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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 3h

It’s better to be extremely different along one dimension, winning all customers who care most about that dimension, even if that means you’re worse in all other dimensions.

True or false? Is that a strategy you want to employ?

Worse, but unique

An objectively “worse” strategy can win, if it leverages something unique or unexpected. Startups can use this concept to beat incumbents.

longform.asmartbear.com

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 8h

Yup, that's the critical bit.

Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 11h

True.

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 11h

The internet allows most humans to express themselves in any format, at any time.

The internet rarely restricts that expression; people yell things into the void that they wouldn’t say in person.

Good, when the truth comes out.

Bad, when wielded in anger or malice.

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 21h

The bad news is: They're not looking at you.

The good news is: That means you can screw up and learn in public.

Thing is, you 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 want to solve the first thing…

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

If you read the books about them, it's not pretend!

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

Thank you!

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

You worry that if you email 1000 people, you’ve “burned” that list for future messages.

So you delay until “everything is perfect.”

They won’t be burned.

Almost no one reads or remembers any email.

You can email them again.

What your next excuse? 😃

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

Be particular, and obsessive.

Greatness requires it. Competitors either won’t do it, or are different.

But not about everything -- there not enough time.

Pick just a few, so you can be extreme.

That’s who you really are.

Let others see.

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

That's a good idea.

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

Fair! Fortunately, I have an article for that:

Failure to face the truth

This admonition recurs in myriad books, frameworks, and topics, across decades of time. When something is so consistent, it must be wisdom.

longform.asmartbear.com

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

Ha, yes.

Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 1d

Your ICP is your narrowly-defined target customer.

But tons of other people will sign up anyway.

Good! But don’t get distracted by their requests or even their churn.

Why it happens like this:

Selling to Carol: Why targeting an ICP brings 10x more customers than you expected

Targeting your “Ideal Customer Profile” (ICP) is the best way to differentiate and win sales, but does it limit your target market?

longform.asmartbear.com

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 2d

Facing the truth is so hard, most of us can't do it, most of the time.

But the truth stays true even if we ignore it.

So in the end, we just waste a ton of time.

No benefit, only waste.

Failure to face the truth

This admonition recurs in myriad books, frameworks, and topics, across decades of time. When something is so consistent, it must be wisdom.

longform.asmartbear.com

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 2d

Normally you shouldn't assume rare things will happen.

But sometimes you're objectively in an unusual, special situation. Then, the rare thing might not be so rare. It might be happening now.

So the rules might be different, and typical probabilities might not apply.

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 2d

Ha, that's true.

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Jason Cohen @asmartbear.com · 2d

“It’s not good enough yet.”

This is great when it’s motivating you to become the best version of yourself.

But not when it overflows into “I’m not good enough.”

See the difference -- one is about the product, the other is about yourself.

Impostor Syndrome: Why I felt like a fraud, and how I overcame it

Most high-performing people experience Impostor Syndrome. I did too. When you understand the cause, you can defeat it.

longform.asmartbear.com

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