Rand Brenner

🍏 v Wow! Stuff 3 years ago we invented NANO PODS, ‘The ‘Connectable Collectible’. Consumers loved their tactile feel, the way they connected. They loved the perfect paint details of every character. Apple, yes that one, said “woooo, hang on there Wow! Stuff we have a trademark; iPod Nano. We value our marks at many gazillions of dollars and you want to register NANO PODS as your trademark?” “🤔 ummm, yes please” we said. “No! Not ever, ever, ever”, they said. So we sent them some NANO PODS. And they really liked them! They said go ahead, we’ll let you register this. Yippeee! We then launched them. In small blind card boxes, with a basic dispenser and at $5.00/£5.00 each. WHAT A DISASTER! Sales were somewhere between slow and zero 😢. So we gave up. End of story. Well, not quite… “What if we change the packaging to beautiful shiny blind foil bags, make an amazing dispenser with a sacrificial unit so people can see what they are and ask the factory to re-cost so we could sell them at £2.99 / $2.99?” said a load of our R&D team. So we did. And WOW! They’re on FIRE🔥 We’ve launched in 3 markets only and sold out 100%. The moral to the story? Even the big guys can be reasonable. As a constant reminder of no not always meaning no I display an unopened 1st Gen iPod Nano (along with Apple’s lawyers approval note) on my study shelf. Thank you🍎 #apple #toys #toyindustry

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How to build any company easily. Understand these 2 characters first; Hope v Belief Hope is the same as Belief - but without any Research. When we produce a new innovation in toys we start with Hope. This is hope:🤞 Belief is therefore Hope + Research. If the Research verifies the Hope then that leads to Confidence. So, you're now at Confidence in your new product. Now what to do? Passion. Passion is strongest when it comes with its bedfellow; Purpose. Passion without Purpose is shallow and can get undermined, rocked. At some point you'll question why you're doing it. And if you can't answer that the Passion quickly dies, along with the product. But Passion + Purpose can be unstoppable, they can translate into Determination. So Passion + Purpose is vital in inspiring yourself and the team around you 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Finally, one more ingredient. Discipline. Passion will ebb and flow. So that's why you need discipline. Discipline keeps you going. Doing the same thing even on the down days. Passion and the energy it creates will not be prevalent 100% of the time. Discipline can be, and Discipline loves it when the Passion returns. I made the above up as I write, because these thoughts popped into my head and they feel right. And I wanted to see if anyone can rip them apart - so I can learn where I'm right and where I can learn. Please do feel free to name your own formulas in the comments. Building a business of course isn't easy because the route to deliver all the above is hard for some and easier for others. Stay positive! #toys #toyindustry #purpose

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Tech Exec’s Videos Spark Clash Over China’s Work Culture. Search giant Baidu fires its head of public relations after she outraged Gen Z workers. They snapped, it seems, over the lack of appreciation of the long work week that this tech giant demands of its employees. As USA labor pools and school contemplate 4 day work weeks, Chinese mainlanders are seeking quality of life flexibility as well. Whereas western “democracy” civilizations experience a declining University enrollment in the preponderance of general liberal arts programs, China society attends post high vocational schools and Universities at near 90 percent levels it seems. 1 st and 2nd generation middle class don’t heavily rely on inheritance and probate. Consequently, hundreds of industries are flourishing with plenty of hungry tech & management labor. Huawei & Baidu are not the exception, but the rule. Some are still expected 9/6 and 10/5 work weeks. Other sovereigns should embrace the ubiquitous supplier. Yeah economies have slowed globally. Majority of mainlanders, in general perform as dedicated family/work balanced “Spartans.” Save at 85 percent of discretionary income. With government subsidies, can be a whole lot each month, majority of earnings We see their labor export, as well as 1st & 2nd level management in Japan, USA, EU Korea KFC, Starbucks etc. Western democracies can’t meet new global demand from the new Global South and countries like Mexico that have manufactured a great many out of poverty. Still, China’s work culture is evolving to include greater commitment to family activities, including domestic and international travel, trips to Disneyland and Universal on weekends, Museum visits to Tarracotta Warrior memorial. Nevertheless, Baidu’s executive crossed the line in denigrating folks not willing the put in the usual overtime commitment. Still, China’s labor pool and scale can supply global needs as one stop shop for many to most products. This is the true reason that Trump and Biden consider 100% tariffs. As China creates the biggest surplus annually of any nation. Its liquidity is thought to be the Western Democracy’s threat. https://lnkd.in/gXXTNPZr #China #tarrifs #Surplus #WorkCulture #middleclass #supply #scale #Foundry #techculture #probate #inheritance #university

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Heading in for #tvinterview on @pix11news #pix11news #pix11ny to discuss a #hottopic #trendingtopic #inthenews #behindthescenes I’ll share a video snippet later and you can also watch the full video on my #youtubechannel #linkinbio

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Crafting Effective AI Prompts: A Step-by-Step Guide   Prompt engineering is the art of crafting clear and specific instructions to guide AI models towards desired outputs. Here's a breakdown of the process:   1. Define Your Goal:   Be Specific: Clearly articulate what you want the AI to generate. Is it a poem, a code snippet, a product description, or something else? Identify the Desired Tone and Style: Do you want a formal, informal, humorous, or serious tone? Specify the style and voice you envision.   2. Provide Context:   Background Information: Give the AI relevant context to help it understand the task. For example, if you want the AI to write a product description, provide details about the product, its target audience, and its unique selling points. Examples: Provide examples of the kind of output you're looking for. This can help the AI understand your expectations and produce more accurate results.   3. Use Clear and Concise Language:  Avoid Ambiguity: Use clear and specific language to avoid confusion.  Break Down Complex Tasks: If your task is complex, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Use Keywords: Use keywords to help the AI focus on the most relevant information.   4. Iterate and Refine:    Experiment with Different Prompts: Try different phrasing and wordings to see what works best. Analyze the Output: Carefully review the AI's output and identify areas for improvement. Provide Feedback: Provide feedback on the AI's output to help it learn and improve.   5. Leverage Prompt Engineering Techniques:   Few-Shot Learning: Provide a few examples of the desired output to guide the AI. Zero-Shot Learning: Provide a clear and concise prompt without any examples. Prompt Chaining: Break down complex tasks into smaller, sequential prompts.   Example Prompt:   Prompt: "Write a 100-word product description for a new line of eco-friendly skincare products targeting young adults. The products should be described as natural, organic, and cruelty-free. Use a playful and youthful tone."   Refined Prompt:   "Write a 100-word product description for a new line of natural, organic, and cruelty-free skincare products. Target audience: Young adults. Tone: Playful and youthful. Highlight key benefits: hydration, radiance, and environmental friendliness. Use vivid language and strong calls to action."   By following these steps and refining your prompts, you can effectively guide AI models to generate high-quality, tailored content. #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #AIethics #AIfuture #AItrends #AIinnovation #tech #technology #innovation #futureoftech #contentmarketing #contentcreation #copywriting #contentstrategy #digitalmarketing #socialmedia #blogging #SEO #contentwriter #contentcreator #programming #developer #coding #softwaredevelopment #webdevelopment #datascience #python #javascript #AIdeveloper #AIprogramming #education #learning #onlinelearning #edtech #lifelonglearning #skill    

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The Punk-Rock Playbook: What Trump’s Social Media Masterclass Teaches Us About Business By Doane Legacy media once ruled with an iron fist. TV networks, newspapers, radio—if you wanted your voice heard, you needed their blessing. The gatekeepers held the keys, and only a few dared challenge them. Then the internet changed everything, and in your pocket, you suddenly held the power to reach the world. The old system crumbled, and the indie ground game emerged triumphant. To understand this, just look at how Donald Trump rewrote the rules to become president. Forget politics for a moment. What he did was a punk-rock hustle on a global scale—a scrappy, DIY grind in the world of social media, podcasts, and viral posts. While everyone else played politics as usual, he took the indie-band route: stadium rallies, relentless social media blitzes, podcast appearances. He went where the attention was, and he did it on his own terms. This wasn’t just a fluke. It was a masterclass in understanding how to grab attention and keep it. And here’s the business takeaway: if the path to becoming the most powerful man in the world required this level of ground game, what does that mean for you and your business? Business Lessons from the Indie Ground Game 1. Go Where the Attention Is Like a band playing every bar and festival, you have to find where your customers are and show up. Social media isn’t just noise; it’s the new venue, the stage where connections happen. 2. Authenticity Wins People crave raw, unfiltered content. Perfectly polished messaging is out; real, human connection is in. Drop the corporate jargon and speak like a human being. 3. Play the Long Game Success in the indie grind comes from relentless hustle—every handshake, every piece of content, every engagement counts. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to build a loyal audience. 4. Experiment Relentlessly Indie artists throw ideas at the wall to see what sticks. Businesses must do the same—A/B testing campaigns, trying new platforms, and listening to their audience’s feedback. 5. Own the Platforms The old gatekeepers are gone. You control your message now. Use it wisely across platforms, podcasts, blogs, and more. No one is going to hand you attention; you have to earn it. The most powerful people and brands today don’t wait for permission. They hit the ground running and play to win on platforms that reach billions. If you want to succeed, it’s time to think like an indie band hustling out of a garage. The ground game is the game, and it’s happening right now.

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For anyone interested in AI and content licensing, this podcast is "must listen" content. Nilay Patel from The Verge interviews Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic about their licensing deal with OpenAI and why they chose licensing instead of litigation. They discuss the framework of the deal and the philosophy behind it. Importantly, Thompson says one reason to do the deal is to help shape the future interaction between AI and journalism. He says, "AI is coming, it is coming quickly. We want to be part of whatever transition happens. The transition might be bad or the transition might be good. But we believe the odds of it being good for journalism . . . are higher if we participate." Thompson touches on concepts around one-time revenue vs recurring revenue and provides his odds that The New York Times is successful in their copyright infringement case against OpenAI. And he believes that the NYT's odds of success are enhanced precisely because companies like The Atlantic are engaging in licensing, proving to courts that there is a legitimate alternative to unauthorized scraping. (I have heard that from many smart copyright lawyers and agree with it.) News/Media Alliance, Copyright Alliance, The Copyright Society, The Authors Guild, Dataset Providers Alliance, Regan Smith, Keith Kupferschmid, Daniel Cooper, Thad McIlroy, Pascal Hetzscholdt, Fairly Trained, Ed Newton-Rex, Alex Bestall, Mark Milstein, Max Einhorn, Peter Csathy, Mary Rasenberger, Theresa Weisenberger, James Golden, Mark Turner, Michael Bommarito, Jillian B., Calliope Networks, Andrew Steinberg, Chad Rutkowski, Bill Rosenblatt https://lnkd.in/d42MzQ8e

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Building a strategic plan isn’t just a box to check—it’s a foundation that keeps you aligned with your vision and purpose. Strategy is your north star, keeping you on course, while tactical planning brings it to life.  In the Moonshot Mentor Mastermind Producer Group and Moonshot Mentor Hybrid Producer Group, we’ll dive deep into both. From identifying your financing model to crafting a targeted pitch deck, these groups help you create a roadmap to move from concept to production, backed by a supportive community. If you’re ready to create a plan that brings your project to life, learn more and apply today. Both groups are carefully curated to ensure a committed, like-minded peer circle. 🌟 Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/gYZyGe3b #FilmProduction #ProducerCommunity #StrategicPlanning #MastermindGroup #HybridProducerGroup #MoonshotMentor

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