The 31st Edition - On the Only-Option Test, CEO’s Opening Monologue & the 8 Tactics for Better Meetings
Did you know what % of Brits say they wouldn't go to space?
Did you know that 48% of British people said they wouldn’t go to space even if their safety was guaranteed? The most popular reason they gave was that they just simply didn’t have any interest in going. (source)
Read
🤔 How Amazon's "Working Backwards" compares to the Lean Startup, Pixar's "Braintrust" & Apple's "Creative Selection" (15 mins)
I really enjoyed this deeper dive into how the “Working Backwards” method from Amazon works, and how it relates to other approaches.
You might know that I love this space, and I’m even considering my own plays in the SaaS space (Curious? Read one of my latest threads on my thinking.)
BONUS 1: If you’re into startups too, I’d recommend following Jakob Greenfield. He wrote a great exploration on how to find opportunities using trending searches for software alternatives.
BONUS 2: For those who focus more on delivery, this is a great visual guide on how Apple plans software.
Watch
Here’s a short video you may have seen before, but it’s worth re-watching.
Now, I know that you’re probably thinking - that doesn’t apply to me, I’m focused.
In this thread, I talk myself through some tough choices too, and believe me, there’s more tough choices that I still need to make.
I shared another tidbit on how Steve Jobs advocated for focus in the 11th Edition.
Remember
“Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.” - Don Miguel Ruiz (source)
“Power hates a vacuum.” - Boba Fett (source)
Consider
The Only-Option Test: This one comes from Annie Duke’s “How To Decide”. Simple and powerful. (source)
What Does the CEO Say at the Beginning of Keynotes: I’ve been reading Ben Thompson’s “Stratechery” blog a lot lately. One of his tactics is to “pay close attention to what a chief executive has to say at the beginning of their keynotes — particularly for their developer conferences — as it often lays out the overall strategic direction for the company.” (source)
8 Tactics For Better Meetings:
Name the Genius
Play Fewer Chips
Talk Up Your Mistakes
Ask the Questions
Create a Stretch Challenge
Make a Debate
Give 51% of the Vote and 100% of the Ownership
Give it Back (source)
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Have a great week ahead & see you next week.