What does one do when one's market is overtaken by (gasp!) pirates, who figured out how to bring what was supposed to be your product to your would be customers through methods you haven't thought of? You're doomed! Done for! Pack it up and... Wait, there's a couple more options.
Option A:
Stamp the pirates out.
Option B:
Compete with the pirates.
Option C:
Join them! They're quite welcoming.
"When the winds of change blow, some will seek shelter. Others will build windmills."
The Pirates Dilemma, by Matt Mason, adresses just this problem; what do you do when the pirates come in with a better price (how are you going to beat free?!), taken over your clientele, and in short, stopped your cashflow. He brings you to startling realizations of connections between youth culture (hip-hop, punk rock, etc.) are connected to the mainstream in their own way, and the choice you have to make: fight it, or work it.
This is another book in the same league as Wikinomics, Freakonomics, etc., that I can seriously recommend! There is some coarse language (but not quite rated Argghh!... I... I'm sorry... I don't know what possessed me to do that.) This book brings to the fore some startling revelations about the future of business that's happening before our very eyes.
See also:
The Official Website:
http://thepiratesdilemma.com/
My review of Grown Up Digital:
http://thestuffiread.blogspot.com/2009/10/all-grown-up.html
It's almost my anniversary!
April 4th marks the 1 year anniversary of this blog, so I intend to go all out. Any ideas? I'll be posting something special, that's for sure...
Oooh, cool! I shall have to check this out. I enjoy these types of books. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteEarly congrats on the anniversary! *throws confetti* Hmm...I haven't reached my one year mark (July) and am still stumped on what to do for mine, so I am not sure what to suggest. You could maybe do a big list of a bunch of favorites as a recommendation list. :) Can't wait to see what you post! :)