Expert insights on what sets the great professional firms apartfrom all the restHaving devoted a career that spans fifty years to consultingwith and studying professional firms in the Americas, Asia, andEurope, author Charles Ellis learned firsthand how difficult it isfor an organization to go beyond very good and attain, as well assustain, excellence. Now, he shares his hard-won insights with youand reveals "what it takes" to be best-in-class in anyindustry.Enlightening and entertaining, What It Takes exploresfirms that are leaders in their particular field and the superiorpeople who create and maintain them. Along the way, it identifiesthe secrets of their long-term success and reveals exactly how theycan put your organization in a better position to excel whenproperly executed.* Contains many stories of achieving excellence, and addressesthe obstacles that top-ranking organizations face in sustainingit* Includes insights on leaders in their particularfield--from McKinsey & Company in consulting and Cravath,Swaine & Moore in law to the Mayo Clinic in healthcare* Written by one of the most experienced and respected businessconsultants/advisors of our timeWhat It Takes skillfully shows you how innovation and acommitment to excellence can drive success, while also revealinghow easy it is to fall behind. With it, you'll discover whatseparates the great firms from the good ones and learn how toattain, and maintain, organizational success throughout theyears.