Ben Guttmann

Two messages that caught my eye

We’ve had the TV on a lot recently. I guess that’s what having a new baby will do – lots of time at home coaxing them to sleep in front of a screen playing something you don’t have to pay all that much attention to. Through all that background noise, I’ve seen two starkly different messages come up again and again that I thought were worth calling out.

July 29, 2024

•

A strategy is a theory, not a plan

I often meet people with a new business, and as we talk, I eventually ask them what their strategy is. And nearly every time, I get back a plan. A plan is a list of things you’re going to do, with some details about how you’ll go about doing them. A strategy is a theory as to why you’ll be successful.

June 24, 2024

•

What the Brits don't understand... literally

Ask a Brit about ziti, kwanza, or tilapia, and they’ll look at you like you have two heads. And in all fairness, I don’t know what they mean by tippex, biro, or tombola. These words are some of those best known by each country and least known in the other.

April 15, 2024

•

People actually like being told what to do

Here’s something that feels like it shouldn’t be the case: People like being told what to do. We like being told what the best restaurants are, what we’re supposed to wear to an event, and which kitchen appliance is the best value. Just this Sunday, millions of people tuned in to the Oscars, in part to be told what movies were the best ones to watch.

March 11, 2024

•

How some of today's college students view their digital life

Once every semester, I turn the class around and ask my students about their experience with social media, their phones, and everything in between. It’s a cliche in education to say that the students teach you, but every year, this focus group class actually does.

March 5, 2024

•

Sign-up for my free 3 Simple Things newsletter.

Each Tuesday, I’ll send you one thing from me, one link from somebody else, and one idea to think about. That's it.

Got it. You're on the list. 🍻

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.