Stories and Strategies from Real Life: 8/15/14

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Some of the best learning happens when you read stories about real people and real companies. Read them for ideas, for lessons, and inspiration. This week’s stories and strategies from real life are about 1-800-Flowers, Spot Freight, eHarmony, William Dam Seeds, and Honda

From Jennifer Pellet: 1-800-Flowers CEO Jim McCann on His Company’s Second Blooming

“Jim McCann was working as a social worker and part-time bartender when a barstool regular mentioned plans to sell his floral shop.”

From Michael Schroeder: Indianapolis-based Spot Freight tracks rapid growth

“Before the San Antonio Spurs trounced the Miami heat in this year’s NBA Finals, blank T-shirts arrived in both cities — ready to be printed, and then sold in local stores, depending on who won the championship.”

From Jena McGregor: eHarmony wants to match you with the perfect boss

“Can a dating site play matchmaker for your career? eHarmony thinks it can. The company, facing an increasingly crowded market for online dating, is expanding to become more than just a site for finding a romantic partner. It wants to become a ‘relationship company’ that matches users with everyone from the right employers to the best-suited investment advisers to even better friend.”

From Tracy Hanes: After 50 years, family-run seed business continues to thrive

“When William and Maria Dam came to Canada from Holland in 1947, they found other Dutch immigrants were yearning for traditional vegetables from their homeland. European vegetable seeds weren’t available in Canada, and gardening was a way of life for many Dutch people to feed their large families.”

From Jeffrey Rothfeder: For Honda, Waigaya Is the Way

“At the Japanese auto giant, unplanned, agenda-free meetings are ubiquitous and indispensable.”

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