Tag: apple

iPhones, AI, and Embracing a Product Mindset (3-26-25)

Last week was about AI, tools, and expectations.  I want to dive deeper into this area by exploring iPhones, AI, and adopting a product mindset.

It’s hard to believe that the first iPhone came out in 2007.  I think I still had a Motorola Razr phone then. 😉  The first iPhone launched with a 3.5 in LCD screen, basic camera, and maximum storage of 16GB.  Today’s iPhone 16 Pro has a 6.7 in Super Retina XDR display, triple camera, and a maximum storage of 1TB.  That is a MASSIVE tech evolution. 

This didn’t happen by accident.  This happened because of the choice Apple made.  Apple had the opportunity to choose between two things.  They could either launch the iPhone fully knowing it was good but not perfect, or they could make the iPhone perfect before they launched it.  If they would have tried to make the iPhone perfect, it never would have launched.  Instead, they were brave enough to embrace a product mindset.  They were willing to launch version 1, fully knowing they would have to evolve it over time.

What does this have to do with AI or anything else?  I’ve been leading and working on various AI initiatives over the past couple of years.  There is ALWAYS the pressure to make something perfect before rolling it out.  There is ALWAYS the fear that the AI solution won’t instantly meet all of the audience’s needs.  This pressure and fear often leads to never delivering something tangible, because we are scared to not be perfect.  Have you ever felt this about any of your work?

Similar to Apple, I’ve had to work to embrace the product mindset.  This has been a shift for me.  I’ve had to learn to accept that something that is delivered with room to grow is SUPERIOR to something that never gets off the shelf because it’s waiting to be perfect.  I’ve had to learn to embrace all the feedback and questions that come with a version 1 as fuel for growth vs criticism about my shortcomings. 

The challenge- How can you embrace more of a product mindset?  Will you be strong enough to embrace that delivered with room to grow is better than something that never gets off the shelf?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

Personal Branding: Image vs Brand (4-24-24)

Last week we explored how your brand may not be for everyone and that’s okay.  This week we will look at image vs. brand.

Apple has been recognized as one of the most powerful brands in the world.  When you hear Apple, what do you think of?  One of the first things that comes to mind is the sleek design of their products.  The things Apple does just look cool.  Now, I want you to imagine a world where Apple products all continued to have the hip trendy designs, BUT none of them worked well.  How do you think the world would feel about Apple?  I’m assuming that Apple wouldn’t be appreciated, because that would not be a good value proposition.  While it’s true that image and design is a component of the Apple brand, it’s NOT the entire brand.  The Apple brand also stands for things like innovation, technology, challenging the status quo, simplicity, being intuitive, integration, genius bar, and customer wow moments.  Their brand is more than just image and aesthetic, it’s a combination of other intangible promises that Apple makes to consumers.

What does this have to do with personal branding?  It’s easy to confuse the concept of image with brand.  Your image and the way you present yourself are just part of your broader brand package.  While these things are important, staying so focused on surface level elements distracts us from focusing on the true substance.  Yes, we appreciate Apple because their products look cool.  However, if the products looked cool and didn’t offer the other things Apple offers, they wouldn’t be worth much.

I was talking to an individual once, and they brought up how cognizant they are about shaping their brand.  They talked about how much time they invest cultivating the right image online on LinkedIn and other social media sites.  They also talked about looking the part when they attended networking events.  I didn’t hear them talk about their unique genius, strengths, what they do, or how they do it.  I didn’t hear them talk about the problems they solve or the value they provide.  They were so focused on creating an image that they weren’t creating a brand that provides real value.

The challenge: As you build your personal brand, will you think beyond just shaping an image?  Will you think about the unique genius and strengths that you bring?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry