list of things you’ll do differently on Monday morning.  I only wish Keith had published the book years ago!”
—Scott Olivet, CEO, Oakley Inc.

"In an increasingly entrepreneurial economy, fast-growing, innovative firms will be absolutely central to future economic success. With keen insight and extensive analysis, McFarland helps to fill a gap in our
—Carl J. Schramm, President and CEO, Kauffman Foundation, and author of The International Imperative

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Crown Business; 1 edition (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307352188
• ISBN-13: 978-0307352187
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,270 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional and crisp business book, January 26, 2008

By	Wayne Strom "Old Eagle Ears" (Malibu, California) - See all my reviews

The Breakthrough Company: How Everyday Companies Become Extraordinary Performers by Keith R. Mcfarland

Keith McFarland's The Breakthrough Company, is an astute analysis of what makes the difference between companies that become stars and the `also-rans' we never hear about. Based on solid field-research, this book is already ranked as a best seller by the Wall Street Journal. The spirit and style of writing kept my attention. Keith, a one-time Associate Dean in the Pepperdine School of Business and Management, had a reputation for easily establishing rapport and trust. He does this with the reader. McFarland does not take a `flavor of the month' approach to leadership. The book is based on a five-year study of some 7,000 growth companies. While every page conveys important information, the tone is like a candid conversation over a cup of coffee.

I appreciated the well chosen and insightful vignettes which compared two companies with very similar beginnings, in which one became an exceptional performer and the other just survived. One example that is worth the price of the book is the story of how the executives at Intuit bested Microsoft in the small business accounting market. In another vignette, one might wonder how two companies in the same business located a few hours drive apart could have such different performance records. From his face-to-face interviews and careful analysis, McFarland `teases-out' the critical factors.

McFarland's chapter on `Building Company Character' caused me to rethink my understanding of corporate culture. The Breakthrough Company does not claim to be about leadership or ethics, but it is. There is no special section on ethics. The author's discussion of the roots of the word `charisma' is inspiring! He is not referring to the glitter-based charisma of celebrities. Drawing on the writing of the early twentieth-century sociologist Max Weber, charisma is "a devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism, or exemplary character of an individual person." Then McFarland writes "character is sacred." It was at this point half-way through the book that I decided to make it a required reading for all of my MBA students. "Character cannot be faked." He writes that the one characteristic common to all the breakthrough CEOs studied was charisma. "Charismatic leaders inspire us with their character."

A very full index and extensive reference notes will satisfy the academic reader. That McFarland conveniently provides a summary of key ideas at the end of chapters will help my students! I am recommending this book to my executive clients and friends.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful but repetitive repetitive repetitive, February 7, 2008

By	Jack "Jack" (Newburyport) - See all my reviews

Did I say this was repetitive? Its repetitive. Obnoxiously so. I'm not sure why.

Other than that, the book was decent. It gave eight or ten insights into organizational behavior, generating certain responses from leadership behavior and rallying around a given mission.

I'm not sure it is quite as prescriptive as the author may intend even if the chapters were oriented to do so; however, there are some good stories about different organizations and how they achieved growth.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful And Practical Text , January 18, 2008

By	David B. Haynes (Utah United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is the result of an ambitious research effort on the characteristics of middle market firms that crossed over to high levels of sustained financial performance. In contrast to texts like In Search of Excellence or Good To Great, the book focuses on the practices and capabilities necessary for non-behemoth firms to achieve success.

The concepts contained in the book have had a substantive impact on my approach to strategy formulation. The insights can be put to immediate use - versus theoretical constructs with little practical application. By way of example, McFarland explores the dynamic of moving from a founder/leader centric organization to one with shared responsibility for accomplishment.

I was pleased by how well each chapter offers an insiders perspective of the challenges of a entrepreneurial business. And, delighted by the power of the insights to evolve a leadership team toward greater health.

In summary, McFarland has crafted an excellent book for business leaders. I highly recommend it.