I’ve been thinking about companies pursuing longevity.

Companies are not around forever, though a common view is that permanence is good. That’s why companies build huge headquarter buildings. The reality is that the average life expectancy of all firms is only 12 years. Some [Link to Arie De Geus] attribute mortality to managers focus on the bottom line, rather than human factors.

Greatness is fleeting, friends: places with the highest growth rates have the highest rate of corporate mortality. My company? It’s the exception that proves the rule.