BLOG OF ADAM HARTUNG
Business Lessons from the Fall of Afghanistan
The catastrophic fall of Afghanistan is partially a failure to meet the needs of an evolving culture and a myopic view of a dynamic enemy-the Taliban. This is a lesson for business growth.
The Ever Adaptable Netflix
Pivoting is in Netflix’ nature as a company. They anticipate and react to customer needs. Not all pundits get it!
What Radio Flyer and Harley-Davidson Have in Common
Harley Davidson and Radio Flyer have both embraced trends in the market for personal transportation. Both companies are expanding from existing markets to new ones.
Corporate Nomadland – the Gig Economy and Digital Nomads
The movies can predict trends like Digital Nomads. Who are they and what is driving this very real mega-Trend?
How Amazon Used Trends to Buy MGM for Free
Amazon earned up so much “trend value” from anticipating trends that they bought MGM, essentially for free.
Hallelujah! Microsoft Cancels Windows 10X
Windows 10X is gone and it is symbolic of Microsoft’s new growth orientation. Instead of investing in “the core”, CEO Nadella is driving to anticipate market trends.
America’s Emerging Demographic Disaster – Are You Planning For It?
America’s birthrate is dramatically down and the Japanese “demographic trend bomb” is looming. Immigration has spurred growth in the U.S. in our past. We need that growth now.
Verizon’s AOL/Yahoo Debacle – Think You Can Fix That?
Verizon destroyed about $220 B in value in AOL and Yahoo. They failed to see trends and then failed to respond to disruptive innovators. Was it the CEOs? The PE company? Here’s a preview of the book!
IBM’s Demise – Why You Can Do MUCH Better
IBM fell into the Growth Stall trap. As the competition increased and market demand shifted, revenues fell. This led to a vicious cycle of cost cutting and diminished innovation.
The End of Trumpism
Trumps policies were doomed to fail long term because they resisted major global trends. The best path forward for any country is to embrace these trends and use them to build an advantage.
The Decline and Fall of Chicago and Illinois
Chicago and the state of Illinois are collapsing due to decades of fiscal mismanagement and political dealing. This trend was bright as day but was, as they say in Chi-town, “the can was kicked down the road” for the next guy to deal with.
Trends Drive Value- Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft
Every industrial “era” is based in technology innovation. Those innovations are valued by investors and are reflected in the stock market. Watch carefully for the trends.
Why Uber’s Autonomous Car Project Flopped
Uber just spun off its autonomous car project into a new company called, “Aurora”. Ok, but why did Uber invest in this tech in the first place? It was heralded as a good tech spend, but it was really just a backward integration for a ride share company.
Disney and Uber – Using Trends To Great Success
Gas prices and demand are down for 2020. This is an acceleration of the trend away from combustion engines…and toward EVs.
How Tesla Killed Exxon’s Valuation – Will You See Threats Coming?
Gas prices and demand are down for 2020. This is an acceleration of the trend away from combustion engines…and toward EVs.
DJIA Changes – Interesting, Yet Meaningless
Component companies of the Dow Jones average were changed again. What does it really matter to investors?
California Legislators – Not Even You Can Stop a Trend
Recently, the California legislature passed Assembly Bill, AB5 “The Gig Economy Law.” It redefined “employee” to try to reduce “contract workers.” It forces those who pay for work to cover additional costs of “benefits”. CA AB5 attempts to set back the advancement of the Gig Economy 30+ years by forcing the private sector into an obsolete industrial model. Uber and Lyft could be the first casualties in this battle, but CA consumers will pay the price.
WILL KODAK SUCCESSFULLY PIVOT INTO PHARMACEUTICALS? I DOUBT IT.
Strategic pivots can lead to success for agile companies. But, the pivot must be pointed at an unmet consumer need to increase growth.
Electric Cars are Not a Fad, and They Matter
Electric cars are the ideal example of how small, fringe competitors can disrupt established markets. Especially with the disruption happening outside a market known for its innovations.
Ignominious Ends- Sears and Malls
Like newspapers before them, retail stores are now experiencing the overwhelming power of a trend whose time has come. The retail industry was built on consumer mobility- buyers came to stores. Consumers traded time for convenience and when mobility was abruptly disrupted, retail paid the price.
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