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Small Thoughts From Big Minds

John Grossmann's article "Thinking Small" [August] was on the mark -- and not without historical context. In it, he makes the point that small improvements can take on lives of their own and reveal opportunities that wouldn't have been possible without the first evolution. One of my favorite historical figures, Benjamin Franklin, was an early adopter of this philosophy. He set up a junto -- a group of industry peers who met every Friday to share comments on any topic. Peer advisory groups like Franklin's offer a safe haven in which a company can test ideas before submitting them to the rigors of the open market.

Michael Sheahan
President
Vision Mentors
Toronto

Say No to Superstars

I really enjoyed reading "The Perils of Hiring Stars" by Alison Stein Wellner [August]. I think too many executives are looking for a savior to come in and rescue their company. As Wellner points out, just because your star player scored high for a rival team, that doesn't mean he'll meet your goals too.

Tina Kerkam
President
Convergence Group, LLC
Duxbury, Mass.

A Case Against Carrots

After reading Cara Cannella's article "Kill the Commissions" [August], I got to thinking: If sales commissions really worked, wouldn't salespeople with the same commission generate similar revenues? But they don't because not all salespeople have the same level of talent. Instead of hiring salespeople indiscriminately and bribing them to sell, we need to hire people who have the talent for the job.

Robert Gately
Owner
Gately Consulting
Hopedale, Mass.

Burying Bias

Adam Hanft's column ["Resisting the Power of Pedigree," August] spoke the truth -- businesses put too much emphasis on pedigrees. I've been in the funeral industry for several years and have faced my own uphill battle because of my age: I am 25 years old and recently opened my own funeral home. I hope people will take Hanft's advice to heart.

Bryan Chandler
Owner
Chandler Funeral Home
Caldwell, Ohio

Better Co-operation

I was excited to read Amy Gunderson's "The Lowly Co-op Gets A Makeover" [August], about new laws that are paving the way for more co-ops in Minnesota, Wyoming, and Tennessee. I have been running co-ops for 15 years, and the only challenges I've faced are addressed by these new laws. I hope more states will adopt similar legislation.

Greg Eisenbarth
Executive Director
Online University Consortium
Park City, Utah

Correction

On page 26 of the August issue, we incorrectly listed the name of the company that makes wireless dog tags. It is InHand Electronics.