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 Google, Adobe, McDonald’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Amelie’s French Bakery

From BBC News: Larry Page on Google’s smart future

“Larry Page has been talking about privacy, government surveillance and Google’s robotic future at the Ted conference.”

From The Economist: Adobe: Super subs

“Adobe’s bold embrace of the computing cloud should inspire others.”

Wally’s Comment: Could Adobe’s “check-in” system of performance management have anything to do with this?

From the Detroit Free Press: Does McDonald’s new menu item hint at new strategy?

“McDonald’s is slowly moving toward becoming a coffee shop. This might sound ludicrous to those who grew up while eating burgers and fries at McDonald’s, but any company that wants to succeed will implement initiatives that match industry trends or find itself dying a slow and painful death.”

From the Star Tribune: Buffalo Wild Wings looks for growth beyond its core restaurants

“Buffalo Wild Wings is flying beyond its traditional space. While it still has considerable room to expand its U.S. wingprint, a saturation point will eventually come. So the company is launching plans now to help it keep booming in the long-term.”

From the Charlotte Observer: Amelie’s bakery at center of social media storm

“Charlotte-based Amelie’s French Bakery, long known for its social media savvy, has found itself in the middle of an online brush fire after a former employee made his resignation letter public.”