Underneath it all. Mission and values : so much hot air about something so real ; Candor : the biggest dirty little secret in business ; Differentiation : cruel and Darwinian? Try fair and effective ; Voice and dignity : every brain in the game.

Your company. Leadership : it's not just about you ; Hiring : what winners are made of ; People management : you've got the right players, now what? ; Parting ways : letting go is hard to do ; Change : mountains do move ; Crisis management : from oh-God-no to yes-we're-fine.

Your competition. Strategy : it's all in the sauce ; Budgeting : reinventing the ritual ; Organic growth : so you want to start something new ; Mergers and acquisitions : deal heat and other deadly sins ; Six sigma : better than a trip to the dentist.

Your career. The right job : find it and you'll never really work again ; Getting promoted : sorry, no shortcuts ; Hard spots : that damn boss ; Work-life balance ; everything you always wanted to know about having it all (but were afraid to hear).

Tying up loose ends. Here, there, and everywhere : the questions that almost got away.