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A no-frills provider takes advantage of or creates a true discontinuity by providing a widespread, low price/low cost, undifferentiated product or service. In the marketplace, both older and newer players respond as basic economic theory proclaims they must—by narrowing the price/cost gap. Once the gap is somewhat narrowed and a new, substantially lower-than-the-start plateau is reached, the winning strategy for the long haul becomes differentiation—via service, quality, and variety. … But the pioneer no-frills provider almost inevitably sows the seeds of its own destruction. Its position is ultimately fragile and vulnerable to the clever differentiator, which will likely win both the customers and the profits over the medium to long term. Tom Peters

Taken from Thriving on Chaos, which was published back in 1987, and rings just as true today!

Resolutions

• Stay in contact with old friends better

  While I’ve definitely made an attempt at this over the last few months, it’s been a pretty weak one. Sometimes I procrastinate the effort it takes to make a phone call, but everybody’s got an email address and who doesn’t love coming home to a personal email?

• Take advantage of creative/art/music/social events in my new home, Portland

  The girl and I have been enjoying the slow pace at which we have been discovering Portland - it’s like unwrapping a gift really slow, prolonging the anticipation. Assimilating the different areas of Austin over the 7 years I lived there was cool - each year you find a new area and move there, then you know it like the back of your hand and it becomes a new piece of the larger “home”. I’m in no rush to figure out every nook and cranny of Portland geographically, but I want to take better advantage of the culture.

• Physical activity (who doesn’t have this one on their list?)

  My bike and I need to be reunited. With Washington Park so close, there’s just no excuse. If I give one, slap me. (This fractured shoulder has finally proven to me that falling down at 26 just isn’t the same as falling down at 15 - incredibly disappointing but a fact of life, I suppose.)

Predictions

• Less contemplation, more creation

  2005 contained a lot of big decisions, life choices, etc. (No, not that choice yet, I’ll get to it, I swear…) 2006 will contain a much more execution - more writing, more images, more coding, more building.

• Networking becomes like second nature to me

  The girl still can’t figure out the paradox of why I enjoy being on stage, public speaking, etc. but am not always comfortable wandering around a party, talking one-on-one with strangers. 2006 will be the year I turn that around.