The Paradox of Excellence: How Great Performance Can Kill Your Business

By David Mosby, Michael Weissman, Michael Weissman

Book Overview

Are you striving for excellence yet find your efforts increasingly taken for granted and undervalued? You're not alone. Many companies discover their improved performance doesn't translate into higher perceived value. In fact, it simply shifts the customer's expectations upward, causing the customer to take the new, improved performance for granted. High-performance companies unwittingly create unrealistic customer expectations that become impossible to meet. In this important book, the authors use a realistic story that illustrates the paradox of excellence3/4the better you perform, the more invisible you become to everything but bad news3/4shows the symptoms and causes, and provides clear guidance for overcoming this perplexing dilemma. The Paradox of Excellence introduces an entertaining story with characters that are easy to relate to, ideas that can be readily implemented, and a practical framework for achieving long-term success.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787981397
• ISBN13: 9780787981396
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Absolutely worth reading

Like most people with too much to read and too many books piling up on my desk, it was great to grab this one. I read it in an hour, and I'm putting the concept to use immediately. Well worth the time to read this one.

Provokingly scary

Provides excellent analogy on how our own business strives for excellence while we forget about who and why we aspire to that level. Excellent read!

It CAN happen to you - Here's how to prevent it

This easy to read, but insightful book has put an eloquent name to a problem that plagues many businesses. The Paradox of Excellence was something that my company struggled through several years ago...if only we'd had this book, we'd have saved hours of struggle AND several clients. Mosby and Weissman have crafted an excellent book. Similar to the books of Patrick Lencioni, the bulk of the book is delivered in an imminently readable parable. This makes it a quick and fun read. But, as most great teachers teachers know, the parable exists to demonstrate the core principles...in this case how to keep your business from becoming invisible except when you have a problem. I highly recommend this book.

Do Not Ever Be Invisible Again ! !

Great insight into business & personal activities - you need to "toot your own horn", this tells you Where, When, How, & Why to take action so you (or your comapny) is not invisible. Remember Nolan Ryan well states it: "It ain't bragging, if you can do it". My Husband is making it a gift to each of his APICS Certification Class students.

Ever Been Priced Out?

An awesome book if you ever have felt you were on the loosing end of a bid but know your total package is better. Mosby and Weissman have created an easy to read story about how to focus on value with customers, and create a way to apply this to my business. Reccomended for anyone who has ever lost a bid, sale, or contract based on price.