Keval Seth sent me a message on Facebook first and then LinkedIn. As
in other cases, I did not oblige his request for friendship. However,
his network of friends, numbering over 700, startled me. A young
executive, he must be around 23, to have such an extensive network
reflected a jobless and always-on-the-network personality. And, for me
it didn’t seem good. To my surprise, his profile proclaimed that he
was a ‘digital native.’ It was difficult to digest – 700 people – and
the discussion was taken home with my wife. Her statement ‘the more
people you know, the more you’ll benefit,’ took me immediately to what
product marketers are up to these days. They are reaching out to more
and more people who can extend experience around their product. Take
for example, Apple. Is it successful because of the innovation, design
or the way it is marketed? Not really. The company relied on
application makers that would help them create a wonderful platform
wherein customers can ‘experience’ a different product. It is these
application makers that enable Apple expand the platform and create a
sustainable experience. In a nutshell, sustaining a competitive
advantage is challenging sans an appropriate and extensive network. Individuals are no different. And, the young man seemed to have built
a platform. Let us see the experience his network has to extend.
--
in other cases, I did not oblige his request for friendship. However,
his network of friends, numbering over 700, startled me. A young
executive, he must be around 23, to have such an extensive network
reflected a jobless and always-on-the-network personality. And, for me
it didn’t seem good. To my surprise, his profile proclaimed that he
was a ‘digital native.’ It was difficult to digest – 700 people – and
the discussion was taken home with my wife. Her statement ‘the more
people you know, the more you’ll benefit,’ took me immediately to what
product marketers are up to these days. They are reaching out to more
and more people who can extend experience around their product. Take
for example, Apple. Is it successful because of the innovation, design
or the way it is marketed? Not really. The company relied on
application makers that would help them create a wonderful platform
wherein customers can ‘experience’ a different product. It is these
application makers that enable Apple expand the platform and create a
sustainable experience. In a nutshell, sustaining a competitive
advantage is challenging sans an appropriate and extensive network. Individuals are no different. And, the young man seemed to have built
a platform. Let us see the experience his network has to extend.
--
