This books is not about making an app; it’s about making your dent in the universe.
The easiest way to become a billionaire is to solve a billion peoples’ problems.
The Four “D”s of Bold
- Disruption – Kodak was disrupted by the digital industry.
- Demonetization – no economist looked at the value of “free” in the marketplace. Yet, Google provides free services for everyone.
- Democratization – finance via lending is available to all who have ideas and inventiveness.
- Dematerialization – Uber doesn’t own any cars. Amazon doesn’t have any retail stores.
This book is about exponential growth. Instagram, a 13 person company, was bought by Facebook because it was growing exponentially. It was what Kodak should have been, which is the convenience industry, not the photo industry.
Markets ripe for disruption as of the writing of this book.:
- manufacturing via 3D printing.
- Networks and sensors. Gunfire detectors and GE aircraft engine system sensors.
Big goals, not small or midsize or vague goals, but big goals is the way to do something bold and world-changing.
Skunkworks, the nickname of rogue groups who are formed to do big things, is where innovation takes place.
Extrinsic rewards and the carrot and stick method work in certain circumstances, but after your basic income and basic needs have been met, it actually hinders your productivity and Innovation. (think about when you “get bonuses.”)
If you’re trying to make things 10% better, you’re just aiming for status quo and that will fail statistically speaking. Aim for things 10x better, moonshot thinking, and that statistically will be easier.
Fewer people are trying to reach for the stars, more are trying for mediocre results. Be the few reaching for the stars.
Develop flow in your daily life to increase innovation. The Montessori classroom is one of the best learning venues because you have to do rather than read about it.
