What do IBM server, Harley-Davidson, and Jesus Christ have in common? Part III

So what do they have in common?

This graph shows

They occupy totally different space on this map, but here are their similarities:

1) Harley-Davidson and Jesus Christ both have significant emotional benefits (only to some people)

2) They all have a price

3) IBM server and Harley-Davidson both have functionality. At least a Harley-Davidson has to run, even it’s very loud.

If a product have high visibility, it probably has high emotional benefits, e.g. prestige. Clothes, cars, hand bags are in this category. Sometime, it’s even cell phone.

Low visibility product in general has low emotional benefits. Just like P&G doesn’t advertise tampons can bring woman status and prestige, no Internet companies think their Dell Blade Server in their server room is worth mentioning to their customer.

What do IBM server, Harley-Davidson, and Jesus Christ have in common? Part II

We can use a vector (functionality, emotional benefits, price) to represent a product on this graph. Given a magnitude from 0 to 10, we can say Harley-Davidson = (5, 10, 10), Honda CBR1000 = (10, 8, 8), but we can’t compare HD with computer on the same graph, since they have incomparable functionality.

How to put Jesus Christ in the framework? I think religion in general should be (0, 10, 10) 2,000 years ago, and (0, 3, 3) right now. No need to argue if it’s 3 or 5, since it’s the trend that is the key here.

How about Louis Vuitton hand bag? I think it’s (3, 10, 10) comparing with common bag (3, 1, 1), again it’s the difference that has the most information, not the absolute number.

IBM server should be (10, 0, 8). How about crude oil, I think it’s (10,0,10). Lexus (8, 8, 10), while Toyota is (6, 3, 5).

Cars in general is (5, 3, 5) in US, but (5, 6, 8) in China. Since the car price is doubled in China due to government monopoly and Chinese people think car = status.

3D framework with objects

What do IBM server, Harley-Davidson, and Jesus Christ have in common? Part I

I heard of Harley-Davidson back in China, but never buy one, since it’s over priced and low quality. Isn’t Honda CBR1000 a much better product?

2003_harley_davidson_fatboy

In Boston, what I saw just confirmed my dislike about Harley:
1) HD is so laud, I like quietness.
2) People who ride HD are so out of shape – obesities; I want to keep fit.
3) My prejudice told me
a) HD are probably made in China
b) riders look uneducated and un-sophisticated Caucasian
c) the sound makes me think it’s going to break due to over vibration
1) and 2) are facts, and 3) is my perception.

It’s heavy, slow, and handling pretty bad. Why people still love it?
One thing clear is they don’t think the way I do.  Here let me introduce my three dimension product analysis framework. After that it will be clear about the product difference and people difference. You can use it to make sense of any product in the world.

3D Product Analysis framework

God Father – Soul Harbor

Sigmund_Freud

Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist who gave birth of modern psychiatry, once asserted that on certain occasions the mind acts as though could eliminate tension entirely, or in effect to reduce itself to a state of extinction.

Freud saw the phenomenon of repetition is a form of discharge, and concluded that the compulsion to repeat is an effort to restore a state that that is both historically primitive and marked by the total draining of energy: death.

This theory explains some illusionists like to repeat one word or one action. I have the same tendencies, but I think doing the same thing over and over again can derive a sense of control, a pleasure, or even a dose of dopamine to calm down myself in this crazy mixed up world, where we lost orientation, and when the self perceived identity has been shattered.

The repetition could be talking to trusted person, going to church, or like me, watching God Father 3 along, an intellectual masterpiece. Only in this movie, I can let go of all the trouble,  find strength, and make sense of glittering world.

Sometimes, I was Michael Coleoni “in five years, our business will be completely legitimate”; or I am young Vincent, making choice between Mary and business. Even I become the wife of Michael, enjoying the life of rich family, rather than interfering with family business, which she had no clue. It’s quite satisfying and lucky that I can live out of my life.

In Godfather, I have my identity back, even more I can be anyone I want to be. I am in control and I know what is the right or wrong decision under the familiar setting.

Journey No Turning Back

After two years discontinued life, living in the middle of nowhere around Boston, influenced by some of the best talents from local system, obstacles, frustration, conflict, drama, love and tear created and suffered by myself, I would say I spend too much time wondering in the wildness, far from home.

I can no longer see or do things the same way as before. There is no turning back but to keep traveling on the up and down path, even sometimes I feel selfish to let my parents worried.

I Want to Buy China Portfolio

No economy will become prosper because they build better and more building, but the economy can be crippled by real estate speculation which happened numerously in history. In Beijing 50% of GDP is from real estate, and property price is higher than that in Boston, but salary is only 1/5 of that in Boston. Generations of Chinese family wasted their life saving on real estate; government wasted trillions $ on high speed train. US and Germany has the high speed rail technology for past 50 year, why the FUCK they didn’t build a single one in their country?

Obama said he wants to build high speed train in US, but believe me, he said this for blue collar workers and as ads to sell high speed train to stupid Chinese government. None will be built in US, because even US can’t afford the stupid investment of high speed train.

Check out this video. There are some truth in it.

What Get You Here, Won’t Get You There – Fair Transition

After a whole day event in Harvard with 150 traditional businessmen from China, I have to say I love them all. Those respectful hardworking small guy, even some of them are filthy rich, are really foundation of the economy.

People tend to pick mistake, but here is what I would do differently. When a panelist in construction business is asked how he handle the loyal employee who can’t keep up with the growth of the firm, he said he made them “back to zero”, which means everybody is paid based on competency to the job, not by years of service.

When the firm is small and not capable to attract talent and capital, loyalty and helping hand from family member is key to survive. Then after becoming an established firm, shall we just wipe the slate clean? If you do that, I think you miss the other side of picture.

“Western people are fake (CO2 emission, democracy, or human rights etc), Asian people are rude and violent”. I think this saying has some truth in it.

This may be a better way:
1) Communicate clearly the new expectation to old loyal employee, and why it’s a must
2) Give old employee a chance to improve him/herself
3) When letting old employee step down, give them fair reward for loyalty publicly

In this way, new talent can visible see what you did to loyal old people, therefore understand your determination to change, and believe they will be fairly treated as well.

You spend more money, but end up with more trust and an energized team. You tell me which deal is better? Furthermore, get rid of any family members in the team, and make them share holder or sth.