Tag Archives: success



Too complex. Too fast. No foundation.

May 9th, 2010

That’s what happens when a project is rushed.

It gets too complex too fast with no foundation.

And then you end up with inferior results.

Slow down, do the dance, get to know each other.  Plan for success.

Then you’ll get it.

Or if you can’t slow down, in the shorter timeframe, increase the relationship building efforts.  Meet everyday.  Twice a day.  Or twice a week.  Whatever – make sure you build up that relationship the best you can.

Otherwise you end up with a wobbly jenga tower, which will collapse, given a nudge.


Photo Credit: Egarc2


Success formula for next decade. The fastest learner (and applicator) wins.

April 27th, 2010

Ok I cheated, it’s always been a winning formula.

Get in early, learn like heck, apply continuously, revise, relearn, reapply. That’s a winning strategy.


The ideas manifesto. What makes a good idea? #1

April 18th, 2010

What makes a good idea?

Simple.  It’s not complex.  It’s easy to build and execute.  If I was to make it out of lego it would probably only involve two or three parts.  When it’s lego technics… probably too far.

It’s been done before.  Maybe not in the same context.  But the same framework.  Calcium enriched Milk.  Calcium enriched Yoghurt.  Framework taking an increasingly perceived commodity and providing a value add.  What is that value add? Whatever the consumer will pay.

It won last time.  Or you know why it failed last time.

Someones already doing it, and you can do a million times better at a bigger margin.

Your idea is expensive. Expensive in time, money, commitment or attention.

You haven’t coated a simple idea with three or four layers of complexity (like an onion).  When you bite into it, it’s sour, take the layers away expose the core idea.  If it’s too weak it’s not good enough.

Like the onion example, compromise isn’t your friend.  The more compromise the more boring and average it is.  Take out the added widget, stick to the core idea without compromise.

Make sure someones already buying it.  Whether it’s a replacement technology OR they’re demonstrating behaviour which proves the pain.  Unless you have a global platform to launch on like Steve Jobs, it’s dam hard to create totally new behaviour.

Profit from day one or very very early on.  Sales speak louder than any pitch, don’t forget the dollars.


This pretty much sums up success online

April 5th, 2010

“Low barriers to entry high barriers to success”

That is, anyone can leap in due to the democratisation but success? That’s another whole ball game.

.

.

.


Amazons Jeff Bezos on what makes a successful company

July 27th, 2009
1. Obsess about Customers.
2. Invent (you can invent your way out of any box if you believe you can).

This is absolute gold, an incredible succinct video from Jeff Bezos founder of Amazon.com.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hxX_Q5CnaA

In short:

  1. Obsess about Customers.
  2. Invent (you can invent your way out of any box if you believe you can).
  3. Think long term.
  4. It’s always day one. There is always invention in the future…(always new ways to obsess about customers).

Awesome huh?


Patience & Consistency

June 9th, 2009

Patience is a virtue.  Even better Patience & Consistency are a killer duo.

If you are patient in achieving your goals paired with consistency in execution you are sure to reach the pinacle.

You see anyone can do anything now (and they do) if you want to dominate your field of interest, be patient and consistent.  Keep turning up time after time.

For consistency creates momentum, reliability, reinforcement.  It creates results.

If these aren’t something you are good at – start working on it.  Now.


8 things that lead to success

May 6th, 2009

Great little video from Andrew St. John at TED – he talked to over 500 people trying to find what leads to success. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6bbMQXQ180

His definition of CRAP is hilarious – watch it again.


In the muck

April 14th, 2009

Just before you reach your goal, there is a state of chaos, where lots of things are on the go, you’re never sure if you will make it, but you keep pushing through, incredibly you do.  Return back to normal.  Wake up two weeks later again to find yourself doing it again.  Face it, it’s reality.  If your in the muck now, keep at it, all those baby steps add up.


Viral Momentum

March 30th, 2009

Viral activities are a dime a dozen.  Everyone giving it a go.  And that is great because they longer they keep at it the better they will get.

Often you will see a somewhat lame initiative go viral, or at least succeed in your perspective, you think hey i had a better idea.

But guess what?

They have much more momentum.  When Nike or Skittles does something cool, it is more likely to spread due to their momentum.

If I announce a project it has a higher chance of spreading than a blogger just starting out even if it is the same initiative.

Viral success = Momentum + Remarkability

If you don’t have momentum you need to really push the remarkability side.  You need to be doubly, triply, quadruply remarkable.

So don’t be disheartened if you haven’t had success the first time, keep giving it a go and remember the formula.


Where the Platform play falls down

January 20th, 2009

The platform play is a common one in niche industries.

It can be very successful.

However a recurring problem (and downfall) is a lack of focus.

Imagine your platform is like a big slab of concrete on a vacant lot.  This is your platform.

It can be anything; a carpark, a basketball court, a place to throw your rubbish.

Without direction it is open to interpretation.  It may even remain abandoned.

There may be easy road access so people park there; maybe the sun is really bright so people sunbath, maybe there are fences so people play sports inside.

As the owner of the platform, you need to pick a path, direct the audience towards that, open up to other opportunities later.

If you be everything to everyone you become nothing.  

(For more info best read my prior posts on Platforms here and here)


The Magic Button

November 26th, 2008

Just need to find it and press it.

Bam! A Puff of Smoke.  Instant success.

Except its not really like that.

Want to know the real truth? Here it is for free.

The answers are already there, you just have to look for them

AND

Put in the hard work.

So stop wasting thousands of dollars on buying the magic answer and put the work in.


What gets Measured gets Managed

November 17th, 2008

It’s the old adage Peter Drucker came up with:

“What gets measured gets managed”

It’s very true.

The trap we all fall into is an addiction to metrics, hey this one reinforces our success better or this is neat.

The question you need to ask is:

  1. What are the objectives?
  2. What is the one metric that shows progress and success? (look at per objective)
  3. Ignore other metrics.

If this metric dictates your objective, focus on that, when you stop and review you can look at others, but do not let them distract you whilst your in the trenches.

Once you have this focus, you will notice as Drucker says “what gets measured gets managed” will drive your success.


The difference between traditional and new media

October 21st, 2008

Think about Newspapers, and actually read the content in them, it’s typically very low key and more press releases and quotes than actual editorial.  

They weren’t always this way.  Once their distribution was locked down, the game shifted from how can we maximise readership (through great content) to how can we maximise profits.

You see the same things with bands, how often do you hear so and so has sold out now the’re big.

Blogs are the new content medium, surely they’re not the same? Or are they?

Think of some of the more popular bloggers, once they hit a certain readership or tipping point they too appear to slack off.

Others don’t, some to take it as a good sign and work harder.

They’re in it for the long term.  

You see with blogging, once the distribution is set (through feedreaders / email subscriptions / syndication) the foundation is weaker.  It is easy for one single reader to drop off.  

You need to keep on your toes, keep active and use engagement or return visitors or attention time as a measure of success.

(and someone to give you a dead arm when you slack off)

That’s why you see such great content out there, for free, competition is fierce.


Those that turn up

October 6th, 2008

Woody Allen said:

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.”

However when you go to turn up, you get a sudden fear, a feeling in your stomach, so you stop.

That’s why free events have high rsvp low turn out rates.  

Rather than endure the feeling in your stomach you just don’t go. No pain if you don’t

However same thing happens in life, only your letting yourself down.

You need to stop.

Ignore this and dive in.

Been contemplating blogging? building a website? learning a new hobby? always let this pain stop you?

My advice is to learn to love the pain, thrive on it, throw yourself into it, scare yourself.

Some call this throwing yourself in the deep end.

If your not scaring yourself your not pushing yourself, so scare yourself and turn up. 

(that’s where success is hidden)

ps

also read I Fail Lots if you haven’t yet.


I fail lots

July 17th, 2008

Well, I do…

At least 2 – 4 times / month

However

I also learn 2 – 4 things / month that don’t work

I only recently realised that

I have become so accustomed to failure that I bounce back virtually instantaneously

Weird

but awesome! this means I am willing to give anything a go.

Chances are the cost of doing it outweigh the cost of not doing it…

plus every now and again i come up with something brilliant!

this blog being one of them 😉

so go ahead

try some crazy ideas, fail lots and win sometimes.

(believe me, you’ll soon forget the failures, learn the lessons and win overall!)

(and you’ll get better at minimising risk and limiting the downside)

(oh and once your no longer afraid of failure the world is your oyster)



What are you doing all the way down here? You could:
- View my about page
- Or for first timers the New Here? page
- Or maybe email this to a friend
- Or subscribe to get blog updates