Comments on: The new competitive advantage: There’s an app for that http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tweets that mention The new competitive advantage: There’s an app for that -- Topsy.com http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-10175 Tweets that mention The new competitive advantage: There’s an app for that -- Topsy.com Sat, 29 Jan 2011 02:58:50 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-10175 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Carrie Bond, Bruce Serven. Bruce Serven said: Great conversation around this >> RT @markwschaefer: Competitive advantage? There’s an app for that => http://bit.ly/cKt1Xz [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Carrie Bond, Bruce Serven. Bruce Serven said: Great conversation around this >> RT @markwschaefer: Competitive advantage? There’s an app for that => http://bit.ly/cKt1Xz [...]

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]]> By: Martyn Chamberlin... http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-10103 Martyn Chamberlin... Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:13:00 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-10103 I don't know about you Mark, but I get excited when I read something like this. And even though this is an old post, it's evergreen in terms of relevance. “For a college freshman, half of what they have learned will be obsolete by their junior year.” That sums up nicely why (or one of the reasons why) I don't really feel like going to college haha. Instead of memorizing old stale facts for a test, it seems like now the standard is the capability of working hard *and* smart. Funny how many people fail to either work hard or work smart. That just means better chances for the rest of us, right? Oh, and I've got tons of cool apps on my iPod. :-) I don’t know about you Mark, but I get excited when I read something like this. And even though this is an old post, it’s evergreen in terms of relevance.

“For a college freshman, half of what they have learned will be obsolete by their junior year.” That sums up nicely why (or one of the reasons why) I don’t really feel like going to college haha.

Instead of memorizing old stale facts for a test, it seems like now the standard is the capability of working hard *and* smart. Funny how many people fail to either work hard or work smart. That just means better chances for the rest of us, right?

Oh, and I’ve got tons of cool apps on my iPod. :-)

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2043 Mark Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:45:36 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2043 @Mark Good point. I'm not sure overwhelming content is a viable strategy. : ) @Mark Good point. I’m not sure overwhelming content is a viable strategy. : )

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]]> By: Mark Burgess http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2042 Mark Burgess Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:45:03 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2042 Interesting subject. While Apple touts something like 100,000 apps, BlackBerry talks about maybe 2,000. I can't even image having the time to check out 100,000 apps nor finding that many are actually relevant. Meanwhile, as Apple attempts to take the high ground with the MOST apps, Verizon Wireless, quitely repositioned Apple's lead in the app race changing the debate to 3G coverage maps -- citing "there's a map for that" in a dead on brilliant marketing campaign based on true competitive advantage. Interesting subject. While Apple touts something like 100,000 apps, BlackBerry talks about maybe 2,000. I can’t even image having the time to check out 100,000 apps nor finding that many are actually relevant. Meanwhile, as Apple attempts to take the high ground with the MOST apps, Verizon Wireless, quitely repositioned Apple’s lead in the app race changing the debate to 3G coverage maps — citing “there’s a map for that” in a dead on brilliant marketing campaign based on true competitive advantage.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2030 Mark Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:33:48 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2030 @ Jamie "I love me a good a app" -- Sounds like a great blog post for you! : ) I think your sentiments here sum this up far better than my own! Knowing when to research, how to research, how to apply, and when to stop -- that's a critical skill for the learning economy. Thank you for writing my post better than me -- as usual!! @ Jamie “I love me a good a app” — Sounds like a great blog post for you! : )

I think your sentiments here sum this up far better than my own! Knowing when to research, how to research, how to apply, and when to stop — that’s a critical skill for the learning economy. Thank you for writing my post better than me — as usual!!

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2029 Mark Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:28:54 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2029 @Steve Superb points, well said! @Prince Loved Purple Rain. Thank you for your support and kind words! @Steve Superb points, well said!

@Prince Loved Purple Rain. Thank you for your support and kind words!

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2028 Mark Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:27:24 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2028 @Mike Very interesting perspective -- that this is a variation on a theme. I do think there is one important difference however. A few hundred years ago, the idea of technological change was non-existent. People lived off the land, rode horses for transportation, and wrote letters if they were literate -- as they had done for centuries. There was no pressure to keep up with any type of change whatsoever because there was very little happening. The ability to process change is a modern challenge that can literally make or break a government, an industry, a company, and now I propose, the competitiveness of an individual. I think this is more than being resourceful or clever, although as you rightly point out, that is part of it, and always has been. Really great thinking Mike! Thanks! @Mike Very interesting perspective — that this is a variation on a theme. I do think there is one important difference however. A few hundred years ago, the idea of technological change was non-existent. People lived off the land, rode horses for transportation, and wrote letters if they were literate — as they had done for centuries. There was no pressure to keep up with any type of change whatsoever because there was very little happening.

The ability to process change is a modern challenge that can literally make or break a government, an industry, a company, and now I propose, the competitiveness of an individual. I think this is more than being resourceful or clever, although as you rightly point out, that is part of it, and always has been.

Really great thinking Mike! Thanks!

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]]> By: Mike Campbell http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2027 Mike Campbell Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:43:40 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2027 I agree that the ability to quickly find and use free apps is a critical skill. However, this skill is no different today than it was two years ago, 20 years ago, or 200 years ago. It's the ability to think outside the box. To take the tools at hand and use them creatively. To use your example of Excel. The same two employees had this tool. One employee kept repeating the same mouse clicks over and over for 6 hours. Another employee repeated the same mouse clicks for an hour, spent an hour writing a macro, and an hour running the macro. Both employees produced the same result, but one is heads and shoulder above the other. How do companies enable this skill? Education and training. Lifelong learning. I agree that the ability to quickly find and use free apps is a critical skill. However, this skill is no different today than it was two years ago, 20 years ago, or 200 years ago. It’s the ability to think outside the box. To take the tools at hand and use them creatively.

To use your example of Excel. The same two employees had this tool. One employee kept repeating the same mouse clicks over and over for 6 hours. Another employee repeated the same mouse clicks for an hour, spent an hour writing a macro, and an hour running the macro. Both employees produced the same result, but one is heads and shoulder above the other.

How do companies enable this skill? Education and training. Lifelong learning.

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]]> By: Jamie Lee http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2026 Jamie Lee Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:29:20 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2026 Another interesting question and conversation, {grow} style. In my perfect world, we would be magically freed from the need to waste personal and business resources chasing the rainbow of perpetual obsolescence. Don't get me wrong, I love me a good app as much as the next guy; but if I were to add up all the time I've spent researching, installing, and learning new software, widgets, apps, and various Web-based tools I'd probably want to cry. I think part of the battle is knowing when to put these tools to use, and when to set them aside in favor of some good old-fashioned brain power and elbow grease. At a certain point, many of these "tools" mutate into time-wasters. Mucking about with new apps is a great procrastination tool. Ultimately, it's better to focus on the ideas first and apply the tools later and only after careful consideration to ensure that they will actually provide value. Another interesting question and conversation, {grow} style.

In my perfect world, we would be magically freed from the need to waste personal and business resources chasing the rainbow of perpetual obsolescence.

Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good app as much as the next guy; but if I were to add up all the time I’ve spent researching, installing, and learning new software, widgets, apps, and various Web-based tools I’d probably want to cry.

I think part of the battle is knowing when to put these tools to use, and when to set them aside in favor of some good old-fashioned brain power and elbow grease. At a certain point, many of these “tools” mutate into time-wasters. Mucking about with new apps is a great procrastination tool.

Ultimately, it’s better to focus on the ideas first and apply the tools later and only after careful consideration to ensure that they will actually provide value.

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]]> By: Prince http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/01/27/the-new-competitive-advantage-theres-an-app-for-that/#comment-2023 Prince Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:56:51 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=2016#comment-2023 Great read, and great comments,everyone!! Cheers, Great read, and great comments,everyone!!

Cheers,

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