Can We All Be Purple Cows?

In this week’s podcast episode, the owners discuss what businesses can do if they are basically selling a commodity.

Good Morning!

Here are today’s highlights:            

• Profile: “I called my husband and said, ‘I think I started a business.’”

• A restaurant chain is using AI to create menus, develop recipes, and spot food trends.

• Companies are offering hotel amenities to try to get workers back to the office.

• Are you sure you know what your insurance policies cover? You might want to take a look.

THE 21 HATS PODCAST

This week, Shawn Busse, Jaci Russo, and Jay Goltz discuss what it takes to stand out, especially if your business—like most businesses—isn’t exactly the Next Big Thing. What about trash collection? What if your business is selling scrap metal? What if you happen to be one of 69 picture framers in Chicago? What’s an owner to do to stand out then? Is it enough to execute really well? Can any business make itself remarkable? Shawn, Jay, and Jaci all believe it’s possible, and they offer examples from their own businesses as well as those they’ve observed.

• Plus: As Google waffles about whether it’s going to kill cookies on Chrome, will business owners still be able to target customers digitally? And Jay’s not happy about a big bill he got from his accounting firm. Should he just go ahead and pay it?

• You can subscribe to the 21 Hats Podcast wherever you get podcasts.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Le Pain Quotidien says it has turned its founder into an AI bot: “The Belgium-based chain, founded in 1990, announced that it has replaced its recipe management system with an AI-powered ‘digital twin’ of founder Alain Coumont. The bakery and restaurant chain says this tool, named Alain.AI, has already been rolled out to all of its 214 locations, and will help employees create menus, develop new recipes, and quickly integrate upcoming food trends. Usually, a digital twin refers to a 3D avatar meant to replicate a real person's appearance (or a detailed digital version of a real-world physical object, like an aircraft), but in this case, the system is meant to serve as a replica of Coumont's creative ideas.”