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  The Curse of Our Culture of Overpromising

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  The Curse of Our Culture of Overpromising

The root of many problems in our modern business world stem from the culture of overpromising. Here’s why.

We are going to change the world” is a slogan of many startups. Every product starts with an idea, and some ideas become so powerful that they conquer the minds of millions of people, including the most wealthy people in the world. Investors are willing to spend millions of dollars to be a part of something big. However, the most promising concepts often break into pieces when they reach the market, and even more, ideas forever stay on the paper or drawing desks.

Why does it happen? The root of this problem in our modern business culture — the culture of overpromising. This culture makes startup founders convey a sense of success way before they create the first prototype of their product. And this sense of future success is so powerful that it makes other people believe that it is true.

“Fake it till you make it”

A good story can convince investors to invest money in a promising new venture. The startup will use funds to grow, hire more people and increase its estimated value. Of course, the money will also be spent on research and development. But at this step , the startup is far from creating something tangible; it is still exploring the space. It uses techniques like fake doors and demo versions to measure the interest in the product. The problem with this approach: Those techniques can never be a replacement for a real product.

The longer a startup follows the “fake it till you make it” approach, the more expensive and dangerous its product development path becomes. We are all familiar with what happened with Theranos, a promising startup created by Elizabeth Holmes. But does her example stop entrepreneurs from pretending that they have innovative technology while they have only an idea? No.

I bet right now, we have dozens of well-funded startups like Theranos in Silicon Valley. Maybe not all of them are so hyped up and worked-on critical domains such as healthcare, but it is likely that the nice story that creates traction is their founders’ most valuable asset.

Good design helps to sell anything

Most startup founders understand the value of good design. Design is a powerful tool, and it allows product creators to convey positive emotions and feelings to users before they start using a product. We all love attractive things, and we even think that beautiful products work better.

Startup founders use design to create an illusion of finished products, and this illusion helps them sell their idea to an audience. The illusion can have nothing to support it. No functioning product. No real technology. It’s just a neat idea of ​​creating something big , but this idea is so compelling that it makes people believe that something truly magnificent is underneath it.

An idea is worth nothing, execution is what matters

Even the most creative idea is worth nothing unless it is well-executed. When it comes to the execution phase, you might easily find that your product or technology simply cannot be built. Maybe the technological base isn’t ready; maybe users aren’ t prepared to adopt the new product. That’s why not your idea, but your idea execution, is worth millions. Still, many founders pretend that they have something without having even the most basic product version validated with their target audience. Why does it happen ? Because there are still people that are willing to invest millions of dollars in something that might not ever be built.

Our society has adopted the “fake it until you make it” and “disregard the impossible” approaches. The idea that we all can build something that will change the world is a part of the modern American dream. And everyone, including the wealthiest people, shares this vision. Fear of missing out, not being a part of something big, not getting 10 times or 100 times return on their investment is what makes venture capitalists say “yes” to the craziest idea. That’s why there are still a lot of startups that have nothing more than just a nice story Yes. The post-pandemic world will likely change the way people create products. Economic recession will make investors count every penny, so having a nice vision and a lovely story won ‘t be enough to convince them to give you money. When the economy is shirking, people are less likely to trust words; they trust actions. Hype is no longer a driving force for investment.

The role of design will also change. The venture capitalist evaluation of a new product will be based not on how the product looks but on how it works. Having a working prototype and existing customer base will be on the top of the list during the investment discussion. Design due diligence will be carried out before the investment. So the role of functional design, a design focused on creating working products with good usability and clear business logic, will only get more significant.

Is the culture of overpromising a bad thing?

Yes and no. A culture of overpromising can be a good thing if done in moderation. Steve Jobs famously said, “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” But it’s important to understand that there are no shortcuts in the product design process. Every time you think that you have a groundbreaking idea that will change the world, you have to go through trials and errors to find that it’s true.

Related: The Dangers of Overpromising and Under-Delivering

Steve Jobs, who changed our world with the release of the iPhone, went through a long process of creating the first iPhone. And the design process started way before 2007 (the year the phone was released). The roots go back to the first Macintosh computer released in the ’80s, and the first concept of a portable device created by General Magic in the ’90s. That’s more than two decades of work for technology that eventually changed our world.

Dream big, and work hard to make it happen.

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CULTURE

Local woman gets donated space for her prom dresses

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Local woman gets donated space for her prom dresses

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) – In 2004, Judy Wolff began the Beautiful Butterfly Project Prom to help those who can’t afford a dress for that special dance.

“I started with one rack and then people started hearing that I was giving dresses to girls that needed them,” Wolff explained. “And then the people were seeing and hearing that I was taking donations and it just grew and grew and grew.”

And now, Judy’s inventory reaches almost three-thousand dresses and the donations don’t seem to be slowing down.

For Alethia Kenworthy, being able to find an affordable dress is something the whole community needs and having a resource like Judy’s collection is very fortunate to have.

“It’s amazing what her program does for so many kids in the area,” Alethia said. “I know she has people who come from Eau Claire also, who drive to come to see her and to help her and also to give dresses to her too. Because once you heard about it, you’re thinking ‘How many things do I have in my closet that I don’t really need anymore either?’.”

That many dresses requires a lot of space to store them.

Judy has been keeping them in three large storage units but it hasn’t been an ideal location for helping ladies, young and old, find and try on dresses.

“I needed a new building because the storage unit was not heat controlled,” Judy said. “So in the winter time it was really cold and then when it gets a little bit warmer the cement sweats and it was getting all the dresses wet and moldy. I had to throw away quite a lot of them.”

Alethia came to the rescue after seeing Judy’s post asking for help on Facebook.

Kenworthy is managing the building formerly known as the Wesley United Methodist Church and most recently as The Sanctuary on King. Recently acquired by Matthew Curtis of Choral Tracks, it is currently being renovated into a venue for fine arts and other events.

Noticing some space not earmarked for venue purposes, Alethia wondered if Judy could use it for her dresses.

“We’re not going to utilize the basement as far as I know,” Kenworthy explained. “It’s not going to be a place for performing so I just kind of chatted with my boss and floated the idea and he thought it would be a great idea! Then it happened.”

Judy now has three big rooms to organize her dresses but at the rate she’s growing she may need more space, which is not something she’s looking for after receiving such a gift.

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CULTURE

DNCE RETURN TO MAKE YOU “MOVE”

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DNCE RETURN TO MAKE YOU “MOVE”

Making a momentous return, multiplatinum group DNCE are back with their first official single in four years, the aptly titled “Move.”

Listen to “Move”—HERE via Republic Records.

It issues an invitation to the dancefloor with its funky strut, slippery seventies-style guitars, head-nodding bassline, and swaggering beat. Flaunting a fiery falsetto, frontman Joe Jonas shines with an undeniable and unshakable command on the chorus, “All I’m trying to do is make you get up out that chair and make you move!”

“Move is the song that convinced me DNCE had more music to release into the world,” says Joe. “I wrote it with my friend Ryan Tedder just for fun and immediately knew it was something special and needed the DNCE treatment! We can’t wait for everyone to hear it and perform it live.”

Earlier this year, DNCE teased their return by assisting Kygo on his boisterous banger “Dancing Feet.” It has already amassed over 38 million Spotify streams and over 6 million YouTube views on the music video. Of the track, Rolling Stone raved, “The song is a perfect reintroduction, a crisp, Eighties-inspired bop primed for all your dance-floor needs,” and Billboard noted, “Jonas growls on the infectious, horn-inflected chorus.” The Honey Pop summed it best, “The DJ and DNCE has just dropped what might just end up being the song of the summer.”

However, everything just sets the stage for more to come from DNCE.

Stay tuned and get ready to “Move” in 2022!

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CULTURE

Healthy Swaps for Your Favorite Desserts

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Healthy Swaps for Your Favorite Desserts

Desserts square measure delicious, however they will even be unhealthy. once attempting to turn, clipping on sugar is usually common. We’ve compiled this list of nine healthy swaps for your favorite desserts!

salad
Fruit salad could be a healthy various to several “traditional” desserts. creating a salad is straightforward. you’ll produce one giant salad or little individual fruit salads victimisation bowls or little glasses. Adding alternative ingredients like yoghourt, granola, or whacky will create a delicious filling afters.

Coconut-Lime Ice Pops


Lime and coconut square measure refreshing ingredients which will perk up your style buds on a hot day! If you’re trying to find one thing cool and tastes glorious this summer, this formula is perfect! this is often conjointly healthy because it uses natural ingredients. Here is the way to create coconut-lime pops;

Add 2 cups of ice, one cup of coconut milk, one cup of coconut flakes, 2 tablespoons of grated lime zest, and a couple of drops of lime oil to a liquidizer.
Blend till the mixture is sleek. counting on the dimensions of your liquidizer, you’ll have to be compelled to create a lot of or less coconut milk.
Pour the mixture into molds or little gelato dishes that are chilled within the electric refrigerator and freeze the molds or containers for a minimum of four hours.
Remove the afters from the molds by running them underneath heat water. The ice pops ought to slide out simply.

Smoothies
A smoothie could be a straightforward, healthy afters to create reception. you’ll use contemporary fruit or frozen fruit to arrange your smoothie. Adding milk, yogurt, or frozen dessert to the formula can provide you with a lot of flavor and creaminess! you’ll conjointly “spice it up” by adding cinnamon or nutmeg. Smoothies square measure pretty simple to create.

afters Bars
There square measure boughten healthy afters bars, however you’ll create this afters reception. victimisation natural ingredients, like fruit and yoghourt, can offer a lot of flavor and a healthier possibility.

cheese Pie
This is a healthy various to several ancient desserts out there nowadays. the most ingredients for this afters square measure pudding, graham haywire, and whipped topping! The pie tastes nice, and is nice for your body moreover.

dry cereal frozen dessert
Parfait could be a nice afters as a result of it’s healthy and delicious! dry cereal parfaits square measure a good thanks to begin the day with one thing healthy that tastes great!

Watermelon sherbet


The main ingredients of this formula square measure watermelon, lime juice, and sugar. These ingredients combined offer you with a sweet and refreshing dessert! This sherbet are often eaten up alone or served on a slice of watermelon! it’s simple to create as well! Here’s how:

Cut up the clean watermelon into 1-inch cubes and freeze nightlong.
Blend the frozen watermelon and juice during a liquidizer till sleek.
Add the sugar and stir to combine.
Pour the mixture into your sherbet maker (if you don’t have one, place it into a instrumentality with a high and freeze for concerning three hours).
Scoop out and serve promptly!

Banana Oat Muffins


Banana oat muffins square measure a good various to regular muffins that you just will notice in bakeries. they’re high in fiber and low in sugar! Here is the way to create them:

Preheat the kitchen appliance to four hundred degrees
Mix the dry ingredients (flour, saleratus, leavening, and salt).
In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients (bananas, milk, butter, flavouring, and sugar).
Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir till everything is well combined, and add 3/4 cup of oats.
Spoon into quick bread tins and bake for quarter-hour or till suntanned.
Serve and enjoy!

vegetarian Cookies


With vegetarian cookies, you are doing not need to sacrifice style once baking. they’re largely created with dates that offer sweetness and contain fiber. Here is the way to create them;

Preheat the kitchen appliance to 350 degrees
In a bowl, mix your ingredients (dates, chia seeds, nuts, raisins, vegetable oil, banana powder, and vanilla extract).
Spoon into eight little or six medium-sized dishes.
Bake for concerning twenty minutes on every pan/dish or till golden brown.
Serve and enjoy!
In conclusion, healthy desserts square measure still delicious, and you’ll simply create them at home! make certain to use natural ingredients to switch the unhealthy ones.

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