We live in a world where I tend to view anyone who approaches me with compliments skeptically. All too often, what follows “I think you were great” is some sort of spammy appeal to get something from me or get me to buy something. It’s a horrifying world that we live in where even something…
Do you ever feel a twinge of regret before you click on that button at the bottom a web form that says “Submit”? When I tap on it, I feel as if I am finalizing my submission to a machine. “Submit,” it says, “Give up your agency, and you will be rewarded.” We are all…
Ten years after leaving Forrester Research, I got a chance to reflect on what it did for my career at the Forrester reunion, which took place yesterday evening. The reunion took place in Boston and was organized by several Forrester alumni who left the company years ago. George Colony, Forrester founder and CEO, also participated….
Peace on earth. Goodwill towards men (and women). This includes people who are not just like you — people who don’t look like you, people who disagree with you, even people whose idea of what they’d like to see are at odds with what you’d want to see. Peace on earth and goodwill towards men…
Some of you who are reading this may have just lost your jobs. My heart goes out to you. I’ll tell you a story about when this happened to me, how I hit rock bottom, and how that was the beginning of my success. If you’re hurting, I hope the same good fortune eventually happens…
Experts often share advice that equates to “Do as I do.” But I don’t recommend you work as I do. The way I work works for me, but it’s massively inefficient. It won’t work for you. How an inefficient artist works Here are some things I do. Copy at your own risk. This is a…
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…