An important aspect of understanding your business ecosystem is knowing your position within it (positioning), whether you hold a higher or lower (subordinate) role, and whether your offerings are substitutes or complements. Netflix started as a DVD rental service. With the rise of online streaming, Netflix saw it as a replacement for DVD rentals. Kimbap and Ramen are complementary goods, but Ramen and Udon are substitutes. This is why, even when setting up a snack bar, paying attention to the menu is crucial. Complementary goods increase sales, while substitutes are more likely to lead to no change or even a decline in sales. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
Can we sell pesticides to the Maasai? In Maasai culture, flies represent wealth. Ranching and livestock inherently attract flies. If someone arrives and removes the flies, there is no Maasai to welcome them. The focus of the business is not on selling products but on conveying “meanings.” - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”