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Adam Kalsey

This is the blog of Adam Kalsey. Unusual depth and complexity. Rich, full body with a hint of nutty earthiness.

Currently Reading

Daily Reading from July 05, 2009

5 Jul 2009

Links to what I’ve been reading recently.

  • How to Use Testimonials for Marketing — "Testimonials can be a very powerful marketing tool. Customers want to trust a company before doing business. Testimonials of positive experiences can help build that trust. Here’s a step by step process on how to use testimonials in marketing: 1. ..."
  • You are ALWAYS in Beta. — You’re always in beta. Always. If you think you aren’t, you’re already falling behind and bleeding relevance. What does being in Beta mean? It means being in perpetual test mode. It means constantly asking “how could I do this ...
  • Freemium and Freeconomics — "This week we saw the release of Chris Anderson’s book Free and reviews from the New Yorker (Malcolm Gladwell) and the Financial Times. I’d like to talk a bit about the firestorm that freeconomics (fed by Chris' book) has unleashed ..."

Recently Written

Decoding Product Leadership Titles
Mar 18: Not all product leadership titles mean what they sound like. ‘Head of Product’ can mean anything from a senior PM to a true VP. Here’s how to tell the difference.
What branding can teach about culture
Jan 8: Culture is your company’s point of view in action—a framework guiding behavior, even in the unknown. You can’t copy it; it must reflect your unique perspective.
Think Systems, not Symptoms
Dec 15: Piecemeal process creation frustrates teams and slows work. Stop patching problems and start solving systems. Adopting a systems thinking approach helps you design processes that are efficient, aligned with goals, and truly add value.
Your Policies Aren’t Your Culture
Dec 13: Policies guide behavior, but culture is the lived norms and values of your team. Policies reflect culture -- they don’t define it. Netflix’s parental leave shift didn’t change its culture of freedom and responsibility. It clarified how to live it.
Lighten Your Process Burden
Dec 7: Everyone hates oppressive processes, but somehow we keep managing to create them.
Product Add-Ons Are An Expansion Myth
Dec 1: Add-ons can enhance your product’s appeal but won’t drive significant market growth. To expand your customer base, focus on developing standalone products.
Protecting your Product Soul when the Same Product meets New People.
Nov 23: Expand into new markets while preserving your product’s core value. Discover how to adapt and grow without losing your product’s soul.
Building the Next Big Thing: A Framework for Your Second Product
Nov 19: You need a first product sooner than you think. Here's a framework for helping you identify a winner.

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What I'm Reading