Archive for August, 2008

Aug 20, 2008

What the Web has done for me…

Alexander Osterwalder

I thought this anecdote about how the Web has worked for me might be interesting to you, because this year I am starting to fully reap the benefits of the opportunities that the Web offers freelance thinkers and entrepreneurs like myself.

4 years after launching this blog I can now earn a living from the work generated from this site (i.e. workshops, conference talks and advice). More interestingly is, however, that my approach to fostering business model innovation is starting to be used throughout the globe. This might have been less surprising had I written a book with Harvard Business School Press or had I been professor at a business school like Wharton. Yet, neither is the case. The popularity of my work has mainly come from my web activities…

Now I’m not writing all this to brag. After all, the reach of my work is still absolutely small-scale and I still have a long way to go to get anywhere near the impact levels of thinkers like Henry Chesbrough, John Hagel or even gurus like Gary Hamel or C.K. Prahalad. I’m writing this to show that business concepts that stick with users can now reach a global audience without going through the traditional channels like top publishing houses and Ivy League Business Schools.

Here are the ingredients that made the Web work for me:

  • I write 1-2 posts per week (a bit less at the moment), which is the equivalent of about 2-8 hours time investment
  • Almost all I think, write and do is available for free on my blog. E.g. most of the slides I present at conferences are available on my blog (with a little time lag).
  • I pay attention to getting my blog well referenced in Google. Try googling the expression “business model innovation“.
  • I got my work and thinking referenced on Wikipedia.
  • I posted a video recording of my first well paid speaking engagement online. This led to new speaking engagements because people could see me in front of an audience.

The results are the following:

  • My blog now has 20′000+ pageviews/month (growing steadily)
  • 780+ blog feed subscribers (RSS) follow my postings
  • I am starting to get high profile conference invitations (alongside gurus like Henry Chesbrough and Michael Porter)
  • My business model canvas is being applied in places I would have never dreamed of

Paradoxically, I am now writing a book to reach the next level of impact. However, intuitively I know that the book can only succeed if it embraces the Web in new and innovative ways. It will be quite a challenge to reach the world without the marketing might of renowned publishing house…

Your recommendations and insights are highly welcome…

Posted in alex osterwalder, alexander osterwalder, blog, rss | 5 Comments »

Aug 10, 2008

Up-coming Business Model Innovation Workshops & Events

Alexander Osterwalder

The next few weeks and months I will give some open workshops and will be participating in a couple of events. It would be a pleasure to meet you there! Besides that I am doing a series of private events for corporations (don’t forget you can hire me ;-)

Open Workshops

  • 24 Sept. 2008: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Venue: ULURU. Business Model Design & Innovation Workshop (sign-up / few seats remaining)
  • 10 Oct. 2008: New York, US. Venue: Center for Architecture (sign-up)
  • 29 Oct. 2008: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Venue: ULURU. Business Model Design & Innovation Workshop (sign-up)
  • 8. Oct. 2008: Toronto, Canada. Venue: Rotman School of Management. Business Model Design & Innovation Workshop (sign-up) & separate 1h conference talk (sign-up)
  • Nov. 2008: Kigali, Rwanda (to be confirmed).
  • Nov. 2008: Cape Town, South Africa (to be confirmed).

Talks@Events

  • 10. Sept. 2008: Utrecht, Netherlands: Media Congress (web)
  • 11 Sept. 2008: Dublin, Irleland: Innovation Forum 2008 (web)
  • 16 Oct. 2008: León, Mexico: Innovation Event Tecnológico de Monterrey

Unfortunately, I am not present in Asia in the next couple of months. Maybe a local entrepreneur with a strong network sees this as an opportunity to invite me there…

Posted in New York, Toronto, alex osterwalder, alexander osterwalder, amsterdam, business model, business model canvas, business model innovation, business models, conference, dublin, events, mexico, workshops | 7 Comments »

Aug 8, 2008

Slideshare Contest: Why Business Models Matter

Alexander Osterwalder

I finally succeeded to submit a powerpoint presentation to the “world’s best presentation contest” on slideshare.net, after some initial problems with the submission options (they simply disappeared before the end of the deadline…).

Please have a look at my slides below on “why business model innovation maters”. If you like them please click on the link and go vote. Thanks! As a Swiss I believe in your democratic opinion – but vote “thumbs up” anyways ;-)

Business Model Innovation Matters
View SlideShare presentation (tags: osterwalder alex alexander telco)

Posted in alexander osterwalder, business model, business model canvas, powerpoint, slideshare, strategy | 5 Comments »

Aug 4, 2008

Visual Thinking Books – References and Reviews

Alexander Osterwalder

At the moment I am completely immersed in reading about visual thinking for my upcoming book on business model innovation. Do you wonder what the connection is? Well, the book I’m working on will be very visual and practical, containing only the very necessary text…

Visual tools are an increasing must in the executive toolbox – particularly when you think of all those terrible ppt-decks and never-read-business-plans full of text and numbers.

Let me briefly share some of the literature I have been looking into the last few days:

  • The Back of the Napkin (Dan Roam). Dan has created a great and practical book on how to use images and sketches in business. The book contains a couple of very interesting concepts and processes that helps you apply visuals to your particular business problems. To get a good preview you can check out the book’s website which features some attractive animations to explain key concepts. Verdict: Very useful book!
  • Marks and Meaning, version zero (Dave Gray). Dave, a friend of mine, is founder and chairman of XPLANE, the leading visual thinking company. He is currently working on a book on visual thinking and has put a pre-release version (“version zero”) up for sales on the web. I could almost blindly recommend this book, though I have only ordered the book this evening after a chat with Dave on the Web. By buying the pre-release you will have a chance to comment the book and influence the final version – interesting approach. You can follow Dave’s thinking on his communication nation blog and a whole bundle of digital presences.
  • PresentationZen (Garr Reynolds). Garr tackles one of the most important and imaginable issues in the boardroom: making powerpoint presentations interesting and attractive. A must for every frequent user of powerpoint. Check out Garr’s lecture at Google’s headquarters to get a freeby of his work. As real digital citizen Garr’s thinking can be followed on his website and blog. Verdict: A good resource for ppt-artists.
  • Beyond Bullet Points (Cliff Atkinson). In his extremely useful book Cliff shows how you can use storyboarding to make sticky powerpoint presentations. As a resident of LA he gets his inspiration from Hollywood’s film industry. This book is quite likely to make you change the way you design your ppt-decks. The approach and process outlined is very intuitive and very practical. Verdict: A must if you want to bring some storytelling to your ppt-presentations.
  • The Storyboard Design Course (Giuseppe Cristiano). A really nice book on storyboard design. This is a professional tool for storyboard designers in the film, advertising and computer games industry. It is an introduction to storyboarding going all the way to camera angles etc. Verdict: You’ll have to do the translation for applying it in business yourself (e.g. powerpoint). If you are a movie fan it is a must.

I also bought a couple of books on design (e.g. Universal Principles of Design, Lidwell & Holden & Butler) and Innovation (e.g. The New Age of Innovation – Prahalad & Krishnan, The Game Changer – A.G. Lafley & Ram Charan). More on that later. I guess you’re not really interesested in the children’s books I bought for my 5-year old son ;-)

Anyways, my wallet is about 400.- USD lighter…

Posted in dan roam, dave gray, garr reynolds, giuseppe cristiano, marks and meaning, presentation zen, presentationzen, the back of the napkin, the storyboard design course, visual thinking | 5 Comments »