What You Need to Know Today: March 10
Good afternoon, Early Risers!
Here’s what you need to know
TECH
Social media scotch tasting is here — and yes, it’s as pretentious as it sounds. “Tastings” have always been about community. Get a bunch of old dudes in tweed jackets together, with a box of cigars, and prepare to cringe while you hear words like “mouthfeel” and taste of “pebble” (seriously) get tossed around like nothing. As Scotch companies look to introduce new generations of drinkers to their products, tapping into digital communities is a no-brainer. Meet the 200-year-old Scotch company who wants to drink with you — on Twitter.
The pros and cons of group chat. “Group chat is like being in an all-day meeting with random participants and no agenda,” says Jason Fried. This might sound odd coming from a guy who launched Campfire, the first modern SAAS group chat and messaging tool for business, but who better to criticize group chat then a guy who’s been using it for 10 years. Tools like HipChat and Slack are great for company culture, but they won’t ever replace email — here’s why.
3 words you should stop using at the end of emails. When you end an email to a potential client with “Let me know…” followed by anything, you can pretty much kiss it goodbye. “Let me know” is lazy. You’re telling your client or teammate “You figure out what needs to be done, and let me know how I can help.” A better way to end emails is to offer solutions. Here is a 2-step structure you can follow.
CAREER
At Ikea, everyone is equal. Four reasons employees love Ikea: 1. retirement bonus, 2. a voice in benefit options, 3. loads and loads of time off, 4. no glass ceiling. 5. meatballs… Fortune wrote a great article on Ikea’s egalitarian ethos — a lot of companies could benefit from reading this.
+ Ikea’s egoless culture runs deep. Almost-90-year-old Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad says he buys all his clothes at local flea markets because, “I want to set a good example.” #boss
You heard about Dos Equis guy? But have you read this… I’m sure you heard The Most Interesting Man in the World is retiring. Seventy-seven-year-old actor Jonathan Goldsmith will make his final appearance in a Dos Equis commercial tonight. The commercial will show Goldsmith on a one-way trip to Mars, and “his only regret is not knowing what regret feels like.” Classy. But I bet you don’t know where The Most Interesting Man in the World angle originated from? ETR founder Mark Ford explains.
LIFESTYLE
Why everyone’s talking about this Apple launch parody. A few weeks ago I shared with Daily Brief readers a clip from Jimmy Kimmel promoting Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest film The Brothers Grimsby. It was a clever marketing stunt that got viewers talking. But now it looks like Cohen is pulling a page out of Apple’s book — using Apple’s marketing magic to refamiliarize audiences with past comedic “products.” Brilliant. Watch this.
A sign you need better friends. Seth Godin: “You will benefit when you tell lots of people your give-up goals. Tell your friends when you want to give up overeating or binging or being a bore. Your friends will make it ever more difficult for you to feel good about backsliding. On the other hand, the traditional wisdom is that you should tell very few people about your go-up goals. Don’t tell them you intend to get a promotion, win the race or be elected prom king. That’s because even your friends get jealous, or insecure on your behalf, or afraid of the change your change will bring. Here’s the thing: If that’s the case, you need better friends. A common trait among successful people is that they have friends who expect them to move on up.”
#NOWYOUKNOW
25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music is Going
Source: The New York Times
[Warning: You might want headphones if you’re in an office]
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