Competing Against Luck

Understood from the first 5 min, the test was unnecessary

I’d watched a 10-min YouTube from the author and this book didn’t add to that experience.

great innovation filter

focusing on the job to be done provides another filter to help identify ways to innovate. Much like defining the customer problem or pain point in hypothesis driven innovation, defining the job to be done makes sure you are developing a solution for the customer that is relevant

Leaving Luck For Those Who Need It

This book describes Jobs Theory; what it is, what it is not, and how to apply it. This book explains an approach to product innovation that focuses on the consumer. If you are an entrepreneur who is willing to scrutinize your preconceived notions about your "million dollar idea" this book could save you time and money. Innovation should be about progress, but how do you define "progress" might not be the same as how your customer defines it.

Alt Title: Avoiding Symptoms and Find Root Causes.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to all my friends. It really puts what is most worth, in life and in work, into perspective.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Competing Against Luck?

The concept of competing against non-competition was very memorable because it caused me to realize that people may not fulfill their needs, even if your product could help them.

Which character – as performed by John Pruden – was your favorite?

Clayton Christensen, the only character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it's best listened in multiple sessions. I wanted time to think about what he had taught.

Any additional comments?

Great book! I definitely want to read more books from Clayton Christensen.

Clear presentation of a clearly useful theory

From the milkshake to every aspect of business planning, the construct of jobs to be done provokes thought. This is a fresh perspective that brings a new and practical analysis to an age old challenge. Why do customers buy our products? How do we improve and adapt to our customers' needs and preferences?

I love the Demmings quote “If you can't describe what you are doing as a process, you don't know what you're doing.” ... The second half of the quote convicts us all to inspect what we do and how we do it.
Remember, “Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets”. If we want different results better results we have to change the system. And if we cannot describe the process...

The theory is amazingly applicable to everyday life as well. Christensen's example of job of a husband struck home. To be innovators and effective providers of services and products, personal and professional, we are better equipped with the construct of jobs to be done.

Thought provoking listen!

Really enjoyed this book, but I do admit to being a Clay Christensen junkie. This is a solid book with many thought provoking ideas, and in my opinion a number of blockbusters that scream for further thought and analysis in my own personal and professional life.

Best perspective on JTBD yet

What did you like best about this story?

The deepest, and most detailed depiction of the JTBD theory pioneered (and continuously refined) by Clayton Christensen. Love his work and as an innovation management practitioner, having something this detailed helps to eliminate uncertainty and ambiguity from my practice of this, and similar, processes.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Honestly had a hard time turning it off, have listened to it 3x now and am sure it will get more.

Thought provoking but too repetitive and high level

This book would be far more useful if it gave concrete approaches for learning the details of customer jobs. It gives ample evidence that the approach works, but doesn't have any details on how to actually go about engaging a customer to discover the details of their job (which would seem to be critical to satisfying the customer). It leaves the reader to have to figure this out for themselves, which is a non-trivial exercise.

The book is also super repetitive.

All that said, it was a useful listen.

A good, albeit slightly redundant next chapter ...

As usual, CC's narrative is strong, and the stories poignant, but the guts of the book could have been conveyed in 1/5 the words.

Another home run hit from Clayton Christensen!

I always enjoy Clayton Christensen's thorough and clear approach to business theory. This book is no exception. I'm thoroughly convinced Jobs Theory provides a more powerful framework for product development than the default methods of building products based on what customers asked for. I'll admit I don't feel fully prepared to apply this theory based on this book alone, but will now be seeking out additional resources to guide the application of the principles outlined in this book.