Aug 16, 2020

Going Against Nature 🌱 #164

By Ross Chapman • Issue #164 • View online

Hi everybody,

I was listening to a recent Stratechery podcast this morning about Apple and Amazon and the key insight was that there wasn’t a better business, they were simply different businesses.

Apple for example, has always struggled with services. iCloud, Siri.. there are better alternatives. Amazon does better here, but failed when it tried to make its first mobile phone. That’s because Amazon’s natural sweet spot is in services, not devices.

Why did some things fail? They were going against nature.

Microsoft did this too, with its failed Zune product. Thankfully now, it’s going back to where it plays best: Enterprise and work.

By the way, I think LinkedIn should TOTALLY buy or create a CRM. Like, why haven’t they done that yet?!

There are a great deal of businesses changing during Covid-19. Some are pivoting to new areas. Others are just rebranding their current efforts and hoping for the best. Market disruption is about utterly destroying what works now, but in whatever you are doing, do consider where it’s natural for you to play - you’ll likely have more success in that area!

Thank you for reading this issue,

-Ross

Growth 📈

Bizarrely, the Myers-Briggs personality test is having a millennial moment

I had to include this and here’s my Tweet for context.

digiday.com • Share

The one metric that rules them all

Adopting Agile can be a highly bewildering experience. It challenges beliefs and mindsets we may have held for decades.

GOOD!

productcoalition.com • Share

15 guides for remote UX research

Guides are a great way to get started.

blog.optimalworkshop.com • Share

Leadership 👩‍💻

5 Leaders Share Their No. 1 Tip for Building (and Sustaining) A Purpose-Driven Business

Purpose demonstrates why employees should show up to work excited. That is hard to retrofit. Honestly, I think some organisations that have no purpose should simply close and start new organisations. Too radical?

www.inc.com • Share

Hey Leaders, We’re The Problem.

As a long-time CEO and now working closely with senior leaders across our portfolio of Fortune 1000 customers, I can safely say that all problems are who, not what problems. I really enjoy reading Richard’s content. He knows whats what.

medium.com • Share

Without Great Leadership, Even the Best Talent Can't Win

Professional services firms that don’t know how to use high talent lose high talent. Leaders, take three steps that allow your stars to win.

www.gallup.com • Share

Tech & Innovation ⚡️

How Microsoft’s Human Insights Library Creates a Living Body of Knowledge

A library designed to activate research.

medium.com • Share

How Elon Musk's Invented His Own School

Elon Musk is building his very own school, and he’s inventing it from scratch! Why? Education wasn’t designed with the internet and we need to be learning more skills. I’ve been thinking about this recently. In the UK, most don’t pay for education, so it’s a harder transition, but honestly, I’d like some competition in this space. I could either choose that my children learn what I’ve learnt, or level up to where the world is going. I know where I’d vote.

www.youtube.com • Share

Tesla battery researchers mention enabling electric aircraft with new batteries

Planes with batteries. We need this now.

electrek.co • Share

Coolness 😎

The Future of Time

An interesting share from Jon Woodroof (who just shared his 200th newsletter) on how, in 2030, time may become a thing of the past.

www.youtube.com • Share

Chloe McCardel: Swimmer beats men's Channel record and quarantine

Chloe McCardel is a record-breaker! A year younger than me - nothing is impossible. Just make practice.

www.bbc.co.uk • Share

End of Summer Sleepover at The Last BLOCKBUSTER

I have questioned the view that retail becomes home (John Lewis are currently on this track), but when I saw this - it made sense. Make the story fit.

www.airbnb.co.uk • Share

Here's to changing, but not going against your nature.

Did you enjoy this issue?

By Ross Chapman

A weekly 💌 of Growth, Leadership, Innovation and Coolness from @rosschapman ⚡️

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