Richard Collins recently finished a wonderful BBC radio 4 series about Beatrix Potter's tales to shed light upon (perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek, perhaps not) business practices and business consultants. Greg Dyke, formerly BBC's Director-General and Janet Brooks, a director in Monument Group private equity investors were guests and commentators.
Margaret Thatcher once suggested that "Ginger and Pickles," by Potter was "the best business book an entrepreneur could read." The series has sparked a small debate in the UK with the Financial Times, Guardian, and The Deal Magazine weighing in on the series.
Perhaps Collins is right to use Potter's tales to instruct adults, since Potter herself started a small farm after her publishing success and when she died in 1943 she left over 20 operating farms totaling 4,000 acres with hundreds of employees. Of course her Peter Rabbit brand is worth an estimated $500 million.
The best take on this, in my opinion, is the piece The Economist ran. It's in the January 23rd to January 29th issue, under Schumpeter's article "The Tale of Mr. Jackson." It's worth your time as a read, especially their take on consultants.
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