Rohit Bhargava's Blog, page 60
February 28, 2019
Digital Undertakers, On-Demand Grandkids And Other Jobs Of The Future
One of the most consistent signs of our shifting future is how quickly new jobs and industries are emerging. Even as some fear technology making certain jobs obsolete, there are sci-fi sounding sectors like asteroid mining that are actually becoming reality. What I find more interesting, though, are the jobs which will be created as we struggle to find a balance between enough and too much technology. On-demand companions. Digital undertakers. Chief Detail Officers. Content moderators. All of...
February 21, 2019
Samsung’s Quiet Innovation, Men’s Makeup and Why Long-Term Space Missions Might Need Funny Astronauts | Non-Obvious Insights 02.21.19
This week Samsung launched the world’s first folding phone. They also defied Apple and Google by keeping the 3.5mm headphone jack. This seemingly insignificant choice might be the cleverest part of the entire launch. Sometimes the most “innovative” thing you can do is deciding what NOT to change. Scientists Find Long-Term Space Missions Need Comedians
Scientists studying the long term effects of space travel shared the interesting idea that a...
February 18, 2019
The Real Reason Influencers Make So Much Money
Everyone wants to be an online influencer, because it seems to pay well, but who is really benefiting?
This article from the USA Today actually takes the unusual step of trying to reverse engineer a “rate” for influence and ended up with an estimate of “up to $100 for every 10,000 followers per sponsored post.” The amount of money has created a rush of wanna-be influencers and big headaches for brands who have to deal with their unrealistic expectations.
These influencers rely so heavily on s...
February 14, 2019
Jose Cuervo’s Tequila Train, Kim Kardashian’s Selfie Strategy and Barbie Focusing On Inclusion | Non-Obvious Insights 02.14.19
The temptation to create a “Strategic Spectacle” is popular for brands desperately chasing experiential marketing. Usually it leads to short term thinking and limited results. Not for Jose Cuervo, though, as their popular unlimited tequila train has been running for over 7 years. That is what commitment to an idea looks like. Too bad we don’t see it more often. Meet The Algorithm That Might Help Solve Cyber-Bullying …
If artifici...
February 11, 2019
Who’s Killing Sneaker Culture … And Why Does It Matter?
“You can have commerce or you can have culture,” Sean Williams says. He’s talking about sneakers but he might as well be talking about anything, anywhere. “You can’t have both. You’ve gotta pick one.”
That’s probably the most impactful quote in this engaging Deadspin article from writer Casey Taylor that laments the slow dilution of sneaker culture. What was once a passionate underground subculture has officially hit the mainstream. There are boutique shops in high end neighborhoods lined flo...
February 7, 2019
Hotel Encourages Digital Detox, Cypto Founder Dies With Only Password To $190 million and Why SF Might Ban Facial Recognition | Non-Obvious Insights 02.07.19
In Sweden, one hotel has created a stunt designed to encourage you to stay off of Wifi during your stay … by only charging you when you use devices in the room. If you can exhibit self control for the evening in the “Check Out Suite” – you can stay for free. Smart idea and great timing launching just in time for Valentine’s Day. How Amazon Might Really Use All The Data They Have On You
Amazon can’t use all the data they have on you because to...
February 4, 2019
4 Big Trends From The 2019 Super Bowl Ads That Explain Our Culture
The best part of the Super Bowl experience is always the advertising. That was particularly true this year thanks to another joyless victory by the Patriots in quantifiably the most boring Super Bowl ever. As a lover of marketing strategy, the big game always offers a chance to dissect the best and worst of how brands spend their millions ($5.25 million per 30 seconds to be specific) and for the past ten years I’ve done that by picking the best and worst ads from past games.
This year, I woul...
January 31, 2019
How Millennials Became Workaholics, Japan’s Big Hacking Experiment and Why People Believe Tabloids | Non-Obvious Insights 01.31.19
As we live through the rise of “#hustle culture,” this article provides a much needed reminder that we need to stop celebrating workaholism among Millennials and instead describe the workplaces which foster this culture for what they are: toxic and inhumane. Japan Hacks 200 Million Devices In Pre-Olympic CyberSecurity Test
To prepare for the Olympics, the Japanese government will hack citizen’s devices to test cybersecurity...
January 27, 2019
Why We Should Stop Trusting Viral Videos
Last week one of the inescapable stories in the United States was a controversial video showing a group of Catholic students appearing to clash with Native Americans. They were widely condemned and the video was endlessly dissected in opinion stories shared online and one of the students even went on television to defend himself. Over the course of the week, the entire story ended up becoming yet another example of how people choose to believe whatever they want.
Perhaps most interestingly, t...
January 24, 2019
Selfie Dysmorphia, Celebrities Abandoning Social Media and the World’s Biggest Universal Income Experiment | Non-Obvious Insights 01.24.19
This past weekend was a big one for skiing and so this article was interesting and timely – all about the life and work of a man who has drawn hundreds of ski maps for resorts. It is a fascinating reminder that there is beauty in the details of every experience, if we can just remember to take time to pay attention to it.
When the former Disney Channel star took a “mental health break” from social media...
