brand as business bit:  Sam Palmisano, CEO of IBM from 2002-2012, stepped down from his post on Sunday.  I’ve been an admirer for years.

The New York Times ran a great piece about Palmisano’s impact on the venerable company, including increasing its stock market value to $217BB, making it more nimble and innovative, and focusing its thinking with a four question framework:

• “Why would someone spend their money with you — so what is unique about you?”
• “Why would somebody work for you?”
• “Why would society allow you to operate in their defined geography — their country?”
• “And why would somebody invest their money with you?”