Enterprising Minnesotans

Enterprising Minnesotans

Author: Stephen George

Publisher: U of Minnesota Press

Published:

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 9781452906485

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Stories of the creative, bold, and diverse men and women throughout Minnesota's history who have built exceptional businesses. Here are portrayals of people driven by an entrepreneurial spirit to found enterprises from 1849 to the present.


Good News -- I Failed, a Story of Inventing in Minnesota

Good News -- I Failed, a Story of Inventing in Minnesota

Author: D. P. Cornelius

Publisher: Hillcrest Publishing Group

Published: 2011-12

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 1937600505

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Dreams - sometimes they change the world, sometimes they just plain fall through. Over the course of a weekend at grandpa's farm near Luverne, Minnesota, 14-year-old Josh Lindstrom gets in touch with his dreams as they spend their time inventing, and grandpa relates the stories of some of the great Minnesota inventors. Success, however, does not come easily. So, is there anything to be learned from the inventors that preceded them, especially those of the aptly named Greatest Generation? Josh and his grandpa discover together that when it comes to dreams of inventing, failure is okay. As Minnesota inventor Earl Bakken had said, "Failure is closer to success than inaction." Some surprises are revealed along the way, and the unexpected ending soars with a heartfelt and compelling, once-in-a-lifetime, encounter. An appendix featuring profiles of the Minnesota 80 serves as a resource of the state's key inventors.


Headquarters Economy

Headquarters Economy

Author: J. Myles Shaver

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018-10-25

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 0192564099

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Metropolitan areas with a high concentration of headquarters from diverse industries stand out as influential, dynamic economies. However, there is little discussion about the characteristics of these 'headquarters economies'. Why do some regions develop vibrant headquarters economies, whereas others do not? The answer lies in understanding the essence of headquarters - the managerial talent pool that guides and governs these companies. By investigating an exemplar headquarters economy - Minneapolis-St. Paul - this volume demonstrates that the talent pool (managers), its movement among companies and industries in a region (mobility), and the nature of its inflow and outflow from a region (migration), can create a virtuous cycle that strengthens regional companies, and draws in additional talent. Comparing the migration pattern of educated, high-earning individuals across metropolitan areas in the United States, and drawing upon a proprietary survey of thousands of headquarters employees in Minneapolis-St. Paul, this book provides supportive evidence for this dynamic. A central insight of the research is that professional managerial talent is a determinant of regional vitality that has largely been overlooked. The underlying factors of managers, mobility, and migration, here identified in the context of Minneapolis-St. Paul, exist in metropolitan areas around the world, demonstrating the scope of application of the research findings, and highlighting the benefit of focusing on these underlying factors.


Global Markets Transformed

Global Markets Transformed

Author: Steven C. Topik

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2014-04-21

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 0674281349

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Transformations -- The sinews of trade -- Commodity chains


Gopher Gold

Gopher Gold

Author: Tim Brady

Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9780873516013

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Reaching back more than 150 years, this collection invites students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff of the University of Minnesota to experience their history firsthand through stories of the glorious moments and awe-inspiring missteps that have made the U of M. Photos.


Ray & Joan

Ray & Joan

Author: Lisa Napoli

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2016-11-15

Total Pages: 370

ISBN-13: 1101984953

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The movie The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, focused the spotlight on Ray Kroc, the man who amassed a fortune as the chairman of McDonald’s. But what about his wife Joan, the woman who became famous for giving away his fortune? Lisa Napoli tells the fascinating story behind the historic couple. Ray & Joan is a quintessentially American tale of corporate intrigue and private passion: a struggling Mad Men–era salesman with a vision for a fast-food franchise that would become one of the world’s most enduring brands, and a beautiful woman willing to risk her marriage and her reputation to promote controversial causes that touched her deeply. Ray Kroc was peddling franchises around the country for a fledgling hamburger stand in the 1950s—McDonald’s, it was called—when he entered a St. Paul supper club and encountered a beautiful young piano player who would change his life forever. The attraction between Ray and Joan was instantaneous and instantly problematic. Yet even the fact that both were married to other people couldn’t derail their roller coaster of a romance. To the outside world, Ray and Joan were happy, enormously rich, and giving. But privately, Joan was growing troubled over Ray’s temper and dark secret, something she was reluctant to publicly reveal. Those close to them compared their relationship to that of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. And yet, this volatility paved the way for Joan’s transformation into one of the greatest philanthropists of our time. A force in the peace movement, she produced activist films, books, and music and ultimately gave away billions of dollars, including landmark gifts to the Salvation Army and NPR. Together, the two stories form a compelling portrait of the twentieth century: a story of big business, big love, and big giving.


The Target Story

The Target Story

Author: Bill Chastain

Publisher: HarperCollins Leadership

Published: 2020-10-27

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 1400218950

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Imagine if you could be a fly on the wall as a family enterprise becomes one of the most successful companies in the world. The Target Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled the big box store to become the retail giant it is today. In an industry that has seen constant disruption over the last two decades, Target has experienced tremendous growth. Establishing a strong eCommerce business and cultivating a sought-after in-store experience has kept this iconic brand at the top of the retail game. From same-day fulfillment to brand partnerships, Target has successfully fought the domination of online marketplaces by thinking outside the big box. The growth, prosperity, and expansion strategies that can be gleaned from the history of the Target Corporation amounts to a masterclass in business. Yet, the Target story has never been adequately presented. Until now. Through the story of Target, you’ll learn: How to remain nimble in times of tremendous change. How to reinvent a six-decade-old iconic brand. How to know when to build it yourself or bring in the experts. When to change the entire way you do business. And much, much more.