&419/ The State of Market Leadership: What is All That Fuss About Leaders?

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&97/ showed a curve I was remembering a lot these days.

I remember a 1987 information meeting: "We are the leading physics address worldwide." - I remember 1994 Thursday morning meetings in Munich: "He is a leading cell biology expert." - I remember an interview 1999 in Ottobrunn: "We are Microsoft's lead agency." - I remember a late 2004 Zurich dinner: "Let us lead this innovation in window advertising!" - I remember a 2005 meeting at Microsoft Amsterdam near the airport: "To be honest, we are industry leaders." - I remember the 2006 MBC claim: "We will lead the new connection between Business and IT!" - And I stilI hear a lot about thought and knowledge leadership these days.

Does leadership really matter? It does! How long? It depends. Compare the green curve above. Maybe we should focus on the blue curve instead ...