Know the basics so you can master the complexities. — Art is subjective. And yes, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. However, if you’ve encountered a confusing parking sign or a website from the early 90s, you’ll know that poor design exists. Like any other profession, graphic design also has rigid guidelines that function beneath the surface to…

It’s going to take me 2–3 minutes to lay this all out, so let’s get going. Problem 1: “Strategy” usually isn’t actually “strategy.” When people in charge use the term “strategy,” they are usually referring to “operations” or “logistics.” Problem 2: “Strategy” must be aligned with “execution.” Let’s say the…

The tech giant is planting seeds of the Great Renesaince of the digital age. — The technology frontier has been a bit boring recently. Yes, the processor speeds still fascinate us. And, of course, wearables are now a thing and not just an engineer’s wet dream. Apple has been silent, careful and avoided any big bang announcements. Its slow pace says something. Everything in that…

Why work when you can go surfing? — Would you rather spend a day at the beach than hunched over a laptop? Would you like your employer to pay your legal fees? Would you like to take your child to work and keep it in a cardboard box? OK, that last one sounds weird, but all three sentences…

Some business models are inherently more attractive than others, yet investors and other stakeholders often don’t ask the obvious questions. Here’s a checklist that makes sure you are not one of them. — People like to make thinking about business models really complicated. While that can sometimes have its place, for those looking for a quick overview of what makes one model superior to another, this might be a good place to start. Let’s walk through some key questions.