Some movies are iconic experiences. They leave an indelible mark on culture. The Princess Bride (“My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”) A Few Good Men (“You can’t handle the truth!”) When Harry Met Sally (“I’ll have what she’s having.”) This Is Spinal Tap (“The numbers all go to eleven.”)…
If you sleep in a bed big enough for two, the bedsheets are often too big for one person to manage easily. The first lover I lived with and I used to have a ritual when we went to the laundromat together. We’d each grab two corners of the sheet, spread it out, and come…
Technology disruption is practically a cult in Silicon Valley. Here’s one definition: Technology disruption occurs when a new approach changes the basis of competition in an industry. It triggers a discontinuity: established architectures, competencies, and business models become misaligned with what customers now value. Incumbents struggle to adapt, and the upstart ultimately reshapes or replaces…
I’m easy. I make friends with almost anybody. Of course, we have to have something in common. I have 4,240 LinkedIn connections. That’s probably not unusual for somebody who has been in the working world for 46 years. I don’t seek out people on LinkedIn. But I get a lot of inbound requests. I don’t…
“We’re going to be a great partner for you.” Now that nobody writes checks any more, I think that statement has overtaken “The check is in the mail” for the most common lie stated in a business context. Partner is such an overused word. What it usually seems to mean in a sales context is…
Newsletter 121: Why is so much harder to lie in print . . . and could that save us all? Plus concentrating on what AI is bad at, an AI-enabled publishing imprint, three people to follow and three books to read. I can’t lie in print I’ve noticed something about myself and I want to…
We must all face the terrifying prospect of doing things for the first time, things we want to do but are afraid to do. You could cower in fear. Or you could plunge ignorantly and fearlessly ahead. Neither is likely to enable you to grow and maximize your chance for success. Knowledgeable fear beats ignorant…
A copywriter is a person who gets paid to write words for someone else. If you like to write, it’s a fine way to make a living. But it’s not a job at the top of the pay scale. At least not normally. But in some situations it can be. If you aspire to get…
Newsletter 118: How to contribute to great ideas. Plus, blogs outlast social media, AI remembers and regurgitates, three people to follow, and three books to read. Breaking new ground together Have you ever wondered how consultants generate new content and new ideas? Let me tell you a story. If you are a consultant, workshop leader,…