I was in a meeting last week with economist Jeffrey Sachs and the CEOs of a number of international humanitarian organizations. Sachs, one of the key architects of the Millennium Development Goals, put up a color-coded slide showing that in many parts of the world, at least modest progress is being made toward these goals, such as ending poverty, reducing disease, education and making clean water available. But the Africa boxes were all red: Unless something big changes, we’re not on target to meet the goals — not by a long shot! 

Marketing Guru Roy Williams couldn’t wait when a friend said he was sending him the best book ever written on selling. When the FedEx package arrived, he told his assistant he was taking the afternoon to read. He then tells of his anger and disbelief when he found a copy of Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham.