What I read…

I read a lot of articles each day. I really should share what I have read. So here’s what I read today (with simple notes):

Seth Godin. Of course.
Liked it.

http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/1000-days-after-overnight-success/
Liked it.

http://chrisguillebeau.com/3×5/%E2%80%9Cive-just-been-so-busy-lately%E2%80%9D/
Didn’t like it (though it was good. For some reason (perhaps I envy his lifestyle and success?) I think of Chris as a TV evangelist: preaching empty messages to serve himself.)

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/business-wealth-articles/busy-nuff-whining/
Didn’t like it (though it was OK)

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/white-hot/the-manifesto-of-encouragement/
Loved it.

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/white-hot/how-to-be-a-profiting-truth-omercial-rather-than-a-slickster/
Loved it.

http://www.daniellelaporte.com/white-hot/on-bright-faith-and-why-falling-in-love-is-totally-uncool/
Loved it.

http://paulcrik.com/wp/archives/1731
Loved the writing. The idea terrified me.

http://paulcrik.com/wp/archives/1701
Loved it.

http://paulcrik.com/wp/archives/1696
Loved

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jpmoore/read-marc-marons-amazing-inspiring-just-for-lau
Boom. There’s honesty, and there’s real honesty. this is the second.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/abrams/25-awesome-quotes-from-comics-on-marc-marons
Loved it.

http://paulcrik.com/wp/archives/1518
Liked it.

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/26/ampad.pdf
Hmm. Romney looks heartless and unethical. On Jan 5th, I wrote this:

What would it take to pull off a major theft?

The vast majority of people never consider the question. At least not seriously. That is why the vast majority of people hold jobs: they do not steal (significantly) from where they work; they do not plan elaborate strategies to clean out they company they work for.

But some people do think about how to pull off a heist. And not just in action movies.

As we have seen in action films, the amount of planning and money it takes to pull of a major heist is beyond the majority of people. But for those who do consider it, you can pull off grand theft, free and clear, in two arenas: the financial industry and religion.

Looks like I was right.

Why can’t anyone replicate Apple’s success?

Why can’t anyone replicate Apple’s success?

Everyone is trying. From yogurt makers to car makers to internet search companies, everyone tries to copy Apple’s products, or design philosophy, or retail strategy, or marketing, or chase Apple into an industry that Apple created.

But none of the copying transforms any of the companies that try.

Why not? It is an interesting question.

I offer two answers:

1) Everyone is chasing Apple. You cannot overtake anyone when you are trying to keep chasing them. Still, I would think that the chasing would have the ol’ “Hitch-your-wagon-to-a-star” effect; I would think that at least some of the companies would find themselves transformed into very profitable companies. But that does not happen. Except for Microsoft in the 1990s. But it hasn’t worked for them since them… Microsoft’s market capitalization in 1999: 500 billion; Microsoft’s market cap today: 200 billion. Still very large. But 2 1/2 times smaller than it was.

2) Everyone is trying to copy the external, peripheral factors in Apple’s success. Why isn’t anyone (a company or individual) copying Apple’s focused vision? Organizations and companies spend a lot of money and time and energy on gathering data, buying data, reading data, training, fads, etc. But, I submit, you could spend that money and time (or less) on learning about, growing, sharpening your vision–as a person or a company.

Vision trumps all. That’s the explanation for Apple’s success. You likely already have a vision. Go with it. If you don’t, knock yourself out finding and focusing your vision. Anything else is just a game. An unprofitable, unsustainable game.