business
/business102
52% of the companies that were listed on the Fortune 500 in 2003 have since gone bankrupt, been acquired, or otherwise ceased to exist.
This is true for many trades.
The power of compounding.
Business is advantage gambling with potentially positive externalities.
Beautiful deep dive
write better emails guys&gals👍
I saw one of these trailers last week (not my photo) and I appreciated the message on the rear door.
"Holds queen-size bed"
It shows they know their customer's frame of reference and common use case. It's immediately relatable.
Alternate messaging:
"208 cu. ft., the most capacity for a 5x8 trailer"
"Holds 87 moving boxes"
"Call [phone number] for details"
"[Aspirational brand message]"
Those just don't close the gap between my use case and their value prop in the same way.
"Holds queen-size bed"
It shows they know their customer's frame of reference and common use case. It's immediately relatable.
Alternate messaging:
"208 cu. ft., the most capacity for a 5x8 trailer"
"Holds 87 moving boxes"
"Call [phone number] for details"
"[Aspirational brand message]"
Those just don't close the gap between my use case and their value prop in the same way.
how do you decide when to stay surface level and when to go into the weeds?
I recently learned about a regional franchise called Pal's that is apparently incredible at service, speed, and accuracy. They have a Master Reading List that new leaders are required to not just read, but also discuss, with someone else in leadership.
If nothing else, this is a remarkably rigorous process that seems to be paying off pretty well.
I appreciate the variety of books on this list. It's clear that they're trying to create a healthy leadership culture, not just acolytes of one particular approach.
If nothing else, this is a remarkably rigorous process that seems to be paying off pretty well.
I appreciate the variety of books on this list. It's clear that they're trying to create a healthy leadership culture, not just acolytes of one particular approach.
"operational sclerosis" is a banger. Rings true for many orgs & holds them back.
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This should surprise no one. It was obvious to me that all these DEI efforts were virtue signaling for one simple reason: it was a reactionary response to George Floyd's murder and the ensuring backlash afterwards.
If these companies truly cared, DEI would be woven into the very fabric of their being, years prior to his murder.
Supporting non-cis-White people will always be marketing ploy because our lives aren't worth caring about (besides parting with our money).
https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-layoffs-dei-leader-email-2024-7
If these companies truly cared, DEI would be woven into the very fabric of their being, years prior to his murder.
Supporting non-cis-White people will always be marketing ploy because our lives aren't worth caring about (besides parting with our money).
https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-layoffs-dei-leader-email-2024-7
The video of the secret service women at the Trump shooting gave every company the green light to cut their DEI programs.
I like the term business over the term startup.
companies focus too much on marketing and corporate image, which is important, more than on reinforcing technical teams.
As in all business ever, value accrues in two places: the platform and the owner of the end customer relationship.*** Middleware gets collapsed into zero margin eventually.
*** returns not guaranteed
https://x.com/masonnystrom/status/1808615578699272253?s=46&t=35-PVao8ZGgO54RWjlFoZg
*** returns not guaranteed
https://x.com/masonnystrom/status/1808615578699272253?s=46&t=35-PVao8ZGgO54RWjlFoZg
I enjoyed this episode because they seem to run the business so differently than others. Solid focus on results that matter without getting too clever.
(Of course, it’s the CEO taking, but his earnestness plays out in the model.)
https://pca.st/episode/a91d8317-1419-42a9-8aec-66e605b9716c
(Of course, it’s the CEO taking, but his earnestness plays out in the model.)
https://pca.st/episode/a91d8317-1419-42a9-8aec-66e605b9716c
I'm curious: now that it's been in place for a while and we have our first tax season with it in place, what impact* has Section 174 had on your work, company, or industry?
Anecdotes & data please, not rants, enthusiasm, etc. :)
Anecdotes & data please, not rants, enthusiasm, etc. :)
This article is old enough to drink and it's as relevant as ever.
A friend mentioned it to me this morning and I learned that I've unknowingly been echoing this stance for the past year+.
Technology itself can only ever be a short-lived competitive advantage.
https://hbr.org/2003/05/it-doesnt-matter
A friend mentioned it to me this morning and I learned that I've unknowingly been echoing this stance for the past year+.
Technology itself can only ever be a short-lived competitive advantage.
https://hbr.org/2003/05/it-doesnt-matter
What's one thing you'd want to change about your industry?
Rules:
• It could improve your impact, unlock innovation everywhere, whatever.
• Not company, team, product, etc.
• The whole industry, but only one thing.
• You can't blame other industries ("government regulations" don't count).
🎩 4️⃣ 🧠
Rules:
• It could improve your impact, unlock innovation everywhere, whatever.
• Not company, team, product, etc.
• The whole industry, but only one thing.
• You can't blame other industries ("government regulations" don't count).
🎩 4️⃣ 🧠
Is an empty Carvana vending machine bullish or bearish? 
It’s wild to me that hotels still have cable tv and not something on-demand. The provider partnerships are strong I’m sure, but I’d think Amazon/netflix/et al would be interested (though, their with flows bite; it’s hard to log in on vacation).
What’s keeping this shift from happening?
What’s keeping this shift from happening?
Surge wages!
Just learned that Buc-ee’s pays their employees more (significantly more, apparently) when they store is busier than normal.
I need to look into it, but I imagine it’s a win-win: easier to absorb fluctuations than calling in additional employees for short periods of time, and reward workers.
Just learned that Buc-ee’s pays their employees more (significantly more, apparently) when they store is busier than normal.
I need to look into it, but I imagine it’s a win-win: easier to absorb fluctuations than calling in additional employees for short periods of time, and reward workers.
Costco is like Craigslist.
They stripped away all of the “consumer-centric” trappings of the day. Brought it to a bare bones experience.
In doing so, they revealed that, under the right circumstances, none of that was necessary or even desired. We take it for granted now, but at the time it was a massive bet.
They stripped away all of the “consumer-centric” trappings of the day. Brought it to a bare bones experience.
In doing so, they revealed that, under the right circumstances, none of that was necessary or even desired. We take it for granted now, but at the time it was a massive bet.
One of the most useful models for me in the past few years has been Carlota Perez’s installation/deployment model. I first learned of it on @fredwilson.eth’s blog and it’s now towards the top of my “thinking stack”. https://avc.com/2015/02/the-carlota-perez-framework/