Starbucks succeeded for years by building out a fantastic Value Delivery System supporting its Value Proposition.  This podcast explains how leadership allowed a focus on the VDS to drift the company away from its VP, and recently hire a new CEO who’s doing enormous harm to long term value by implementing short-term VDS improvements.

This podcast also overviews what SMB leaders need to know about DeepSeek and the evolution of AI. AI is getting better and cheaper, and like the internet did previously, is greatly improving business capabilities at lower cost. What’s been called “breakthroughs” are significant advancements that demonstrate all businesses will have no choice about using AI if they are to survive, thus it is imperative SMBs start using the technology now.  This podcast provides jumping off points to get started.

Thinking Points:

• Do you know your Value Proposition? Are your “improvements” enhancing your VP to customers, or detracting from your VP by focusing on how to lower cost?
• Are you encouraging employees to seek out applications of AI to improve operations and enhance your Value Proposition?
• Are you testing applications for both generative and reasoning AI?
• Does your future planning include significant application of AI, or are you expecting AI to happen magically?

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