Rose Blumkin, Poliheuristic Decision Theory and Habits of Highly Effective Leaders

Rose Blumkin built Nebraska Furniture Mart from $500 in borrowed money into North America's largest furniture retailer. Warren Buffett paid $60 million for the company in 1983, calling the purchase one of his best decisions. Mrs. B, as she was known, worked until age 103 — not from necessity, but from devotion. "This is my baby," she said, "and I want to see it grow up."

Her story intersects with Fitbit's trajectory in surprising ways. Both enterprises succeeded by making the complex simple, the intimidating approachable. Both understood that execution trumps perfection every time.