Unbeknownst to me at the time I finished compiling Vol. 2 was that Vol. 3 of worthy Fast Company reads would begin with Issue #73. That’s an important matter because Issue #73 marked a pivotal point in FC’s history. It signaled the end of editorial parentage from Fast Company co-founders Alan Webber and Bill Taylor and the beginning of the John Byrne editorial era.
Looking back now, Byrne’s first “Letter From the Editor” reads like a love letter to the ideals from which FC was founded upon. You can clearly feel Byrne’s unbridled passion for the magazine when he writes …
”In every company, large or small, fast or slow, there are people who buy into our vision of this new world. They are the visionaries, advocates, champions, builders, and trailblazers. They are, in short, the people who do the real work of organizations, the people who lead and inspire all of us with their ideas and their actions. They are also the readers who made Fast Company the fastest-growing business magazine ever…”
Now … no knock against Byrne, but this third volume of worthy FC read is far skimpier than the previous two volumes. Maybe I changed more than the magazine changed. Hmm … Either way, there are still some worthy reads. Enjoy y’all … enjoy.
(Psst … if you need a refresher course, read Volumes One and Two.)
The Promise of Reinvention
ISSUE # 73 | AUGUST 2003 | pg. 16
Go ahead and click above to read more on Byrne’s love letter to the Fast Company ideals.
How to Lead Now
ISSUE #73 | AUGUST 2003 | pg. 62
Besides overseeing this issue, John Byrne also wrote a way-worthy article how companies can get extraordinary performances from employees during challenging economic times. In true school FC fashion, Byrne writes, “If businesses are to grow their way out of the current economic malaise, they will have to get more productivity out of their people -- not by cutting and slashing, but by nurturing, engaging, and recognizing.”
The Price is Right
ISSUE #76 | November 2003 | pg. 83
While at Whole Foods, I hipped some folks to the great book TRADING UP. At that same time, I hipped those same folks to this article from Fast Company on how some companies, including Whole Foods, are able to orbit the low-price strategy hairball.
The Wal-Mart You Don’t Know
ISSUE #77 | December 2003 | pg. 68
This way tasty article on why there’s a high price to pay for buying Wal-Mart’s low prices spawned a way-tasty book, THE WAL-MART EFFECT. Mucho kudos to Charles Fishman for writing the article and the book. No kudos to you if you don’t read this article.
Man of Mystery
ISSUE #79 | February 2004 | pg. 78
It’s always nice to learn more about a biz consultant-turned-author you respect and this article sheds light on Ram Charan. The article also sums-up the thinking behind Charan’s excellent book, “Profitable Growth is Everybody’s Business.”
How to Give Feedback
ISSUE #80 | March 2004 | pg. 103
Do not pass GO! Do not collect $200. And do not give another piece of feedback until after reading Seth Godin’s four rules on how to give feedback.
Every Move You Make
ISSUE #81 | April 2004 | pg. 73
I got very hip to ethnographic research while at Whole Foods Market. Writer Linda Tischler explains ethnographic research for the rest of us by making parallels to reality TV.
The Liberator
ISSUE #83 | June 2004 | pg. 82
Consider this article a follow-up to FC’s profile of Keith Yamashita from Issue #64 (Nov. 22). This time around, the article shares some of the super-smart thinking behind UNSTUCK, the book Keith co-wrote with Sandra Spataro. The sidebar piece on “Unsticking Yourself” is way-worthy and super-actionable.
Putting Customers First: 2004 Customer First Awards
ISSUE #87 | October 2004 | pg. 79
This piece is chock-full of great case-study examples on how/why companies such as Trader Joe’s and Progressive deliver exceptional customer service. A worthy read indeed.
The Brand Called Us
ISSUE # 88 | November 2004 | pg. 14
Remember earlier I mentioned FC’s editor John Byrne’s love letter to the magazine was worth reading? Well, with love sometimes comes tough love. In this letter from the editor, Byrne tells a compelling story about having to make tough love decisions at Fast Company in order to cut costs to keep the magazine afloat.
The Accidental Guru
ISSUE #90 | January 2005 | 64
I’m a Gladwell fan. I’ve given Gladwell lots of digital ink on Brand Autopsy. In this article, I learned a lot about the meaning of the man behind the meaningful articles and books he writes.
Jones' Soda Secret
ISSUE #92 | March 2005 | pg. 74
These days, we marketers are talking a lot about co-creation with customers. Jones Soda has been co-creating with customers for years now. Read how and why.
Join the Circus
ISSUE # 95 | July 2005 | pg. 52
This is a classic FC article sharing business lessons learned from something viewed far from being a business – A CIRCUS.
The Art of Service: 2005 Customer First Awards
ISSUE #99 | October 2005 | pg. 47
FC’s second installment of case-study examples on how/why companies such as Cabela’s, W Hotels, Netflix, and Build-A-Bear deliver exceptional customer service.
I love your insights! Big fan of the Fast Company, but I love the way you break it down.
Posted by: Ad Giants | August 08, 2006 at 09:38 AM
Thank you John! I was looking all over for John Byrne's letter from the editor when he took over as editor in chief. I couldn't even find it on the FC website - but I found the link here.
Back in 2003 it was hanging in my office!
Posted by: ann michael | August 07, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Charles Fishman (Wal-Mart Effect) won the Gerald Loeb Award for magazine writing recently. As a long time fan of FC I really enjoy reading your selections.
Posted by: Valeria Maltoni | August 08, 2007 at 12:37 PM