ABSTRACT
Creating real value demands physical and emotional stamina coupled with a long-term orientation. This chapter introduces entrepreneurs and top managers who refuse to concede to short-term pressures; who think in decades or even centuries rather than quarters; and who plan, and care, for the future in a deeper, more considered manner. The purpose of their businesses goes far beyond making a quick buck, and their organizations’ longevity far exceeds the average life expectancy of a typical Fortune 500 company. In making the brand the pivotal element of his strategy, Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell clearly understood the importance of reputation for sustainable business success. Resources can be tangible – like the equipment and machines in Faber-Castell’s production plants, the fittings of its flagship stores, or the wood supply for the pencils. Like other family-owned German companies of long standing, Faber-Castell generally shies away from too much risk.
