GO BIG, ONE STOP SHOPPING NEVER WORK..LEARN FROM HISTORY..

It is interesting that many of the BIG companies never learn from history. Over the past six months many of the GO BIG companies who thought that if they had ONE STOP SHOPPING and would satisfy ALL NEEDS have either gone bankrupt or been taken over by others. For instance the Sandy WEIL dream of one stop shopping and being global has failed. This was similar to the fate of Merrill another GO BIG player who is now part of another company BANK OF AMERICA who has merged the COUNTRYWIDE and MERRILL to do the same thing that caused Citi to fail..namely trying to be all things to all people.

Two decades ago, SEARS was the leading retailer in the world...but it decided to become a ONE STOP financial services company, integrating insurance (ALL STATE which it owned) with a real estate and mortgage company AND it not only lost its retail leadership but was forced to sell off the financial service assets.

The story is not just reserved to financial services. General Motors is another failed example of being "all things to all people" and we can find examples in all industries.

So why do companies not learn...why can't they learn that it is STRATEGIC SELECTIVITY AND FOCUS that makes winners and the GO BIG is never the answer.

Bill Rothschild, author of five best selling strategic leadership books..including the most recent THE SECRET TO GE's SUCCESS, which enable leaders to be focused and selective.