TED Talks Daily Sunday Pick: Why you should get good at being bad | Fixable
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Jun 15, 2025 Discover the surprising idea that embracing mediocrity in some areas can supercharge your success in others. The hosts delve into the power of saying 'no' strategically and the impact of prioritization, citing how Apple thrived by allowing certain products to underperform. Learn about the importance of recognizing true competitors from a customer's perspective and the challenges leaders face in balancing success with failure. Personal anecdotes, including insights on parenting, add a relatable touch to this insightful discussion.
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MacBook Air Trade-offs
- Steve Jobs launched the MacBook Air as the lightest laptop but sacrificed some physical features like the internal CD-ROM drive.
- This showed that excelling where it matters requires willingly underperforming in other areas.
Being Good at All Is Delusional
- Being good at everything is a delusion especially in service businesses where trade-offs exist.
- True strategy involves choosing what not to do well and accepting sacrifice to excel.
Southwest’s Strategic No
- Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines refused to transfer bags despite customer frustrations to protect profitability.
- His empathetic yet strategic 'no' became a company-wide example of disciplined sacrifice for excellence.
