Mr. Fyfe: Innovation has almost become a byproduct of that focus on people, because as you become more focused on people and personality, people become much more confident and willing to express themselves.

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The more you keep people relentlessly focused on winning, the better your chances of achieving it.

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Say what you wish about Barack Obama, but the man is a subtle thinker who is more focused on the long-term benefits of a decision than he is on the short-term gratification that drives most of our politicians.

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Imagine how you would feel if the players on an NFL team went into a critical game more focused on laying blame on team members in anticipation of a loss than coming together to accomplish a critical win?

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As you can imagine, this decision was huge news for digital startups, which have typically focused more on buy-out exit strategies than organic growth.

FORBES: Stand Tall, Groupon

At their next meeting two weeks later, the chief executive declared, "I am not sure you are what I need in an HR leader, " and said that he preferred someone more focused on controlling staffing costs.

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