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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Subscribed summary
Tien Tzuo
Gabe Weisert
Why the Subscription Model Will Be Your Company’s Future – and What to Do About It
30 mins
Brief summary
Subscribed by Tien Tzuo & Gabe Weisert is an insightful book that explains the shift to subscription-based business models in today's economy. The authors offer practical advice for companies looking to make the transition, emphasizing the importance of customer-centricity.
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Subscribed
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Key idea 1 of 10
Ever more companies are moving to subscription models to reflect their customers’ changing needs.
In 2015, Tien Tzuo wrote an article for Fortune in which he argued that business school was a waste of time. His reasoning? You generally only learn one basic idea there: create a hit product and sell lots of it.
The world, he suggested, has changed and so have consumers. Nothing reflects this better than the rise of subscription-based business models.
So what’s so great about the subscription model?
Two points stand out – access and service.
Today, people are less interested in owning products. What they really want is to be able to use them. Cutting-edge companies don’t sell CDs or cars. Rather, they sell access to music or transport.
That’s what some of the world’s most successful businesses have common.
Take Spotify, Uber or Netflix. Customers don’t own the actual albums, vehicles or videos; they pay a subscription fee to access them whenever they need them.
People value services more than physical products. The music matters more than the silver disc on which it’s stored, just as getting from point A to point B is more important than the cumbersome machinery that makes the trip possible.
When companies focus on what their customers actually want and need, they’re much better placed to tailor their products to the people who buy them. And that means better service!
But it’s not just about riding the waves of changing tastes to gain a market advantage – it’s a case of sink or swim. Shifting to a customer-oriented subscription model is increasingly vital for a company to survive.
Only 12 percent of the companies in the 1955 Fortune 500 list – an index of the 500 most profitable companies in the United States – are still on it today. Those that remain are barely recognizable because of the major renovations they’ve undergone.
General Electric, for example, was ranked fourth in 1955 and thirteenth in 2017. In the mid-twentieth century, it was known as a manufacturer of light bulbs and fixtures. Today, most of its revenue is generated by digital subscription services, such as data services.
The same goes for IBM. The company rose from sixty-first in 1955 to thirty-second in 2017. The secret to its success? It went from selling commercial scales and measuring equipment to offering IT and business subscription services.
So what happened to the 88 percent of companies that didn’t make it into the new Fortune 500? Well, they couldn’t keep up with the pace of change. They just weren’t adaptable enough.
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What is Subscribed about?
Subscribed (2018) looks at a business model that’s currently enjoying unprecedented success around the globe: subscriptions. Whether it’s Netflix, Spotify or Uber, companies have realized that more and more people are interested in services rather than ownership – they want the ride rather than the car. It’s an insight that’s literally worth billions. But more than that, it’s the future. If you want to make it in today’s crowded marketplace, it pays to take a closer look at the phenomenon.
Subscribed Review
Subscribed (2018) is an insightful book by Tien Tzuo with Gabe Weisert that explores the power of subscription business models and why they are transforming industries. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers practical strategies and case studies that demonstrate how subscription models can drive business growth and customer loyalty.
- Backed by Tzuo's expertise in the subscription economy, the book provides valuable insights and actionable advice for companies considering this business model.
- Through its exploration of the evolution of consumer behavior and the future of business, the book keeps readers engaged and offers a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Best quote from Subscribed
Everything that we formerly electrified we will now cognitize. – Kevin Kelly
—Tien Tzuo with Gabe Weisert
Who should read Subscribed?
- Entrepreneurs and business owners looking for new ideas
- Anyone who’s ever wondered how exactly Amazon and Uber made it so big
- Subscribers curious about how the services they use work
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Subscribed FAQs
What is the main message of Subscribed?
Unlock the power of subscription-based business models to drive growth and customer loyalty.
How long does it take to read Subscribed?
The reading time for Subscribed varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Subscribed a good book? Is it worth reading?
Subscribed is worth reading as it provides valuable insights into the benefits and strategies of subscription-based business models.
Who is the author of Subscribed?
Tien Tzuo and Gabe Weisert are the authors of Subscribed.
What to read after Subscribed?
If you're wondering what to read next after Subscribed, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith
- The Automatic Customer by John Warrillow
- Legendary Service by Ken Blanchard
- This is Service Design Thinking by Marc Stickdorn and Jakob Schneider
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- How to Grow Your Small Business by Donald Miller
- Lagom by Linnea Dunne
- How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind by Todd Baratz
- Either/Or by Soren Kierkegaard
- The Science of Getting Started by Patrick King