"If you watch what is occurring today, people are acting like the sky is falling," says Cisco CEO John Chambers. But he has learned through numerous economic downturns -- he cites 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2003 -- that it's entirely possible to come out stronger than you were before. "Every time, we have gained market share, and two years later, our customer and employee satisfaction was greater," he says. Here's his advice for facing tough times. By Fast Company Staff
The actor's "family business" has helped shelter tens of thousands of Americans. Now it is taking on the credit crunch with innovative financing and a green-building initiative. By Ellen McGirt
At High Point in Seattle -- a green community -- market rate condos and townhouses mix with affordable housing funding largely by Enterprise.
By Fast Company Staff
The death of moving parts means your stocking will be stuffed with smaller,faster, stronger -- and quieter -- gadgets. Our geek rings in the solid-state revolution. By Paul Hochman
Ingestibles are the hot growth segment in the $45 billion beauty business, with the potential to transform cosmetics counters into apothecaries. By Mary Lisa Gavenas
When 11 E.U. nations swapped francs and lire for euros on New Year's Day 1999, traders called the new money a "toilet currency." Nope! The euro -- now the coin of 15 E.U. realms -- has proved so strong that Alan Greenspan said it could become the world's main reserve currency. Not that all national identity was lost: Each country customizes one side of euro coinage. Here are the 1-euro coins of the original eurozone. By Theunis Bates
On December 1, 1998, Exxon and Mobil announced they were getting married. The largest merger in U.S. history reunited two long-separated parts of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil. Ten years on, ExxonMobil is the world's biggest company by revenue. How big? About Egypt's size, if its revenue were valued at the equivalent of GDP. Here's the rest of the global corporate top 10, paired with the nations closest to them in size. By Jeff Chu
At the annual Routes World Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur, 700 airports and 500 airlines begin the mating dance that determines who flies where. By Melissa Kinsey
Shifting routes reflect the changing economics of the airline industry. Business hubs in Asia and the Middle East are strong. European and U.S. leisure routes ain't. By Fast Company Staff
Investing in independent cinema is usually just for those with money to burn. IndieVest promises both Hollywood-worthy perks and a relatively safe haven. By Lucas Conley
Indie films are notoriously risky investments, but when the stars align, they pay out big. These are the three biggest indie films of all time. By Anne C. Lee
These next-gen job sites seek to replace executive-search firms and spirit-crushing job boards with cash incentives, matching algorithms, and social networks. By Kate Rockwood
Flush with oil-and-gas money but wary of a bust, the Texas metropolis launches a multimillion-dollar effort to recession-proof its economy. By Ryan Blitstein
Renowned Asian designers now helm two of the U.S.'s traditionally Eurocentric architecture schools. Here's what they're teaching the new generation of American architects. By Carolina A. Miranda
The friend-enemy relationship (aka friend-foe, or "froe") has become essential to business -- a thrillingly intricate dance that would impress even Bruno and Carrie Ann. Imagine Apple without the record labels, Google without Yahoo, and Harvey Weinstein without everyone else. The relationship can be so baffling, we humbly offer this field guide. By Steve Johnson
'Tis the season to covet wildly. Can't figure out what to put on your wish list? Can't decide which gifts to give? Don't fret. Fast Company's Gift Guide Central has you covered. There's something here for everyone on your list. There's even something here for you. Explore our seven guides featuring the coolest tech gadgets, video games, designer-inspired widgets, business books, office gifts, and gifts for under $25.
