| Corporate & Business History |
|
|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 11 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By: Gal Friedman May 31, 2010
By Amos Friedman
"Gal Friedman"
"An Unimaginable Journey" by Aviad Meitar is not the type of book I would usually choose to read- I've never been interested in either the business world or in Romania and I don't drink any sparkling beverages.
And yet, the name of the book implies that it is actually describing a journey, so I decided I should give it a try.
Despite my early concerns, from the very first chapter I realized that the establishment of the Pepsi Cola operations in Romania was only one aspect of the book. "An Unimaginable Journey" is primarily a personal story about a group of people with a very ambitious vision and their 15-year journey in realizing that vision. It is the journey itself, rather than the successful outcome, that gives the reader a sense of magic and hope. The persistence the Pepsi team had shown, in face of the obstacles that appeared along the way- is truly inspiring. It is apparent that this was a special group of people whose story will touch those who delve into this book.
I highly recommend it to anyone. It is fun and easy to read, and beautifully written.
A modern day "David vs Goliath" success story May 03, 2010
By Leslie Hansen
"An Unimaginable Journey- How Pepsi Beat the Odds in Romania" by Aviad Meitar was a pleasure to read on two levels: first it captures an amazing journey with a focus on a business model which, by necessity, is constantly changing and adapting to events around the world as well as in Romania. Amazingly, Meitar's team has the patience to stick with it for fifteen years. Secondly, it gives us an insight into the author's human side. So many business people focus on the bottom line and forget that people are connected to any success.
Anyone in a leadership position should find inspiration in this book. You know the outcome before you begin; the fun part is reading about how they got there! Aviad Meitar lays out the groundwork with his "can do" attitude and his belief in building a successful business from the ground up. He doesn't waste time mourning lost opportunities- and there are plenty; he focuses on success and you cheer with each and every one of them.
What resonated the most with me was the Winning Concept- such a simple idea, yet so effective. If you want to be inspired by a modern day "David vs Goliath" success story- I highly recommend this book!
An Unimaginable Journey: How Pepsi beat the Odds in Romania Apr 29, 2010
By Avraham Carmeli
An Unimaginable Journey: How Pepsi beat the Odds in Romania by Aviad Meitar is a wonderful documentation of initiating, building, shaping and managing a complex business in a foreign setting. It is one of those scarce and unique stories with a personal touch and excellent writing that I couldn't stop reading.
It is a compelling book that entrepreneurs, managers and leaders as well as scholars and students of strategy and management must read. This is because the author demonstrates so beautifully how to generate, establish and run a business in a highly competitive environment. While we know much about the continuous rivalry between Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, this book provides an in-depth authentic description of how the two compete through licensees over dominance in the global world.
Beyond this rivalry between the two beverage giants, Aviad Meitar, offers us an unprecedented look inside a business that thrived against all odds. It provides us so many invaluable insights that it would be impossible to describe in details. For instance, it points to the importance of taking risks, being cautious yet not showing fear, and exhibiting a high level of persistence and resiliency in times of difficulties. The book offers substantial insights about visionary, empowering, and relationally astute leadership that aspires with solid feet on the ground, empowers others to pursue their callings, and shaping a work environment with a relational health that nurtures the human asset in the organization.
Finally, the book culminates in unraveling strategic and tactical moves, thus provides readers with ample examples of competitive actions, reactions and the essence of competitive dynamics. It is also a wonderful instance of how vital it is for managers and leaders to recognize the limitation of your own power and the value of collaborative strategic and tactical efforts through multiple joint ventures and strategic alliances. The book is a fantastic source of invaluable understanding about licensee within a multinational company, and essential experiential and vicarious learning processes through which critical knowledge is acquired and integrated.
In sum, this is an invaluable book for any person who is interested in gaining rich insights about leadership of a business that had faced so many challenges and thrived.
An inspiring and practical story about the behind the scene of a true business success Apr 27, 2010
By Eran
"Eran"
"An Unimaginable Journey: How Pepsi Beat the Odds in Romania" by Aviad Meitar grants the best of two worlds:
1. As a fiction, I found it very enjoyable and interesting story on an adventurous business journey with many challenges and successes. A journey so interesting, you will probably finish on the same day you "embark" your reading.
2. As a non-fiction, though doesn't pretend be one, I also found it an excellent and practical management book.
The author provides a unique honest and humble perspective on the behind the scene of the many dozens of decisions that were required while navigating the endeavor. This allows a learning not only from sucessess but also from some mistaken decisions. It can also encourage any ambitious employee (the author has begun his journey as an employee in an investement firm) to take risk and initiate such projects.
Any manager can benefit and be inspired from useful insights on business challenges, such as:
- Decision making
- The need and confidence to take calculated risks
- launching a new business from scratch ("Green Field"), in particular in a
remote and unknown developed country
- Launch new consumer products
- Competitive marketing and distribution tactics (a topic that I wish the author
could have elaborated more on)
- Leadership, team building and motivation
- Interpersonal relationships
- Working with a giant global firm
I strongly recommend this book to any decision maker; in particular those who are tired from conventional management books, and desire a more enjoyable experience. I will actually recommend to my clients (I am Director of Consulting at Frost & Sullivan) to read and be inspired by this book as a driver of their own business and career success.
Great metaphor, great read Apr 22, 2010
By Shai Davidai
I must admit I didn't have high expectations when I picked up this book. It's a business book, right ? How good can a business book get ? Man, was I wrong. This book is not only a business book. It's also an autobiography. It is also a mystery non-fiction book, if those exist.
To be honest, it will be really hard for you to stop reading once you begin. The author has successfully created an auroa of suspense around the story or Pepsi in Romania, and you find yourself cheering for the Pepesi team. As you read you want them to achieve their goals, to overcome their burdens, to beat the "bad" guys.
Many of us have unimaginable lifestories to tell. Few of us do it well. The author here is amongst the chosen few.
Can't wait for the sequel - how Pepsi beats the odds in Bulgaria !
See all 11 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
| | |
|
|
