Okay, I've finished the Steve Jobs biography. Lots to digest. I take my responsibility of writing items of use to all us SMBs seriously. That's why I don't usually write about titans of industry because we're not one of them. And the lessons Jack Welch has to offer is better left to others with billion dollar budgets at their disposal. And certainly Jobs fits into that category. Even when the chips where down, he still had a few million to roll the dice with. Us SMBs, not so much. So what can we learn from Jobs?
One thing that really intrigued me was the notion that he had to do what was obviously necessary. That's not a quote from the book. That's my take. In the case of Apple, they had released the Jetson, bubble iMac (obviously necessary because they had to create an amazing computer after years of creating crap) and the first iPod, but the big box stores threw them in with the rest of the PCs. They were just part of the junk in the stores. Jobs decided that the only way to showcase the special nature of Apple's products was a chain of Apple stores. This was a huge risk, but it was of obvious necessity for Apple. They had no choice. Of course, Apple turned their stores into desirable products in-of-themselves. They also had to put them into expensive retail spaces (malls) to catch the eye (and wallets) of casual passers by. They had NO CHOICE. It was an Obvious Necessity™.
What is your Obvious Necessity™? Can you afford to do it? Can you afford not to do it? If you're really trying to build your business, you have an Obvious Necessity issue. Hopefully you're spending some time each week trying to think creatively about your business. If you aren't, you should. And if something isn't working, STOP DOING IT! If you do get a chance try thinking about your Obvious Necessity. It will refocus your business in many wonderful ways. It could also be the key to getting you out of the rut you might be in.
In the weeks to come I will add my thoughts about:
- The need to to work with an 'A' team
- Why making a system where you are managing choices rather than creating them yourself is better.
- Skating to where the puck is going to be, not where it's been. (thank you Mr. Gretsky)
Some final random thoughts.
One of the more curious traits of Steve Jobs was that of creative remorse. This is what happens when an ego-driven creative process suddenly has to be released to the public and all ego-wielding demagogues are suddenly reduced to doubters, second-guessers, tweakers and hopers. Jobs was not immune to this but he still got his products out.
One thing that defined Jobs, I think, was that he was not an artist himself. I think that's why he had to have such affected surroundings; the furniture-free mansion and the over-architected offices. I write. I draw. I produce. My surroundings are only nominally important because I carry my creativity in my head. I don't think Steve had that. That's why he had to surround himself with an A-Team and not bozos.
The fact that both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer would poo poo successive Apple initiatives and then be proven monumentally, stupid wrong must serve as some kind of lesson. Just shut up, for instance.
One more thing...
Was Steve Jobs a genius in the land of the smart or normal in the land of the stupid? I tend to think the latter. The stuff Apple has created seems so obvious. The thing that has always struck me about philosophers, such as Bertrand Russell, was their stuff was just common sense. Why was it so revolutionary in its time? Maybe I should put my resume into Apple for the role of heir apparent.
Paul Chato has been many things: a graphic designer, programmer, comedian, head of network TV comedy, game producer, 3D animator, playwright, event host, director and anything else that matches his fancy. Most of the time he is a managing partner at Your Web Department and is most excited about LiveBuild™. Check out LiveBuild
This past week: This time I did something different, instead of picking the best suited tweets from this week I used the eight most clicked tweets as of today. (Thanks to Hootsuite for organizing this info and making it easily available). As you will see below my interest still evolves around the SMB (Small Medium Business) and how to market their products/service. Having to promot YWD through the same channels that I read and talk about I have gained some personal experience using the social platforms available. Though each business has the potential to work better in one of the main platforms, this doesn't mean you need to ignore the others. The big 4 (as they being talk about now days) Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ are constantly evolving and improving their systems. The one thing they all have in common is the recognition to serve SMBs better; and we are starting to see features and services from all big 4 that cater to the SMB community.
Though Google+ just came into the social media realm, it is making headway in a big way. After a couple of big flops (Buzz and Wave) Google nailed it this time with Google+. It is not just the Google+ itself that is important but, how it ties in with all the other Google offerings. Yes, search included.
LinkedIn is the oldest social network out of the big 4. They have had company pages for a while now, but there was little in them to make you a follower of them. Recently they added the ability to post as the company page; though the is a great feature we can't seem to be able to increase the following in our LinkedIn company page. We even implement all the recos in a recent HubSpot article, which t are great tips and they should work. This just indicates that LinkedIn is not where our audience is.
Just about everyone I know owns a smart phone and their kids do too. With so many mobile sites offering out there (including YWD Mobile [link: http://www.yourwebdepartment.com/index.cfm?pagepath=Create_your_own_YWD_mobile-optimized_website&id=35147] there is no excuse not to have a mobile version of your site. The expectation is that your site will be easy to navigate and I will be able to find what I'm looking for easily from my phone.
It is true, "I don't have the time to do social media" is the most common excuse I hear when I ask if they are in any social media network. Yes, it does require time, but any form of work requires time, and the amount of people you can reach with one post justifies the time spent to do it. No?
This is our weekly YWD update, targeted to our customers, showcasing the latest features to our system and any promotion or campaign we might be running at the time. If you are not YWD customer it gives you a good picture of YWD website capabilities, check all the updates in our Newsletter blog
This a great example from a Real Estate company from New York: "They’re a real estate firm who share so much more than their listings. Instead of focusing on their own properties, the Corcoran Group site posts photos and tells stories about interesting things to see around New York."
If you haven't used it yet, you should give it try. I believe this will eventually replace the phone, your associate and customers will be contacting via Hangout in the near future. And it is not just phone replacement, there many other applications for this type of technology.
Next Friday I'll have another round up, in the meantime you can follow me @ywd or on facebook
Gustavo Jabbaz started his digital career as a designer and then became a developer and these days spends most of his time as a digital marketer. A founding partner of Your Web Department, he's responsible for day-to-day operations, marketing and development strategy. He is who you talk to when you need support with SEO and/or Social Media. Gustavo Jabbaz on Google+ | Twitter
A strong colour plattete and well-defined grid. A great starting point for a technology-related website, FastCity makes use of Google Web Fonts to convey a unique look and feel. Apply it and then change as much as you want, no coding required.
Flavio Mester is a graphic designer as well as a systems analyst (in a distant life he was an architect). A founding partner of Your Web Department, he's responsible for the design and development of all the YWD website management platform interfaces. Flavio Mester on Google+ | Twitter | LinkedIn
If you’re blue and you don’t know
where to go to why don’t you go
where fashion sits
Puttin’ on the [YWL Looks] Ritz
Like all other YWD Looks, Ritz can be applied to your website with one click. Then upload your own banner image – the "Ritz" and 1.800 number you see there is just placeholder – and you're done. And you can customize it as much as you want, no coding required.
Flavio Mester is a graphic designer as well as a systems analyst (in a distant life he was an architect). A founding partner of Your Web Department, he's responsible for the design and development of all the YWD website management platform interfaces. Flavio Mester on Google+ | Twitter | LinkedIn
I'm reading the Steve Jobs biography. You know the guy? He started Apple Computers? He's had so little press I'm not surprised you haven't heard of him. I think I'm supposed to put a smiley face here, or something.
As an entrepreneur and small business guru, in my own right, I've always counselled that the success of others is meant only to sell business magazines and is not necessarily a roadmap for anyone else to follow, but reading the biography there are some good lessons for small business owners. I'm only part way through but here are some key learnings from the book so far:
Sometimes it's better to be stupid than right.
Don't think you are successfully hiding the fact you are crazy from your employees. They know, but for many complicated reasons are still willing to follow you. Hopefully, one day, you will learn to be the person they always hoped you'd be.
Just because you are searching for enlightenment doesn't mean you are enlightened.
You will hire and fire many people along the way even with the best of intentions.
Keep moving forward.
Standing still is not an option (see item 5).
There is no logical, business school prescribed, method for success. The rules for creating a business are not necessarily the rules for creating success. There are many people who will equate being at the right place at the right time with the right people as brilliant business strategy.
If you find a guy in your lobby, unshaven, unkept, smelling of body order yelling, "I won't leave until I get a job here." Would you hire them? Nolan Bushnell of Atari fame did.
Seriously, this Jobs guy was an ass.
More as I read further into this tome.
Paul Chato has been many things: a graphic designer, programmer, comedian, head of network TV comedy, game producer, 3D animator, playwright, event host, director and anything else that matches his fancy. Most of the time he is a managing partner at Your Web Department and is most excited about LiveBuild™. Check out LiveBuild
This past week: As you might have seen, we launched a new look for Your Web Department's website we are all about helping SMBs (small and medium businesses) do well on the internet. Our help doesn't stop with your website, we can help with design, mobile and social marketing as well as branding and content strategy. Keeping in tune with the pitch above this week's tweet picks are all about making your business life easier.
Google has the potential of becoming a great social hub for business. Google isn't really competing with Facebook, but LinkedIn should worry. LikedIn has made great progress in becoming a true social network for business, but it cannot compete with Google's suite of applications already available.
Just having a website for your business doesn't cut it anymore. Your website at the very least needs to pay for itself. HubSpot 25 must-have list is dead on; and YWD can help with each one of them.
If you just started blogging don't expect to have lots of traffic yet. The formula of success is simple: Stay on topic, promote your post to the right audience and post consistently.
Another analysis of Google's search result rankings. This time projecting the impact Siri (and all voice activated interfaces that will come) will have on search results.
I have always felt that banning sites or social media activity at the work place was counter intuitive. This article just proves that your employees will do it whether you like it or not. Best option let them do it and create a guideline for social media in the workplace. Who knows, one of your employees might learn something new while surfing Facebook that can help your business.
A picture is worth a thousand words, imagine that at 24 frames per second. If you are going to the trouble of producing videos why not give them the maximum exposure possible?
Next Friday I'll have another round up, in the meantime you can follow me @ywd or on facebook
Gustavo Jabbaz started his digital career as a designer and then became a developer and these days spends most of his time as a digital marketer. A founding partner of Your Web Department, he's responsible for day-to-day operations, marketing and development strategy. He is who you talk to when you need support with SEO and/or Social Media. Gustavo Jabbaz on Google+ | Twitter
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