Compete Asymmetrically

The formula for successful entry is the same for all industries: compete asymmetrically. This means introduce products which change the basis of competition and deter competitive responses by making your goals dissimilar from those of the incumbents. This is classic “ju-jitsu” of disruptive competition.

– Horace Dediu

Listening To Leading Indicators Of Bad News

CEOs always act on leading indicators of good news, but only act on lagging indicators of bad news. In order to build anything great, you have to be an optimist, because by definition you are trying to do something that most people would consider impossible. Optimists most certainly do not listen to leading indicators of bad news.

– Andy Grove

Watch All Parts Of The Cycle

You own the cheap stock, it becomes the target of a deal, you do the arbitrage, they screw up the deal, it becomes a bankruptcy, and you play that. We don’t forget the companies we trade in. We try to watch the companies over all parts of that cycle. We watch the acquisitions, we think about whether they’re sensible, and we don’t lose track.

– Michael Price, The Vulture Investors