You need creative energy to create new products, services, relationships, and opportunities in your business. This keeps you out of the Chief Everything Officer seat and in the Creator of Economic Opportunity seat.
Creating things then gives you more creative energy. But how to get that first spark of energy?
Take some Vitamin I.
“I” as in Ideas you get from podcasts and YouTube videos. They’re snackable and multitaskable. You can fill your cup and empty the dishwasher at the same time. Win win. Here’s how:
- Next time you’re driving, mowing, or doing the dishes, give your entrepreneurial energy a boost with one of these sources that are all high in Vitamin I because they’re about super cool products and services that didn’t exist until a Creator of Economic Opportunity like you created them.
- There is no Step 2. ;-)
How I Built This
Interviews with business founders, conducted by an award-winning interviewer. This is NOT one of the 1,000+ “I interview successful people” podcasts. This is the #1 for quality, by far.
Some of my favorites:
- Spanx: My favorite, and Episode 1 of the podcast. Hearing how Sara Blakely just went for it and took over a corner of a department store, without permission, is alone worth the listen.
- Clif Bar
- Airbnb
- Melissa & Doug
- Honest Tea
- Lyft: Hard to choose Uber after hearing this one.
- 5-Hour Energy
- Rent the Runway
- Warby Parker
- Canva
- Allbirds: It’s all about the foot comfort, and Allbirds delivers.
The Economics of Everyday Things
“How do they make money doing THAT?” This show answers that question for 100 businesses. Some of my favorite episodes:
- Street performers
- Fireworks stands
- Elevators
- Pearls
- Roller coasters
- Ski areas
- Used golf balls (it’s dangerous!)
- Hotel art
- Porta-potties
- Pigeons
Business Wars
Five-episode miniseries that go deep on product and service categories. Some of my favorites:
- Nike vs. Adidas
- Netflix vs. Blockbuster
- FedEx vs. UPS
- Pizza Hut vs. Domino’s
- Taco Bell vs. Chipotle
- Chuck E. Cheese vs. Showbiz Pizza
The Economics of | WSJ
This is snackable AND bingeable, because this YouTube playlist from The Wall Street Journal has 59 videos. Just let ‘em run! Some of my favorites:
- Aldi, my favorite grocery store
- Meal kit companies
- Shake Shack
- Cava, a Mediterranean fast food chain
- 7-Eleven: The episode focuses on the efficiency of its Japanese stores. Think kaizen for convenience.
- Liquid Death: How to charge premium prices for two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen.
- Athletic Brewing, which makes the worst-tasting nonalcoholic beer on the market.
- McDonald’s, whose loyalty program I should have joined 14 years ago. I’d have so. Many. Points.
What Went Wrong? The Rise and Fall of ...
I just discovered this YouTube series from Michael Girdley and I’m hooked. He breaks down struggles and recovery strategies at Pizza Hut, Starbucks ... and a bunch of other businesses whose episodes I haven’t watched. Yet.
Get one practical tool like this each week.
If you’re not already a subscriber, my Tool Tuesday email delivers one concise, problem-solving tool every Tuesday. → https://www.drivegrowthnow.com/tools
Want help using this tool?
Bring a Problem, Decision, or Question to Office Hours and get unstuck Pretty Darn Quick.
Tuesdays at 10am • Thursdays at 1pm → https://www.drivegrowthnow.com/officehours
Comments