Puma is reissuing the dorkiest shoe ever made

A new generation of nerds will finally be able to get their hands on the legendary Puma RS-Computer.

Puma’s RS-Computer shoes, originally released in 1986, were way ahead of their time. For the first time, a pair of running shoes could track your steps, distance, calories burned, and running time electronically, just like your phone or smart watch does today. Now, the German sports company is re-releasing the rare sneakers for the dorks of today. I say dorks because–well, just take a look at this news report from CES 1986.

Source: FastCompany

Nostalgia is always a winning marketing play. Some of the now-adults who grew up wanting these are definitely going to grab a pair, and probably an NES Classic while they’re at it.

Personal Rebranding

Do you need a career makeover? In this episode of HBR’s advice podcast, “Dear HBR:”, cohosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer your questions with the help of Dorie Clark , the author of Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future .

Source: Personal Rebranding

Good episode! Read the summary here.

The truth is, the vast majority of people aren’t paying much attention to you. That means their perceptions are probably a few years out of date—and it’s not their fault. With hundreds (or thousands) of Facebook friends and vague social connections, we can’t expect everyone to remember the details of our lives. So we have to strategically reeducate our friends and acquaintances—because they’re going to be our buyers, recommenders, or leads for new jobs.

The original marshmallow test was flawed, researchers now say

I still think self-control is a very valuable trait – even if it’s not as predictive as once thought…

A team of psychologists have repeated the famous marshmallow experiment and found the original test to be flawed. It joins the ranks of many psychology experiments that cannot be repeated, which presents a considerable problem for its findings.

Source: The original marshmallow test was flawed, researchers now say

What a Toys “R” Us Comeback Could Look Like

Toys “R” Us is being resurrected for the holiday season. After filing for bankruptcy protection from creditors in September 2017, it closed all its stores in the United States and United Kingdom earlier this year.

Source: What a Toys “R” Us Comeback Could Look Like

The Toys’R’Us saga continues… previously on Straty:

Silicon Valley Code Camp 2018

Slides


A Developer’s Guide To Strategy (PDF, Download)

Recommended Books:

Strategy

On Strategy: HBR’s 10 Must Reads – Audible

Strategy: A History (Lawrence Freedman) – Audible

Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors (Michael E. Porter)

Entrepreneurial Strategy

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future (Peter Thiel & Blake Masters)Audible

Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers (Geoffrey Moore)

The Four Steps to the Epiphany (Steve Blank)

Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without YouAudible

On Entrepreneurship and Startups: HBR’s 10 Must Reads

The Magic of Thinking Big (David J. Schwartz)Audible

Business Strategy

Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Jim Collins & Jerry Porras)

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t (Jim Collins)Audible

Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your LifeAudible

Competing on the Edge: Strategy as Structured Chaos

Book Reviews?

A few more detailed book reviews