Rules for Revolutionaries

If I had to summarize this book quickly for someone I think I would do so with these two tidbits. One from the front: “Create like a god; command like a king; work like a slave.”  and One from the back:  “Plant.  Weed.  Water.  Believe.” (I paraphrased that one for symmetry sake… it’s important to me I guess)

The book is certainly a worthwhile read.  I had a pen in my hand almost the whole time because I was constantly finding something worth underlining or making a marginal comment on.   I think one of the most powerful messages of the book is its encouragement to the reader to not let go of your passions.  Toward the back is a chapter entitled “Don’t Let Bozosity Grind You Down”.  This chapter is a list of famously wrong – I mean dead wrong – statements by some very famous, well-accomplished, highly-intelligent people who would normally fall into the category of “If anyone would know, it’ll be that guy/gal”.

At times I was reading some of the “common mistakes” being highlighted thinking, “Yup.  That’s exactly what we did last year.” A perfect example: (Referring the Chysler’s success with the minivan)  “Ironically, General Motors had a minivan design and the market research that supported the customer demand for it, but the idea was killed because of a lack of resources, guts or vision.”

As I read this I remembered my current company squashing an innovative project, that we were more qualified to bring to market than any other company.  I wanted to jump out of my couch in that moment screaming “So which was it guys!!!  It wasn’t lack of resources!  We had the idea, so it wasn’t the vision!!”  Needless to say, a competitor brought the innovation out and I remember the whole company being called together to discuss what it implied.  They did a good job too.  Good on them.  Three cheers for courage and conviction!

Final thought on Rules For Revolutionaries: The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and Services
 
Success is rented; so never rest on your laurels. Sow many seeds. Let a thousand flowers bloom. You have a moral imperative to make the world a better place.