Wake Up, American Business The first and last words of partnering and other hot new business practices, by the man behind the billion dollar sales partnership between Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart. In 1987, Lou Pritchett, the vice president of sales for P&G, had a revolutionary idea. He invited Sam Walton, the president of Wal-Mart, to join him on a two-day canoe trip, during which he made a surprisingly practical proposal. This now legendary trip led to one of the most successful corporate partnerships in American businesss Since leaving P&G, Pritchett has delighted corporate audiences nationwide with his wit and wisdom on such issues as partnering, leading, selling, marketing, and managing. Now Lou Pritchett captures his refreshing, no-nonsense, management and sales strategies in Stop Paddling & Start Rocking the Boat. Pritchett tells hundreds of stories from his 36 years at P&G to show how companies can initiate and maintain a love affair with their customers. He writes about: the lessons of partnering;
the changing market environment and its effects on customers, suppliers, and
employees;
how success can be the greatest enemy of inovation;
how to work on the system rather than in it; and
entrepreneurial management- new ways to develop and utilize individual talents This eye-opening book helps both individuals and companies take advantage of new- but proven- strategies that will help them meet their customers needs most efficiently while driving out excess costs.
About the Author
Lou Pritchett is one of corporate Americas true living legends- an acclaimed author, dynamic teacher, and one of the worlds most highly rated speakers. He is acknowledged in numerous books and periodicals and by savvy successful corporate executives everywhere as the foremost leader in change management.
It was Lou Pritchett who changed the way America does business by creating an audacious concept that came to be known as Partnering.
Lou Pritchett rose from soap salesman to Vice-President, Sales and Customer Development for Procter and Gamble and over the course of 36 years, made corporate history as an Agent of Change at P&G. He stood at the vanguard of corporate futurists to challenge a hidebound corporate giant to face the future by creating the future, thus ensuring its continuing role as one of Americas great corporate success stories. A WHITE WATER RIDE INTO HISTORY
It was Lou Pritchett who, in 1987, boldly engineered an adventuresome partnership between two corporate titans. Lou Pritchett talked Sam Walton, the founder and Chairman of Wal-Mart, into getting into a canoe to ride the rapids of the South Fork of the Spring River in Arkansas. By the end of that white water ride, these two visionaries had agreed to change the way America did business. In 1989, Lou retired from his post at P&G to spread the Gospel of Change.
THE REAL SECRET OF SUCCESS
Over the last ten years, Lou Pritchett has become one of Americas most popular speakers on customer partnering, change management and the growing importance of the human factor in the tidal wave of 21st century technology. His presentations, always delivered with humor and enthusiasm, have inspired long-established Fortune 500 companies and upstart entrepreneurs alike. He has bought his message of corporate success to companies throughout the USA and around the world...big and small, old and new, to those making five million and those making 50 billion, to companies that have been around 100 days and those that have survived 100 years. Those companies and affiliated organizations all have learned from Lou Pritchett how to survive and succeed by leading change in an unforgiving world of global economic revolution.
