Business Model Generation in 2 Minutes. Enjoy!

Among the many business books I have read in the last five years, the “Business Model Generation (BMG)” by Alexander Osterwalder has definitely the most impact on the way I approach business modeling today. The reason why this handbook simply changed the way I think about business models is simple: “BMG” manages to re-organize a very complex matter in a very simplistic and visual format. The business model canvas is a modular design system which correlates all the essential building blocks that make up a successful business model. The very appealing designs help to illustrate complex structures in a clear-cut visual structure. In case of this handbook the old proverb “a picture says more than a 1,000 words” is literally true.

Although BMG does not treat every part of a business model in great depth (especially the cost structure and the key resources need more in-depth consideration), it clearly teaches how existing business models work in different industries. While many business books fail to describe what makes good companies successful, Osterwalder manages to break down the success recipes of many sophisticated examples in simplistic illustrations.

But be careful: Solely because this compendium is so simple to understand that does not mean that BMG can provide all the input to the next killer innovation or multimillion dollar business. Unfortunately, life is not that easy. A lot of hard work and a solid dose of strategic thinking will still be necessary to take the most out of this book. Only if one understands the complex system behind the nine building blocks the book unravels it is full power. This way it represents a very valuable, inspiring, and of course enjoyable guide to design future business strategies. 

More info @ www.businessmodelgeneration.com

The analysis of both academic and practical definitions has shown that despite the many differences there are substantial similarities between all definition of games. What all these definitions have in common is the fact that they describe games as simulated and formal systems that include the notion of decision-making based on a pre-defined set of rules. With regard to the practical purpose of this blog I consider the following description of Jane McGonigal as the most suitable way to define a game - primarily because it focuses on the core mechanisms and their specific function within a game.

Book Recommendation: The Start-up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career

Although it is not award-winning literature, the “start-up of you” is definitely an inspiring page turner with a lot of good insights on how to expand the personal framework. The overall theme “give and you shall receive” is actually true. Try it - the vision of everyone being and acting like an entrepreneur is about to become real - in no time! Also see thestartupofyou.com

How To Turn A Nasty Surprise Into The Next Disruptive Idea

Every entrepreneur should assess his personal situation before getting started in order to define his or her goals properly. This process is crucial because it will lead not only to an in-depth analysis of personal skills and interests but also to a careful exploration of the own personality. In other words, looking at oneself carefully displays all important facets in one’s identity and quarries core values which will play an important role in the future career. Although this task is not easy to carry out, there are many methods, tests and tools that help with this self assessment process. As a first step, it is crucial to define certain areas (personal and professional) that contribute to a fulfilling life. In order to know exactly where I am aiming at I defined four aspects of life which are important to me. The purpose of this task was to get an exact visualization of my future goals throughout the course of this self assessment.

In order to be able to substantiate what I expect from life I finally chose my own way of structuring my personal means. As a marketer I learned that every successful brand has a unique personality. That is why I do not regard a brand as a single message or a set of product features anymore, but as a belief system consisting of seven essentials. In fact, a strong brand can rather be seen as a person - with a distinct identity which describes the respective product, service, or business. This approach is a very efficient way of analyzing and identifying the core values of a brand. Considering every person as a unique individual leads to the conclusion that this method works the other way around as well. A strong personality embodies many talents. And the sum of these talents can be seen as a (personal) brand. So here are my seven brand essentials that I defined for myself:

Seperating the men from the boys.