Take Action Regardless

Plus: Why Content is King, Lessons from a billion dollar founder and much more...

Author

Luca Bersella
July 21, 2024

Hey everyone,

I’m returning from holiday today, refreshed and ready for H2 ‘24. These creative breaks work. I’ve got more ideas than ever I want to share here.

On the note of sharing ideas…

This is your Sunday Space, where I serve up the best ideas, tools and resources I’ve found each week as we explore the technology shaping the future.

If you find something thought-provoking, forward it to a friend.

IDEAS
Take Action Regardless

Ever since I read The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, I’ve been obsessed with Mark Manson’s writing.

If we all agree that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, Manson’s life advice fits the bill.

Today’s idea was inspired by a recent blog post of his:

Speak as if you know what you’re talking about. Listen as if you don’t. Act as a way to find out. Most people wait until they are certain before they act. But you will never be certain of anything until you act.

I used to be someone who never felt “ready” to do the things I wanted to do:

  • Start this newsletter.

  • Build a company.

  • Learn to code.

There was always another book or podcast I “had to get through” before I’d be in a position to do the thing, equipped with the knowledge and ability.

As Manson says above, this approach is backward.

Everything you’re looking for to drive action arises from taking action itself.

Said in three words—Take Action Regardless.

INSIGHTS
1 Article

Content can create incredibly strong business moats—Bill Gates exclaimed the same point at the dawn of the internet in 1996.

In this piece, Nathan Baschez brilliantly explains how content leverages Hamilton Helmer’s 7 Powers to build enduring value:

  • Scale Economies: Content benefits from minimal variable costs, allowing for infinite distribution.

  • Network Economies: Popular content creates shared experiences, increasing its intrinsic value as more people consume it.

  • Counter Positioning: New media brands can disrupt incumbents with fresh approaches that attract younger audiences.

  • Switching Costs: Content builds deep emotional and intellectual investments, making it difficult for consumers to switch to alternatives.

  • Branding: Strong content brands help navigate the sea of available media, driving consumer loyalty and discovery.

  • Cornered Resource: Creative talent, which is intrinsic to content, becomes a cornered resource. Successful media companies either mitigate this dependency through systems or empower creators to capitalise on their uniqueness.

  • Process Power: Content creation is a complex, opaque process requiring expertise that is hard to replicate. This means top creators and organisations always have a competitive edge.

I can confidently say reading the full article is worth your time.

For a comprehensive view of sales and marketing for your business, pair the above with “Distribution Is King.”

After all, content is a natural distribution channel for most businesses.

1 Post

1 Video

THOUGHTS
Quote I’m Pondering

“Content innovation grows audiences, and distribution innovation creates enterprise value.”

— Mitch Lasky, former Benchmark Partner

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Thanks for reading,

— Luca

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