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I’ve watched my share of TED Talks, and I’m always amazed by the consistent quality of the presentations. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a dud. This may explain why…The TED Commandments.
I’ll be first to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of Malcolm Gladwell’s books. I mean, I thought The Tipping Point was as interesting as the next guy. But with Blink and Outliers, I was overwhelmed by this sense that he was conducting years of exhaustive research and writing a few hundred pages to tell me something I kinda already knew.
That said, his New Yorker articles are top-notch, the most recent How David Beats Goliath, being no exception. Gladwell uses examples as disparate as elementary school basketball, T.E. Lawrence, and of course, the story of David and Goliath to make his point. In each case, the key to success is simply trusting your own skills, instincts, and limitations and using them to your advantage. Maybe I kinda already knew that, too, but the article serves as a great reminder.
In conducting quantitative marketing research, analysts have an arsenal of tools and methods that may be employed to develop insight. W5 consultants are constantly developing our analytical techniques [link], and a few of these methods, segmentation and conjoint for example, have become core competencies.
For these types of projects, smart study design is critical, but for the most part these analytical techniques are applied post hoc, in interpretation of trends and spikes that emerge across a large numerical data set. We love this type of work, but we only recommend such an approach if our client’s overall strategic and specific research objectives seem to call for it.
Sometimes, marketing research objectives are best addressed not so much through application of post hoc analytical techniques, but on the front end of the project – through development of a direct, customized, in-depth line of questioning. Read the rest of this entry »
“Design is rapidly moving from posters and toasters to include processes, systems, and organizations. Design is the accelerator for the company car, the power train for sustainable profits. Design drives innovation, innovation powers brand, brand builds loyalty, and loyalty sustains profits. If you want long-term profits, don’t start with technology—start with design.”
Piers at PSFK has waded into a friendly debate over advice to recent job seekers. His advice(found here) is dead on. Young people need to think of themselves as entrepreneurs not employees. While not everyone is going to rush out and be their own boss, they should have that attitude when they enter the workforce.
I might add to his advice that they should go work for small companies where they can be involved in everything for the first few years of their career. While there, they should constantly stretch themselves and ask for more. More responsibility, more and different tasks, more autonomy, etc. A young person who pours their brains and hearts into their work early on will take more from the experience than someone who goes to a big company seeking experience.
The analogy I’d make is that your first job or two are akin to a liberal arts education. Don’t go to only pick up tangible skills and a job title/career. Go to immerse yourself and learn as much as you can. Go broad and deep. It will make you much more well-rounded and competitive by the time you hit 30. Plus you might find yourself doing something you like instead of repeating a work-skill daily until retirement or downsizing.
