The economic playing field has gotten complicated enough that it's foolish to step on the field without some idea of how you're going to win. In sports, you have a playbook, which lists the plays you can make. In business, we call these...
business
Here are articles on business
Why business models matter: Understanding health insurance
When you're making business decisions, one of your most powerful tools is to understand business models. A business model is, simply, how a company makes money. If you want an in-depth definition with examples, check out my article on business models that was written...
Punt resolutions; use strategy, instead!
It’s January, and we all know what that means: time to set New Years resolutions that we’re going to break! The main things resolutions are good for is causing the gym to get way too crowded for the first six weeks of the year. You have a tool at your...
JetBlue speeds towards brand destruction
The essence of a strong brand is differentiation in a way that makes customers want to use your product or Service. JetBlue has announced a decrease in legroom and increase in baggage fees in an attempt to boost lagging profits. All I can say is, "idiots." The entire...
Good businesspeople oppose free markets
A friend on Facebook posted an article about New Jersey outlawing Tesla's direct-to-consumer car sales. My friend was decrying how Gov. Christie is being anti-free-market. And I agree 100%. From what I've been able to see, it's pretty clear that the big conservative...
In Praise of the Corporation
I'm in awe. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of big corporations. I think they often (but not always) dehumanize the people who work there. They can ruin communities in the name of efficient and cost-cutting, and they distribute wealth in truly bizarre ways. But... But......
Can you align business with ethics?
Is business anti-ethical by nature? I'm reading an article today about how it's in no one's business interest to help protect consumers whose cell phones get stolen. Cell phone companies make more money when a customer's phone is stolen, since the customer has to buy...
Recommended Books
Click the book name for details about a book. Click buy to order a book. The books listed here are all books I have found valuable. They have either enabled me to accomplish more in my life, or given me important ways of approaching problem solving, management,...
What is a Business Model? The anatomy of how a business makes money
Every business needs a business model. Yet two businesses that do exactly the same thing may have very different business models, leading one to succeed, and the other to fail. What is a business model, and how do they work?
Things I’ve learned about stock … the hard way (this is a paper I wrote for a friend in the late 90s)
Things I’ve learned about stock … the hard way (this is a paper I wrote for a friend in the late 90s)