a founders checklist
This ‘no BS checklist’ will help founders succinctly delineate the critical elements necessary for a business to achieve success: Purpose, People, Product, and Process. It asserts that missing any one of these components can lead to detrimental outcomes—confusion, anarchy, bankruptcy, or worse, frustration. It underscores the necessity of a balanced approach, with each component being […]
the 10 most powerful strategic questions
What singular problem do you solve? And what is the net effect of it? What’s the weak spot in your model that would be the first to fall if the market shifted? What value exists in other categories but not yours? What would it look like if it did? How does your thinking go against […]
the duracell rule
For this trick, the crux is recognising that different product categories have different levels of innate interest. Smartphones or surfboards are captivating, AA batteries simply are not. In high-interest categories, brands can land complex, knotty, immersive strategies because consumers are willing to go deep, and explore every facet of what the brand has to say. […]
the 3-floor hierarchy
This framework, the 3-floor hierarchy, is pretty self-explanatory. In 3 concise ‘floors,’ we will span the full scope of a strategically robust business. Strategy: What is the unique edge your business brings to the table? Here, I want you to pinpoint the singular value that sets you apart in your marketplace. The How: Define your […]
genchi genbutsu
Today a friend of mine from Nagasaki mentioned ‘genchi genbutsu’ over coffee. I had never heard of it. Genchi Genbutsu is a Japanese management method that translates to ‘actual place, actual thing’. It means managers are expected to be surgically on top of the operational realities of the ‘engine room’ by being physically present when […]
john oliver ending McKinsey in under 24 minutes
If you missed John Oliver’s taking down of McKinsey in under 24 minutes, here it is. Imagine that strained silence in McKinsey’s Monday morning meeting. A master of the form.
megachurch the benefits
Having a robust, quick-response method up your sleeve can be invaluable. Here’s a ‘fast strategic framework’ I have used for high-pressure scenarios. A note of caution: these are quick fixes, best suited for emergency use. And hypothesis scenarios. When using them, it helps to have: – The ability to put a number of lenses on […]
the efficiency movement
I’ve been reading up on the Efficiency Movement—a fad that swept through the US at the turn of the century, promising to eliminate waste, recalibrate the economy, and progress society as a whole. You basically had guys like Frederick Winslow Taylor, a management theorist during the Progressive Era, who would walk around with a stopwatch […]
B2B Acronym Guide
I’ve often hear these acronyms tossed around in big tech meetings or investor conversations, and not knowing them slowed me down more. Here’s a guide of the ones I’ve had to look up so far to help you keep pace. ACV – Annual Contract ValueABM – Account-Based Management/MarketingARR – Annual Recurring RevenueBI – Business IntelligenceCAC […]
a 12-second AI belter
AI sure has contributed to the creation of some amazing ads alredy. Love this one for Nike Basketball.
