Platform by Michael Hyatt was added to my Audible library as a recommendation from The Colin and Samir Show, one of my favorite podcasts for all things regarding YouTube🎥.
The book dives into how to create a platform (duh) for getting the word out and marketing your product. Some of the information is pretty outdated🧓🏻 (Hyatt mentions products like Google+, RadioShack, and iOS 5) while some is just unnecessary (like the painstaking details about how exactly to sign up for a Twitter account)😫.
I must admit, pretty early in listening it was apparent that not all the information would be applicable to me. Nonetheless, I stuck with it and still picked up useful tidbits.
Here are some of my takeaways:
- Make a compelling product. This is the goal from top to bottom. Craft a product to be the best it can be and market it in a way that will amaze people and make it memorable. Hyatt specifically mentions Steve Jobs talking about Apple products and the effect that Toms Shoes had on children in Africa. These are now well-known, world-renowned brands📱👟.
- Don’t be afraid to think big. This is easier said than done, but it is also a nice reminder. One strategy that particularly stood out to me was Hyatt mentioning to decide what the dream is first, and then working backwards to figure out how to get there. This approach makes things seem a lot more attainable💫.
- Collaboration is key. Nobody accomplishes anything alone. Get outside perspectives from friends, family, or even experts in your field. You only know what you know, and the answer to how to take your product to the next level may lie in someone else🫨.
- “Without a leader you don’t have a tribe. You have a crowd.” A powerful quote that really stuck with me. Regardless of your product or field, being a leader who helps and supports others can have profound effects🎭.
Although Platform did not end up being the lifechanging read I expected, it still gave me some useful information on how to view and workshop my own brand to make sure I always put my best foot forward👣.