Hamilton Helmer, author of "Seven Powers," and Chenyi Shi from Strategy Capital dive into how companies can successfully build second business lines. They share a research-based playbook, discussing the fine balance between staying on a successful path and branching out. Insights from giants like Amazon and Nvidia illustrate why some thrive while others falter. The duo emphasizes the importance of a robust strategic framework and understanding market dynamics, alongside real-world examples to help founders navigate their growth challenges.
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insights INSIGHT
Founding Insight Drives Companies
Most companies possess one key founding insight.
Their subsequent history involves capitalizing on that initial innovation.
insights INSIGHT
Strategy Over Innovation
Disruptive technology or innovation alone isn't enough for long-term success.
Strategic planning and adaptation are essential for sustained profitability.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Porsche's Strategic Design
Porsche's 911's consistent design over decades demonstrates strategic brilliance.
By prioritizing performance optimization, they achieved lasting success.
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In 'A Whole New Mind,' Daniel H. Pink argues that the future belongs to individuals who can master the six essential aptitudes of the right brain: Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play, and Meaning. As the world transitions from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age, these skills become crucial for professional success and personal fulfillment. Pink discusses how forces like abundance, Asia, and automation are driving this shift and provides tools, tips, and exercises to help readers develop these essential abilities[1][2][4].
The Everything Store
Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
Brad Stone
The Everything Store is a revealing and definitive biography of Amazon.com and its driven founder, Jeff Bezos. The book chronicles Amazon's journey from its humble beginnings as a mail-order book seller to its transformation into a global retail and technology giant. Brad Stone enjoyed unprecedented access to current and former Amazon employees and Bezos family members, providing a detailed, fly-on-the-wall account of life at Amazon. The book highlights Bezos's relentless pursuit of new markets, his innovative ventures such as the Kindle and cloud computing, and how he transformed retail in a manner comparable to Henry Ford's impact on manufacturing.
The Innovator's Dilemma
When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
Clayton M. Christensen
In this influential business book, Clayton Christensen shows how even the most outstanding companies can lose market leadership when they fail to adapt to disruptive innovations. Christensen explains why companies often miss new waves of innovation and provides a set of rules for capitalizing on disruptive technologies. The book uses examples from various industries, including the disk drive, mechanical excavator, steel, and computer industries, to illustrate trends that lead to success or failure in the face of disruptive technologies.
Seven powers
Alex Rovira
7 Powers author Hamilton Helmer and his Strategy Capital colleague Chenyi Shi join us again to discuss their latest research on a topic that’s highly relevant to the recent Acquired canon: how to build a second business line. This incredibly important “transforming” question faces every great company who has achieved initial product success (as well as their investors). Do we continue solely along the established path, or do we attempt to grow new branches on the tree? Some companies grow new businesses with tremendous success — Amazon and AWS, Nintendo and video games, Nvidia and CUDA — yet many others fail miserably. For the first time Hamilton and Chenyi share their research-based playbook on how companies should approach this decision and choose wisely. Tune in!
Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.
Acquired 
