Behind many a successful product, there’s a sharply focused intention to improve lives.

BP’s horrible missteps after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded were almost predictable, given the culture of deceit and arrogance that executive actions had encouraged. While the accident could have been prevented, BP might have avoided its intense and deserved public flogging if only it had respected the best practices for managing a crisis – and for managing. Readers of this article will learn what BP could and should have done differently.

Wayfair was founded with one goal in mind: to get as big as possible. Next stop: $1 billion.