Being Number One | Joel Spolsky | BoS USA 2008

Software Success. Being Number One

  • How come you can recognise the tune of the number one song of 1968 as being Hey Jude by the Beatles, but not the number two song?
  • Why has the iPod had the success that the Zune has been denied?
  • Why are Herman Miller chairs cool, but their functionally equivalent competitors lame?
  • Why is Ruby hip but Java square?
  • Why are clean code, usability and basic marketing just hygiene factors?
  • How come they can get you to the number two spot, but not to number one?

In this video from Business of Software 2008, Joel explains the three important factors behind getting to number one. Along the way, he talks about anthropology, psychology, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

http://businessofsoftware.wistia.com/medias/9zjk71ranb?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640

Learn how great SaaS & software companies are run

We produce exceptional conferences & content that will help you build better products & companies.

Join our friendly list for event updates, ideas & inspiration.

Unsubscribe any time. We will never sell your email address. It is yours.

 

9 responses to “Being Number One | Joel Spolsky | BoS USA 2008”

  1. Slartibartfast says:

    Nice talk, but why does Joel contradicts himself every two sentences?

  2. diego says:

    Nice video, but the important thing is the slides and the audio, not the audio and pictures of Joel

  3. Brian Manahan says:

    This presentation is heavy on jokes and light on content. Unfortunately, the jokes don’t really carry it.

  4. Barry says:

    Yes, I’d rather have an MP3 which I could listen to while working.

  5. game says:

    I don’t understand what joel is trying to say it is so confusing man and there are some repetitive santances.

  6. Rick Jensen says:

    Glad I didn’t pay for this crap. Joel says Firefox is #1, them lambastes Windows for asking you to update Windows when you first start it up. This is exactly what Firefox does Joel. He acts like its Windows fault that the user needs a USB cable to connect their camera to their PC and somehow Windows causes you to spill your coffee. Geez! Joel I know you’ve written some good things in the past, but comedy, and possibly analogies, are not your forte.

  7. Hello I like this comment”Windows fault that the user needs a USB cable to connect their camera to their PC and somehow Windows causes you to spill your coffee”

  8. I pod got success due to its marketing and brand value. well its good to see this post