The 5 Secrets of Enduring Companies

By on August 9, 2014
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Japan has the privilege of claiming more than 20,000 companies that are over 100 years old (and a few that are more than 1000 years old!), so it is no surprise that Japan has a specific word for long-lived companies – shinise(老舗). This longevity is even more impressive when put in the context of research by Yale University Professor, Richard Foster that shows that the average lifespan of leading US companies has decreased from 67 years in the 1920s to just 15 years today!

Understanding what it takes to build a business that will stand the test of time is a topic that has captured the attention of the business world and been the subject of much research in both east and west. While entire books on the topic have been written by researchers such as Jim Collins, author of Built to Last, the following are 5 themes that appear consistently in the findings from a variety of experts:

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About Andrea Jacques

Andrea Jacques is the founder of Kyosei Consulting and the author of Wabi-Sabi Wisdom: Inspiration for an Authentic Life (available on Amazon.com). She has spent more than 30 years developing the potential of people and businesses worldwide, five of which were in Japan. A dynamic speaker, coach, and facilitator, her work integrates spiritual insight with top-tier leadership, wellness and sustainability consulting to help individuals and organizations build thriving, purpose-driven cultures where employees know their work truly matters. She can be contacted through her website at www.kyoseiconsulting.com