As an aside that absolutely is not intended to detract from your point, Sweetgreen has always had some sort of “This is what we do but also make salads because money.” Like when they were a lifestyle brand with annual concerts. The first time I went into a Sweetgreen I was very confused by the 10 foot tall poster of Kendrick Lamar performing and promotion for that year’s convention and concert.
Could you imagine being offered a ticket to Arbyfest or Jambacon?
Like you said, please just make a good salad.
I got Google’s DPA update email included a number of Uber’s Model training side gigs and analytic products. I’m guessing this all came out of the Self Driving car project, but it’s another - albeit less goofy - data point of “We’re and AI Company but we do X for money.”
I feel like I see a few of these every month.
A few years ago Foresquare realized their business model was less profitable than that of the data aggregator they used so they bought the aggregator and basically became that company given the other hooks they have. I sort of wonder if that’s what is running through some of these companies’ C suite meetings.
It’s not good but it’s commonplace for every company these days to be a {whatever pumps the stock price/gets us the most VC interest} company that does {original business model} on the side.
The difference between good CEOs and bad CEOs is how aware they are of the game.
Good CEOs say they're a {whatever pumps the stock price/gets us the most VC interest} company, but continue to invest and excel in being a {core competency / original business model} company.
Ugh your last point has been the last half decade of CEOs at the places I’ve worked. Add in a smattering of other C Suite members as well.
My personal theory is we’re experiencing people who came into senior leadership in the 2010s and could make money even with poor choices by riding the hype cycle and we’re all paying for their one year of experience ten times.
Could you imagine being offered a ticket to Arbyfest or Jambacon?
Like you said, please just make a good salad.
I got Google’s DPA update email included a number of Uber’s Model training side gigs and analytic products. I’m guessing this all came out of the Self Driving car project, but it’s another - albeit less goofy - data point of “We’re and AI Company but we do X for money.”
I feel like I see a few of these every month.
A few years ago Foresquare realized their business model was less profitable than that of the data aggregator they used so they bought the aggregator and basically became that company given the other hooks they have. I sort of wonder if that’s what is running through some of these companies’ C suite meetings.