Category: business ideas

The silver bullet

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Big business and Governments the world over constantly search for the big idea, the way forward, the next world beating innovation.  This viewpoint evolves from a mass culture of domination and power to the few. The military industrial complex where large investment, and owning infrastructure can create long term profitability, and ultimately control over constituents. 

If there’s anything to be learned from the internet and media revolution, it’s that the silver bullet has disappeared. It’s not the answer. Fragmentation is inevitable.

 

The answer lies in the aggregation of ‘collective yet differentiated’ resources. Aggregation is how we can overcome and take advantage future fragmentation. This is how the business opportunities of tomorrow will evolve.

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The energy / oil / enviro / climate crisis faces the same future…. and I’m betting that the answer isn’t a single substitue for the barrel of oil.    

Rain makers

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

Hippo jobs is a fast growing web startup which focuses on the youth job market. I recently had a coffee with the super successful entrepreneur and General Manager of Hippo.com.au – James Masini.

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The discussion found its way towards scaling up and staff requirements and structure.  

Insert startup insight here:  

The majority of his work force are currently in business development roles – read ‘sale people’. He’s currently recruiting a few more staff who’ll also be in Business Development – sale people. 

Not coders, not techies, not marketers, not bean counters, not admin…. rain making, revenue generating, sales people. Simple.  

Why people hate banks

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

People hate banks for lots of reasons. Too many to mention here. But here’s one: They pretend to care. 

Why shock, horror; I actually had a pleasurable banking experience.  

Upon opening a couple of business accounts at the Bank of Queensland in Yarraville and the staff actually did care. We even shared a joke or two. 

The clincher was with a simple statement: When asked how many monthly transactions I’d need at the branch and I replied with I’ll do it all on the net, they replied;  

“That’s a shame, we’d like to see you come in. Remember we’re here if you ever need help or want to come in and discuss any issues.” 

It wasn’t corporate training speak either. The body language and tone told me it was real. We humans can sense these things. Funny how the things that cost nothing, add the most.

If any local business colleagues ask me about banking, guess where I’ll send them?

Ego

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

I recently bought the book below. I have read this book before, and yet I felt the need to purchase it and add it to my library.

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Yes, I will read it again, but that’s not why I purchased it. In fact it was a $50 impulse purchase.

On close inspection of the photo above you’ll notice this hardcover version of the book has beautiful embossing and a soft silken fabric cover. It’s tactile and premium. This book was an ‘ego’ purchase.

We normally associate ego purchases with items which are on display: Fast cars, haute couture clothing, funky sunglasses, golf clubs, Euro design kitchens and bathrooms, flying first class et al. Places where our consumption choices are on display. However, The Prince by Machiavelli will not be on display – only in my house and head.

The lesson for start ups is this: Our ego can be leveraged in any category. Even boring stuff like books. We’ll often pay more (which I did, more than double) because our ego isn’t an external thing, ego is about self importance, whatever that means to us.

Let’s hope

Posted on by Steve Sammartino

That if we achieve our startup dreams. Our legacy is far greater than conspicuous consumption or a large trust fund for our kids.

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If you make bank, don’t become a jerk or ruin your kids.