My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Treating Customers Like Smart Adults Across Industries
Timeframe: Already happening, will continue for 5+ years as digital natives become dominant business decision makers
What's Changing
Companies are moving away from corporate speak and condescending marketing toward casual, intelligent communication that respects customer intelligence.
Driving Forces
Information accessibility makes customers more knowledgeable
Social media creates expectation for authentic communication
Oversaturation of formal business communication creates differentiation opportunity
Remote work blurs professional/casual communication lines
Winners
- Content creators who use conversational intelligent tone
- B2B companies that simplify without dumbing down
- Brands that maintain expertise while being approachable
- Newsletter businesses using 'smart friend' positioning
Losers
- Corporate communications that sound robotic
- Overly academic content that excludes practical application
- Brands that talk down to customers
- Traditional formal business communication styles
How to Position Yourself
Use 'your smart friend' messaging in marketing
Write customer communications in natural voice
Avoid jargon while maintaining credibility
Share uncertainties and learning process honestly
Focus on practical application over theory
Early Signals to Watch
Example Implementation
“CB Insights built $100M+ revenue business using casual tone with lines like 'without data you're just an idiot with an opinion' and CEO signing emails 'I love you' to enterprise clients.”