These success stories from Canada, Ireland, Slovakia, and New Zealand share one common characteristic.

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At French business school INSEAD, EMBA course directors point to an international focus as a common characteristic held by participants.

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Political cultures everywhere have one common characteristic: finding additional ways to pick taxpayers' pockets to finance ostensibly worthy critical services and programs.

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Marketplaces, be they Ebay (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people ), the New York Stock Exchange, a Middle Eastern souk or an ancient agora, share a common characteristic: They are forums that bring together buyers and sellers.

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All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time.

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With characteristic ingenuity and a creative mix of common and exotic ingredients, here the last of what Mr. Kahan considers "good storage apples" are enlivened by a vinaigrette made with membrillo, or Spanish quince paste.

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