When you buy Zappos, what do you buy?
Amazon just announced that they're spending $800,000,000.00 (looks better that way) to buy Zappos.com.
But wait.
Amazon already has plenty of shoes.
Amazon already has great technology.
Amazon already has relationships with Fedex and UPS.
What you buy when you spend that kind of money is what matters now. And what matters is:
- A corporate culture that's not the same (and where great people choose to work)
- A tight relationship with customers that give you permission to talk with them
- A business model that's remarkable and worth talking about
- A story that spreads
- Leadership
These things are available to organizations of every size. If you want them and choose to work for them.