Every business faces the existential threat of competitors producing cheaper copies. Even patent filings, market dominance and financial resources can't shield them from copycats. So what can we do — and, what can we learn from companies that have endured and even prospered for centuries despite copycat competition?
In today's competitive environment where latecomers can replicate almost any product or service for less, and where intuition and market intelligence have been overtaken by machine algorithms, companies can no longer just be very good at what they do. The need to leap to new knowledge disciplines. The best leap repeatedly. And it's the combination of two skills – mastery of the old and new – that empowers them with the best competitive advantage.

To discover how some companies not only survive but thrive for centuries, strategy expert Howard Yu identifies key trends from business history, skillfully extracting timeless lessons and applying them to today. He illustrates how managers can look to leverage technological shifts, increasingly ubiquitous connectivity, smart machines, and managerial creativity – in order to leap forward. Ultimately, Leap is a playbook for the future that shows how pioneering players can thrive by rethinking their business, their relationships with customers, and the very reasons they exist.