Insights From Jeff Bezos

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA_0W4hIhuA&w=420&h=315]

Somebody sent me this video of Jeff Bezos being interviewed by Charlie Rose back in 2011. The purpose of the interview was to announce the new Kindle that came out at the time. In the first part of the interview, Rose really pushes Bezos on how the Kindle competes with the iPad. I loved watching the way that Bezos responds. Brilliant. If you don’t have time to watch the entire video, here are the key lines/insights for me.

  • The Kindle doesn't compete with the iPad. It is the best device for long form reading. Amazon has made no tradeoffs in building the best product for long form reading.
  • Amazon isn’t providing the experience, that’s Hemingway’s job. They are providing the ability to enjoy that experience.
  • The number one thing that Kindle users are doing is reading Stieg Larsson. The number one thing iPad users are doing is playing Angry Birds.
  • Reading a book on an iPad is like reading while someone is pointing a flashlight in your eyes.
  • Amazon doesn’t want to be the 79th tablet. They want to be the best at what they do.
  • He urges employees to not wake up worried about competitors, but to wake up obsessing about the customer.
  • Amazon doesn’t force customers to pay for its own inefficiencies.
  • Business is not a zero sum game. Competitors can thrive together.
  • Amazon’s mission is similar to Sony’s missions when they started.  Sony’s mission was to make Japan a leader in building quality products. Their mission was bigger than themselves.