One of the points I make in the forthcoming book, “Create Distinction,” is that “best practices aren’t always ‘best’ for your organization.” In other words, what made Starbucks distinctive can provide you with some great ideas and concepts — however, it is NOT a blueprint that you can duplicate for your organization.
You know those “best practice junkies” — those so-called leaders who take a concept from a distinctive company and assume if they apply it “to infinity and beyond” for their organizations, they’ll receive the same results. Instead, they should be focusing on learning from those great examples — and then determining how they can be adapted before they become adopted.
On the other hand, we always should be searching and learning — and here’s a terrific short video from OnlineMBA.com that provides us a nice slice of insight into what makes Apple’s product design so compelling.
Watch — and then consider how you can adapt the concepts before you adopt them in your organization.
Trying to be the “next” ensures that you won’t…
However, the next recording act to have Presley’s level of popularity was nothing like Elvis at all. It was the Beatles.
Right away, the recording industry searched for the “next Beatles.” But, the next act to have their level of popularity and sales was nothing like the Beatles. It was Michael Jackson.
And, of course, the next recording act to have sales like MJ was nothing like him at all…it was Garth Brooks.
Notice a pattern?
So…do you REALLY want to be the “next” Starbucks? Apple? Southwest?
If you do, then…by definition…you cannot be like Starbucks, Apple, or Southwest.
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