Small Giants: Summary Review
This is a summary review of Small Giants containing key details about the book.
What is Small Giants About?
"Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big" is a book written by Bo Burlingham that highlights companies that have chosen to prioritize purpose, values, and culture over growth and profitability.
In Small Giants, the author takes us deep inside fourteen remarkable companies that have chosen to march to their own drummer. They include Anchor Brewing, the original microbrewery; CitiStorage Inc., the premier independent records-storage business; Clif Bar & Co., maker of organic energy bars and other nutrition foods; Righteous Babe Records, the record company founded by singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco; Union Square Hospitality Group, the company of restaurateur Danny Meyer; and Zingerman's Community of Businesses, including the world-famous Zingerman's Deli of Ann Arbor.
Summary Points & Takeaways from Small Giants
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* Purpose-driven companies are more successful in the long run: Companies that have a clear purpose and values tend to have more engaged employees, loyal customers, and a better reputation in their industry.
* Leadership matters: The leadership of a company sets the tone for the culture and drives the company's success. Small Giants are led by passionate and visionary leaders who prioritize purpose and values.
* Culture is key: A strong culture is one of the hallmarks of a Small Giant. These companies have a strong sense of community and values that guide decision-making and behavior.
* Employee satisfaction is important: Companies that prioritize employee happiness and well-being are more likely to have loyal and productive employees who stay with the company for the long-term.
* Small is beautiful: Small Giants are often more nimble and adaptable than large corporations, which allows them to be more responsive to their customers and to change.
* Profits are not the only measure of success: Small Giants are not necessarily focused on maximizing profits. Instead, they measure success based on a range of factors, including purpose, employee satisfaction, and community impact.
* Quality over quantity: Small Giants focus on delivering high-quality products and services, rather than trying to be the biggest player in the market.
* Overall, the book argues that companies can achieve greatness and success by focusing on purpose, values, and culture, rather than just growth and profitability.
Who is the author of Small Giants?
Bo Burlingham is editor at large at Inc. magazine. He has also written for Esquire, Harper's, Mother Jones, and The Boston Globe, among other publications, and is the coauthor, with Jack Stack, of The Great Game of Business and A Stake in the Outcome.
Book details
- Print length: 224 pages
- Genre: Business, Nonfiction, Entrepreneurship
What are the chapters in Small Giants?
Chapter 1 Free to Choose
Chapter 2 Who's in Charge Here?
Chapter 3 The Mona Lisa Principle
Chapter 4 Ties That Bind
Chapter 5 A Culture of Intimacy
Chapter 6 Gait's Gulch
Chapter 7 How Small Giants Fail
Chapter 8 Pass It On
Chapter 9 The Art of Business
Chapter 10 Ten Years On
What is a good quote from Small Giants?
Top Quote: “Success means you’re going to have better problems. I’m very happy with the problems I have now.” (Meaning) - Small Giants Quotes, Bo Burlingham
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: "Burlingham crafts a beautiful collage and analysis of companies that focus on being the best instead of growing like cancer into huge corporations...Bigger is not better, and this book proves it." — Tim Ferriss, in The 4-Hour Workweek
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in enhancing your personal growth, I suggest checking out my list of favorite self-development books. These books have been instrumental in my own personal development and I'm confident they can help you too.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
