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 Roku, Hershey Co., PPS Group, Gold’n Plump, and eSalon.

From Nathan McAlone: Roku’s CEO tells us why he thinks he can beat Google in the battle for your TV

“Roku has built most of its reputation on making high-quality ‘streaming boxes’ that plug into your TV to let you watch apps like Netflix. But that’s not the company’s future, CEO Anthony Wood tells Business Insider.”

Thanks to Smartbrief on Leadership for pointing me to this story

From Craig Giammona: ‘We don’t want to be a Blockbuster’: Why Hershey’s future looks a lot like beef jerky

“So it’s a bit strange that Hershey Co., the iconic 122- year-old candy giant whose annual revenue swelled to more than US$7 billion selling chocolate with peanut butter, chocolate with almonds, and just plain chocolate, would be staking so much of its future on a snack that’s not chocolate.”

From Scott Wartman: In Covington, saving the past one old film at a time

“The basement of the 150-year-old Ice House in Covington is about the closest you can get to time travel. Images of the past 100 years flicker on screens. Stacks of film fill rooms.”

From Mike Hughlett: New owners of Gold’n Plump chicken investing up to $80 million in company

“GNP is riding a chicken boom, its sales growing 14 percent over the past three years, hitting $470 million in 2015.”

From Steve Blue: Francisco Gimenez, CEO and co-founder of eSalon, and his team have disrupted the beauty salon industry

“In 2010, after two years of R&D, eSalon opened a state-of-the-art, online customized hair color business for do-it-your-selfers.”