John, I’m catching up on posts I missed during the busy holiday season, and wow! The recent ones have been phenomenal. Here are a few thoughts and highlights from what stood out to me:
From Deep vs. Broad Context Traps: "People with deep expertise in a narrow context often overestimate how applicable their experience is to similar-looking contexts." This hit home for me because I used to work for a very niche industry. And it was only after moving to different industries that I finally understood that sometimes something very important in an industry is actually... not so needed in others. I committed a few mistakes in the beginning, after switching industries, because of that! It’s a great reminder to stay humble and context-aware.
From Beyond Firmographic-Based ICPs: "Everything is the product, so you focus on the differences that matter." The idea of moving beyond traditional ICPs to really understand the nuances of customer environments is spot on.
From Hot Takes and Parochial Altruism: "Under threat, we cling more tightly to our in-group—reinforcing bonds and seeking validation—while simultaneously stereotyping and distrusting out-groups." This is such a powerful observation about human behavior, especially in professional settings. It’s a great call to self-awareness and avoiding tribal thinking in uncertain times. I also loved the questions from this one!
From Adhocracies and Bureaucracies: "Often, in the quest to stamp out bureaucracy, leaders create even MORE bureaucracy, which is implicit and difficult to navigate." This paradox is fascinating, and I’ve definitely seen it happen. It’s a strong case for intentional, transparent processes rather than allowing implicit ones to take over. I actually JUST finished commenting on Andrew Chen's post from a few months ago about bureaucrats. What a timing. Here's the note! https://substack.com/@techisaiswithinnovation/note/c-83305659
These posts, your insights and their questions are immediately applicable. Thanks for always delivering such sharp and valuable content, John!
John, I’m catching up on posts I missed during the busy holiday season, and wow! The recent ones have been phenomenal. Here are a few thoughts and highlights from what stood out to me:
From Deep vs. Broad Context Traps: "People with deep expertise in a narrow context often overestimate how applicable their experience is to similar-looking contexts." This hit home for me because I used to work for a very niche industry. And it was only after moving to different industries that I finally understood that sometimes something very important in an industry is actually... not so needed in others. I committed a few mistakes in the beginning, after switching industries, because of that! It’s a great reminder to stay humble and context-aware.
From Beyond Firmographic-Based ICPs: "Everything is the product, so you focus on the differences that matter." The idea of moving beyond traditional ICPs to really understand the nuances of customer environments is spot on.
From Hot Takes and Parochial Altruism: "Under threat, we cling more tightly to our in-group—reinforcing bonds and seeking validation—while simultaneously stereotyping and distrusting out-groups." This is such a powerful observation about human behavior, especially in professional settings. It’s a great call to self-awareness and avoiding tribal thinking in uncertain times. I also loved the questions from this one!
From Adhocracies and Bureaucracies: "Often, in the quest to stamp out bureaucracy, leaders create even MORE bureaucracy, which is implicit and difficult to navigate." This paradox is fascinating, and I’ve definitely seen it happen. It’s a strong case for intentional, transparent processes rather than allowing implicit ones to take over. I actually JUST finished commenting on Andrew Chen's post from a few months ago about bureaucrats. What a timing. Here's the note! https://substack.com/@techisaiswithinnovation/note/c-83305659
These posts, your insights and their questions are immediately applicable. Thanks for always delivering such sharp and valuable content, John!
thank you such much for reading!
Great post full of powerful questions - thanks John!