Ideas I want to write about
Startups mostly don't compete against each other, they compete against no one giving a shit
Justin Kan • Tweet
The hardest thing is making anyone care.
In the Renaissance, a Florentine merchant could sponsor an artwork that would matter for centuries. In the early days of the American republic, a pamphlet could catalyze revolution. Today, even the most earnest Substack post risks being skimmed between an AI-generated video essay and a TikTok about luxury too... See more
In the Renaissance, a Florentine merchant could sponsor an artwork that would matter for centuries. In the early days of the American republic, a pamphlet could catalyze revolution. Today, even the most earnest Substack post risks being skimmed between an AI-generated video essay and a TikTok about luxury too... See more
A charismatic brand includes a dedication to aesthetics. Why? Because it’s the language of feeling, and in a society that’s information-rich and time-poor, people value feeling more than information.
Marty Neumier • The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design
the worst outcome is a brand that people think is ‘nice’ but remain largely apathetic toward.
Third Order Strategist
Figma had $0 in revenue for 4 years.
Completely breaks the “rush something to market and start charging immediately” mindset that most try to adapt.
And it resulted in the largest acquisition of a private software company (ever) https://t.co/YLGBR9hJe0
Successful innovators don’t just ask customers and clients to do something different; they ask them to become someone different. Facebook asks its users to become more open and sharing with their personal information, even if they might be less extroverted in real life. Amazon turned shoppers into information-rich consumers who could share r
... See moreMichael Schrage • Who Do You Want Your Customers to Become
As Mark Bonchek highlights in his widely popular Harvard essay:“Companies that successfully market and sell innovation are able to shift how people think not only about their product, but about themselves, the market, and the world. Don’t sell a product, sell a whole new way of thinking.”
Sari Azout • From Product/Market Fit to Language/Market Fit: A New Brand Storytelling Framework
Far too often, we tend to think of branding as an executional activity—logos, colors, monikers—as opposed to an ideological exploration. That’s because our view of branding is far too narrow. Brands are signifiers that conjure up thoughts and feelings about a company, product, or entity, and they can unlock opportunities for leaders to catalyze col
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