The Business Canon

Episode 10 - Habit 1: Be Proactive - The Power of Choice

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In this concise and powerful Brief, we focus on the first and most important habit from Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits. Our hosts quickly explain what it truly means to be proactive. You will learn the difference between the "Circle of Concern" and the "Circle of Influence," and why effective people focus their energy only on the things they can control. This overview is a potent reminder that you are the creator of your own life. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a clear, actionable mental model for taking responsibility and initiative.

Episode 11 - The Psychology of Persuasion: A Critique of Cialdini's Weapons

Robert Cialdini's Influence is the foundational text on the psychology of persuasion, but where is the line between ethical influence and cynical manipulation? In this Critique episode, we analyze the "six weapons of influence." Our hosts acknowledge the book's brilliant and essential insights into the mental shortcuts that drive human behavior. We explore the power of reciprocity, scarcity, and social proof. However, we also offer a strong critique of how these principles are often used in the real world. We discuss the rise of "dark patterns" in software design and high-pressure sales tactics that exploit these psychological triggers, questioning the moral responsibility of those who wield these powerful tools.

Episode 12 - Who Controls the Narrative? Marketing vs. Management

Who has a greater impact on a company's long-term success: the storytellers or the operators? This episode stages a Debate on the locus of corporate power. One host argues, using the principles of Al Ries and Jack Trout's Positioning, that the battle for the mind of the customer is paramount. They contend that a powerful brand and a clear marketing message are the ultimate competitive advantages in a crowded world. The other host, drawing on the ideas of Peter Drucker's The Effective Executive, argues that marketing is meaningless without a foundation of operational excellence. They believe that true, sustainable success comes from the quiet, disciplined work of effective management, not from clever slogans.

Episode 13 - Thinking, Fast and Slow (Part 1): The Two Systems

We begin our multi-part journey into the human mind with Daniel Kahneman's Nobel Prize-winning work, Thinking, Fast and Slow. In this first episode, our hosts introduce the book's central, groundbreaking concept: the two systems that drive our thinking. The conversation explores "System 1," our fast, intuitive, and emotional brain, and "System 2," our slow, deliberate, and logical brain. We analyze the interplay between these two systems and how their division of labor creates both the marvels and the flaws of human judgment. This episode is a foundational guide to the mental machinery that governs our decisions in business and in life, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of our cognitive biases.

Episode 14 - Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

How can you ensure that the life you are living is the one you truly want? In this focused Brief on the second habit from Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits, we explore the power of personal vision. Our hosts quickly explain what it means to "Begin with the End in Mind." You will learn the importance of developing a personal mission statement that defines your values and your ultimate goals. This overview is a practical guide to the principle that all things are created twice: first as a mental creation, and then as a physical one. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a clear, inspiring tool for ensuring that your daily actions are aligned with your deepest values.

Episode 15 - The Limits of Strategy: A Critique of Porter's Five Forces

Michael Porter's Five Forces framework from Competitive Strategy is a cornerstone of business school education, but is it still a sufficient model for today's dynamic markets? In this Critique episode, we analyze this classic tool. Our hosts praise the framework for its enduring power in analyzing the structure and profitability of an industry. We acknowledge its brilliance in helping companies understand their competitive environment. However, we also offer a critique from a modern perspective. We question whether the model, which was designed for a more stable industrial economy, fully captures the dynamics of today's tech-driven world of network effects, platform businesses, and rapid disruption.

Episode 16 - Which Comes First: Strategy or Culture?

What is the more powerful driver of corporate success: a brilliant strategy or a healthy culture? This episode presents a classic Debate that pits two foundational ideas against each other. One host, drawing on the analytical rigor of Michael Porter's Competitive Strategy, argues that a clear, well-defined strategy for achieving a sustainable competitive advantage is the essential starting point for any successful enterprise. The other host, drawing on the ideas of books like Delivering Happiness and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, argues for Peter Drucker's famous maxim, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." They contend that without a healthy, aligned, and engaged culture, even the most brilliant strategy is doomed to fail.

Episode 17 - Thinking, Fast and Slow (Part 2): Heuristics & Biases

In part two of our series on Thinking, Fast and Slow, we dive into the fascinating and often-unsettling world of cognitive biases. Our hosts explore how the interplay between our fast and slow thinking systems leads to systematic and predictable errors in judgment. The conversation unpacks several of the most powerful biases that affect business decisions, including the anchoring effect, the availability heuristic, and loss aversion. We analyze Kahneman's groundbreaking research and discuss the profound implications for everything from financial markets and strategic planning to marketing and negotiations. This episode is an essential guide to the hidden flaws in our own decision-making processes.

Episode 18 - Positioning: The Battle for the Mind

In today's crowded marketplace, it's not enough to have the best product; you must own a position in the consumer's mind. In this classic and powerful Brief, we distill the core idea from Al Ries and Jack Trout's Positioning. Our hosts quickly explain why marketing is a battle of perceptions, not products. You will learn the importance of being first in a category and the power of owning a single, simple word in your prospect's mind (like "safety" for Volvo). This overview is a foundational lesson that will fundamentally change how you think about branding, advertising, and competition. In just a few minutes, you’ll have the key to standing out in a noisy world.

Episode 19 - The Flaws in "Blue Ocean Strategy"

Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne's Blue Ocean Strategy makes the compelling case for creating new market space, but is this strategy as repeatable and risk-free as the book suggests? In this Critique episode, we analyze this popular framework. Our hosts praise the book for its powerful and inspiring challenge to the conventional wisdom of head-to-head competition. We explore its useful analytical tools, like the strategy canvas. However, we also offer a critique. We question whether many of the book's famous examples, like Cirque du Soleil, were truly the result of a systematic strategic process or were simply unique creative breakthroughs. We also analyze the immense risks and uncertainties of trying to create a market that doesn't yet exist.