If you are defining yourself and your business in terms of your competition, you are living in an echo chamber. Companies and organisations don't grow fast at the expense of existing competitors. They grow fast for reasons that have nothing to do with whether your service is 5% better or your product is a little…
If cuff links didn't exist and you invented them, would they succeed? I have got one shirt in my closet with French cuffs. As I looked at it one day, hanging there quiet lonely, I got to thinking about cuff links. Cuff links are arguably a nice way for men to wear jewelry, and they…
I will be going to watch a theatre play soon, I haven’t seen a theatre stage play in a while. The last time I watched, the star performer didn’t show up. An understudy took his place, and there was a small paper-note on our seats before the play started informing us that the understudy actor…
Hint: it never comes from the good times and from the easy projects. We trust people because they showed up when it wasn't convenient, because they told the truth when it was easier to lie and because they kept a promise when they could have gotten away with breaking it. Every tough time and every…
In September 2014, I will be launching my debut book: The Startup Revolution: Fit In or Stand Out. The Startup Revolution is about the new ear of entrepreneurship, about the Industrial Revolution is coming to an end and this means the end to an era of jobs as we used to know it. The concept…
They will push you to fit in, to dress alike, to use the same tools, to fit the format. They are the high school English teacher in love with his novels and the book editor who needs you to fit in with the program. "That's the way we do things around here." They are the…
When no one is looking and you are not trying, what shows on your face? A lot of people say I have a serious face, some even say I am unapproachable until you get to know me better. My face is not "serious" because I'm serious, it looks serious because that's my default face when…
for the privileges we've got is to do important work. Your job, your internet access, your education, your connections, your role in a civilised society... all of them are a platform, a chance to do something great, to do work that matters, a way for you to give back and to honor those that enabled…
"You can't argue with success." Of course you can and you should. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn't bother. But arguing with failure is dumb. Failure doesn't need to be argued with, it's already failed. It takes guts to argue with success, guts and insight. And it's the best way to make things better. It is…
A powerful marketing tactic: tell me exactly when I'm going to get it. "This project will be done by 12 midday on Tuesday." "You'll get the delivery at 4 pm." Fedex has made billions delivering packages that didn't even have to be there fast, they merely needed to arrive at a date and time that…
... doesn't mean he's right. ... or even well-informed. Something to think about when dealing with a customer, a leader or even a neighbour. It's easy to assume that vivid and angry emotions spring from the truth. I'm not so sure. They often come from fear and confusion.
When you do important work, work that changes things and work that matters, it is inconceivable that the change you are trying to make will be met with complete approval. Trying to please everyone will water down your efforts, frustrate your forward motion and ultimately fail. The balancing act is to work to please precisely…
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