Disqus - Latest Comments for Jaynehilditch

Re: More features? No! More better feature

Jaynehilditch — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:21:35 -0000

It's a good observation Levent.

I'll be using a variant on it at product owner group discussions. My variant is that I think we need to pay attention to a blend ...

- whats wrong with the current offering / improving the core offer

and

- making sure it's still relevant for tomorrow

I guess nothing stands still : I didn't know I wanted "cover flow" on my ipod (until I got a new one that has it), but I sure as hell knew that I want the crap battery life sorted.

There's something in there about regularly touching base with the core good idea around which the product was based - is it still relevant (I don't want a perfect sony discman anymore thanks)? For us, I'm utterly confident it's still relevant - but am also conscious that the world changes. For example, we need to be ready for the world where the unit of work isn't always going to be a job - increasing proportions of the workforce undertaking portfolio careers based on projects rather than jobs - and hence will they seek those opportunities in the same way that they've always sought jobs? I don't have the answer to that yet btw.

I think there's also something in there about wanting a perfectly functioning ipod much more than wanting one that has some popquiz game that isn't relevant to me. Working out the jobsboard equivalent isn't always obvious - so I'm going to ask candidates at the recruitment fair this week about the site - what they like/don't like/wish it had. Will keep you posted.

I enjoyed reading the post - it's made me think - so thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Re: The Fred Wilson effect (a.k.a: social networking dividend of an open, public conversation)

Jaynehilditch — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:52:29 -0000

"That’ll sound pathetic to most readers of this piece. But for a complete outsider/spectator to the new media world, a casual observer just starting out in adult life (the low, low traffic to this site illustrates that perfectly), last week was both a privilege and an adrenaline rush"

Not at all pathetic! I'm also a new (and will be returning) reader, brought over here courtesy of following fredwilson's blog. Which I found courtesy of comments on Umair Haque's blog... which was recommended by an entreprenneur I'm going to be working with. I'm also rather new to this world, and pretty much blown away by the impact of our digital footprints. I'm invariably as interested in the comment threads as the original posts - so utterly convinced the conversation platform is the future.

Re: Listening To Your Customers Is Hard

Jaynehilditch — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:16:42 -0000

*Really* listening to customers is hugely valuable, often hard, but for me, always inspiring. Sometimes you need to be creative with the listening - it's not just what they say, but how they say it - getting under the "faster horses" first response. An innovative approach I've admired recently doesn't come from the tech world, but a smoothie company in West London called Innocent. They held a funky AGM. Not a company annual general meeting, but "A Grown-up Meeting" - with enthusiatic consumers of the product. They held tastings, took questions (including the difficult ones about whether they were selling out by selling into McDonalds stores), generally had fun with their customer base. The attendees obviously loved it, Innocent got some real three dimensional input into what their customers think. Nope, I'm not a shareholder, just a satisfied customer, and pretty much inspired observer. If you're interested, it was You-Tube'd, twittered and covered on their website www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/AGM/

Re: Fred Wilson Dot VC

Jaynehilditch — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:14:04 -0000

Glorius. Haven't heard it in years. Just triggered me to go unearth the old U2 vinyl to listen to "New Years Day". Off to locate mp3 version now so I can hear it without the crackling (although that adds a certain something) !

Re: Funkalimination

Jaynehilditch — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:56:15 -0000

Glad to hear it's lifting. Great comments yesterday - some terrific advice, and it got me thinking (and blogging) on a semi-related issue... the links between music and mood.