Field Notes
On the Frontier
This is a living laboratory. It features experiments in human-AI collaboration, creativity, and business management.
MBA Boot Camp: Corporate vs Business Strategy (8.1)
Every company has a Mission (why we exist) and a Vision (where we are going). It is easy to dismiss these as corporate fluff printed on breakroom posters. But in a well-run company, the Mission is a ruthless filter for strategic choices.
If an opportunity arises that could make the company money, but it violates the core mission or weakens the brand's "moat," a good CEO will say no.
The MBA Marketing Insight: Marketing is the bridge between the company's strategy and the public. If the Corporate Strategy is to pivot from being a "computer company" to a "lifestyle technology company" (as Apple did in the early 2000s when they dropped "Computer" from their official name), the Marketing team has to re-educate the entire world through branding, product launches, and advertising.
Provoking Action: What StoryBrand 2.0 Taught Me About Bold, Clear CTAs
Donald Miller challenges readers to be bolder and clearer with their calls to action. In a way, he is enacting his advice, because passive statements don’t challenge customers to actually buy anything:
[M]ake your call to action clear by asking customers a yes/no question. Statements like ‘If you’re interested, let me know’ do not prompt our customers to accept or reject our offer and instead send them off into a whirlwind of confusion. The chances of our customers going home, pouring a drink, and meditating on our vague offer are next to zero, so don’t expect to close many sales if you’re passive and confusing.
Using AI to Build a Political Platform: Let’s Rebuild America
Yesterday, as I was reading Storybrand 2.0, I noticed that Donald Miler naturally gravitated toward political analogies when discussing the importance of putting power in the hands of customers (i.e. the people). So I thought it would be fun to use the AI tools to develop a political platform.
