Innovation leader Apple is also an innovator at marketing and sales and is world class in logistics and finance.

FORBES: Commentary

Step three requires more than simply understanding what the business does, it requires understanding what the business is and how to manage all aspects of it, including sales, marketing, accounting, logistics, management, HR, etc.

FORBES: You don't need a better mousetrap, or three steps to start a successful business

"In case you haven't seen a sales report these days, February MTD sales are a total disaster, " Jerry Murray, Wal-Mart's vice president of finance and logistics, wrote in a 12 February email to other executives, referring to month-to-date sales.

BBC: Walmart

Though preserving large block trading helps retail investors, some of the logistics may need tweaking, says Tony Barchetto, head of sales and strategy at Liquidnet.

FORBES: Magazine Article

If anything, the gridlock that took hold in the days after Sept. 11 has improved the sales pitch of outsourcers like Flextronics, as more companies eye letting the experts handle the logistics.

FORBES: The Detour Economy

If anything, the gridlock that took hold in the days after Sept. 11 has improved the sales pitch of such outsourcers as Flextronics, as more companies eye letting experts handle the logistics.

FORBES: The Detour Economy

While the number of stores, 2, 244, is essentially unchanged over the last three years, Blake has been investing heavily in training and logistics so that Home Depot stores actually have what people want and so that sales people there can actually help customers find and use the stuff.

FORBES: Home Depot Stock: Money Pit Or Fixer Upper?