Why Didn't I Think of That? ® Podcast

Episode #5: “Re-think Your Industry”

Wditotpodcast — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:38:50 +0000

After researching hundreds of successful entrepreneur stories, Why Didn’t I Think of That? co-founders Bob Smith and Greg Anastos realized that all the businesses they were studying were forging very similar pathways to success. So they developed a list of twelve “Axioms for Entrepreneurs.” In this episode of the Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast, Bob and Greg sit down with thinkofthat.net blogger Benjamin Christopher and discuss the first axiom, “Re-think Your Industry.” The Why Guys explore how companies like Netflix, Apple, Xerox, and General Motors were able to look at their industries, and their companies, in a new light. Using fascinating examples as diverse as the bottled water industry and the turn-of-the-century railroad companies, they explain how important it is for companies to re-evaluate what services their business is providing customers and how to examine what their particular industry could be doing better.

All that and more on this episode of the Why Didn’t I Think of That?® Podcast.

Episode #4: “Utilikilts”

Wditotpodcast — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:44:05 +0000

Searching for comfort from the heat, Steven Villegas altered a pair of army surplus pants into a legless skirt, optimized for the working man. He called it the “Utilikilt.” His utilitarian man-skirt quickly became a surprise hit with construction workers, bikers, and other unlikely customers. On the latest episode of The Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast, we put the spotlight on this up-and-coming entrepreneur. The Why Guys speak with Villegas about his unique product– how he came up with the idea, how he marketed it, conventional wisdom he’s left along the wayside, and some of the mistakes he made on the road to profitability.

All that and more on this episode of The Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast.

Episode #3: “Pandora and Social Music”

Wditotpodcast — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:06:49 +0000

When Tim Westergren started the Music Genome Project, the seed for what would become Pandora Radio, it was a different world. There was no Myspace, no Facebook, no iTunes. Today, it’s a whole other story, and Pandora Internet Radio is doing everything it can to stay relevant. On this week’s Why Didn’t I Think of That?® Podcast, the Why Guys are joined by blogger Benjamin Christopher for a discussion on Pandora and the changing social media landscape.

Topics covered include: How Pandora started, how it works, new changes the company is making to its online service, and how the company fits into the rapidly changing music business. All that and more on this episode of The Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast.

Episode #2: “Amazing Cosmetics”

Wditotpodcast — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:57:40 +0000

It started as a casual conversation over an exercise bike and turned into an incredibly successful cosmetics company whose “AmazingConcealer” has been used by countless women and A-list celebrities since the company’s founding in 2001. On this week’s Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast, the Why Guys talk to Sue Katz and Lisa Thurman, founders of AmazingCosmetics.

Thurman and Katz talk about how they thought of their business, how they both put their unique talents together, and how they launched a phenomenally successful make-up company… All without a business plan! They also offer up some advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. All that and more on this episode of The Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast.

Episode #1: “Groupon”

Wditotpodcast — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:36:15 +0000

How did a music major wind up founding the fastest growing start-up in history? In our very first Why Didn’t I Think of That? ® Podcast, Bob Smith and Greg Anastos look at the story of Andrew Mason and his tech start-up Groupon, an online daily deal service.

Topics covered in this 27 minute podcast include: Andrew Mason’s initial inspiration for Groupon, controversy surrounding the company’s advertising and recent publicity with regard to its Initial Public Offering filing with the SEC, Groupon’s plans for the future–including its new Groupon Now feature–as well as some practical advice for other companies that are looking to use Groupon to help grow their own business.