Turning the Flywheel

January 2019

I wrote my latest monograph, Turning the Flywheel, to share new and practical insights about the flywheel principle, inspired by its wide-ranging impact in recent years. At one end of the spectrum there are fast-growing companies like Amazon, which has consciously harnessed the flywheel effect to feed its momentum machine. At the other end of the spectrum, there is the delightful discovery of a rural Kansas public elementary school using the flywheel to elevate the learning of children.

We’ve observed leaders making use of the flywheel in nearly every sector, from startups and nonprofits to healthcare and professional sports teams. The more I challenged leaders to crystalize their specific flywheel — capturing the drivers of momentum, and how they link together — the more passionate I became about sharing what I’ve learned.

No matter what your walk of life, no matter how big or small your enterprise, no matter whether it’s for-profit or nonprofit, no matter whether you’re CEO or a unit leader, the question stands, How does your flywheel turn?

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