A while back, I was in the audience for the presentation of another
author/speaker during a meeting of a very prominent technology company.
As he addressed the group, he told them his basic business philosophy: it
isn’t the big that win out over the small, it’s the fast that eat the
slow.
And, while I agree that speed can often be a competitive advantage, I sat
there and thought the statement – in my opinion, and with all due respect
– is blatantly false. It’s just flat out wrong.
Native Americans almost hunted the buffalo to extinction. Was it because they
were faster than the bison? Of course not.
I had a great meal of ahi tuna last night, but put me in the ocean next to
one, and see who swims the fastest.
Fishermen secured the catch – not because they were of superior speed, but
because they were smarter than their target. Indians could not outrun the
great buff... (more)
Given the late Steve Jobs’ (and it’s still strange to write that) famous
statement it’s not the customer’s job to know what they want — does
that, on its face, mean Apple rejects the theory of customer focus?
Of course not. Apple knows what many confuse:
FIrst, organizations must make the decision to be customer/client focused.
This is a critical choice, one many professionals and organizations refuse or
— because of inaction — decline to make.
It’s the financial advisor who chooses the practice will be about the
client, not about investment tools. It’s the airline that decides i... (more)
I’m flying from Baltimore to Vegas on an airline I don’t normally
take…usually I would go Delta for the SkyMiles, but this airline has a
non-stop, arriving two hours earlier, and I need the sleep.
In the middle of the 5½ hour trip, a flight attendant makes an announcement,
naming two passengers, and asking them to walk to the front of the plane.
Confused, and not knowing one another, an older man and younger woman from
separate parts of the aircraft approach the forward galley.
Flight attendant now announces these two have something in common. It’s
their birthday! She leads us in... (more)
This past weekend, I was live on Blog Talk Radio to talk more about the
lessons of Steve Jobs departure, Jeff Bridges’ album tanking, and the
philosophy that “ALL Business is Show Business.”
Listen in — and I hope you enjoy!
(ONE MORE THING — as Steve Jobs would say — I want to start scheduling a
regular program on Blog Talk Radio. Right now, I’m thinking a Sunday
mid-morning show might be best. Obviously, it would be archived on iTunes as
a podcast and on BlogTalkRadio.com…but, what I’m really wondering is:
What time would be most advantageous for you to listen live? Let me know... (more)
Perhaps the ultimate adage in show business is, “Leave ‘em wanting
more.”
As a professional speaker for the better part of three decades, the constant
reminder is it is “better to stop too early than too late.”
And, this afternoon, Steve Jobs showed he knows that all business is show
business as well as any executive who ever lived.
Certainly, we hope and pray there is no subsequent annoucement about his
health. However, why would he desire the role of Chairman of Apple’s Board
of Directors if he didn’t plan on being around?
Instead, look at what he has done. He returned to the c... (more)
Scott McKain is a business leader, bestselling author, and Hall of Fame professional speaker.
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