How One Great Employee Can Change the World

At the beginning of every great business success there's a human capital story, and that's certainly the case with the iPod. In just over four years, the iPod/iTunes product and business strategy has helped Apple double its market cap, establish over 80 percent market share in two very profitable industries, and drive almost $3 billion per year in revenue.

But the story of the iPod is not just a story about innovation. It's also a testament to one company's ability above all others to hire a true visionary. It's a story that every executive hoping to take their company to the next level should read.

Retention: Its mostly common sense

Much is being written right now about retention. Fears are growing that employees will soon begin leaving in much greater numbers than they have over the past few years. I think that this is largely an unfounded fear. Good people (and bad) tend to stay where they are unless there are rather large reasons to move.

These reasons can be simple and easy to fix, such as not being paid enough, or as complex and hard to fix as a bad relationship with co-workers and management. What is more difficult is knowing who to focus on keeping and who not to.