The Circuit Breaker

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Latest Episodes:

S2 E16: Podcast Wrap-Up | The Upside and Downside of a Gut Check Apr 25, 2023

The meeting is about helping you shape a new way or a different path. It's about letting everybody be heard. It's about discussing and having real discussions about what has worked in the past and what the new direction is.

In today's Circuit Breaker episode, Bob and Greg look at a tool they use frequently: the Gut Check. Bob recalls a consumer packaged goods company that ran into legal and patent issues while developing a product. The team had to hold a "Gut Check" meeting. Discover how this meeting proved very useful. They will explain why a Gut Check is a powerful tool, but also why it can be dangerous if not used properly.

You will understand why Gut Check meetings should not be held on a regular basis, but only when significant changes are coming and when there are tradeoffs that require input from all stakeholders, among other considerations. They'll also have an annoucnemnt to make about this season of the Circuit Breaker show.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking discussion on a "gut check" meeting.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

An example of a Gut Check.
The dangers of a Gut Check meeting.
Why Gut Check meetings are helpful in startups.
The purpose and role of a Gut Check.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S3 E15 | Red Line Green Line Development Apr 18, 2023

“Make sure you're comfortable learning and describing the things you don't know rather than trying to articulate what you do know and finding a way to verify only what you do know. There is no such thing as a completely red line or a completely green line.”

In today's Circuit Breaker episode, Bob and Greg delve into the "green line" vs. the "red line." This reflects contrasting approaches to product development. Bob will recount his research on this topic in Japan when he was a member of the Ford team. You'll understand the mindset difference in product development between the US and Japan.

They'll talk about one of Taguchi's methods, Design of Experiments. You'll discover the "green line" and the "red line" main takeaways. This includes, among other things, determining the cause of a product failure rather than bearing personal responsibility and not settling for the unknowns. You'll also learn why redline projects have more going on as they get closer to launch than greenline projects, which have more going on at the beginning.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking discussion on "green line" and "red line" development.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

What are the "red line" and "green line," and why is it important?
How to discover the unknown.
The importance of continuous learning.
How do you know if you're on the "green line" or the "red line?"
How do you get from the red line to the green line?
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E14 | JTBD in Business School Apr 11, 2023

If I were to change anything, it would be to make sure that students understand why they're there and what progress they're trying to make. That will actually help set the curriculum in the right way for how much and what they should be learning.

In today's Circuit Breaker episode, Bob and Greg explore an interesting topic from an audience member: How would the curriculum in business schools change if JTBD was more widely understood? You'll learn what changes they'd propose to integrate the JTBD context into business school.

Bob will explain why JTBD should be introduced as a supplement to the curriculum rather than being the core of it. You'll learn about the downsides of full learning and the impact of Bob's book Choosing College. You'll also learn why Bob abhors the term "best practices."

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking discussion on JTBD in business school.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Why the case-based approach is the best teaching style.
Understanding who, when, where, and why can transform the way you process information.
The key thing JTBD teaches us.
Why it’s your responsibility as a student to understand the different contexts.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions Throughout Your Life

S2 E13 | Process vs Practice Apr 04, 2023

Most of the time the process assumes linearity, like step one, step two, step three, step four, but in reality sometimes there is iteration. And there are phases of work as opposed to steps of work.

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg address a current trend they've noticed in their interactions with customers, balancing the pendulum between process-driven product development and practice. Learn more about process-driven product development.

This topic traces back to some of Bob's early work in Japan. You'll discover the Japanese perspective on process and how it has been implemented differently in the US. Making the pendulum straight in the middle is no guarantee of success either. They will discuss how to find the "sweet spot" that allows flexibility between process and practice. You'll identify what kind of manager is needed to balance process and practice.

They'll dissect Edwards Deming's notion, that says, "If you can't describe what you do as a process, you don't know what you're doing"

Join Bob and Greg for this stimulating discussion on the boundaries of practice and process.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The pendulum between process-driven product development and practice.
Why the process alone is no guarantee of success.
The implications of becoming overly rigorous with the process or practice too rigorously.
Capacity and capability in the process.
What makes execution difficult?
Process and practice go hand in hand.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E12 | Listening Mar 28, 2023

Listening is about actually understanding where people are going and what they are trying to do. You need to listen very carefully not only to what they are saying, but how they are saying it.

On today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg address one of their guiding principles, listening, particularly in the context of JTBD. You'll learn about the orientation of the language as they expound more about listening for intent.

Bob will discuss why he is not the biggest fan of small talk. They often argue with their office lawyer over whether words or intent is more important. You'll find out why Greg believes intent precedes words. They will share different office scenarios to demonstrate how they apply their listening skills.

You will discover why they have multiple people listen when theyconduct interviews and what they mean by hypothesis-building research as opposed to hypothesis-proving research. Bob will also tie in Dr. Taguchi's concept of the signal-to-noise ratio.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking discussion about listening and words vs intent.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

How to hone your listening skills.
Why active listening is a two-way street.
The importance of being aware of one's own biases.
Why companies hire them to conduct interviews.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E11 | How to Use Chat GPT Mar 21, 2023

It's a tool that you have to respect. But you need to realize that ChatGPT can only give you so much. It's only going to regurgitate what's already there; it's not going to help you actually come up with new thoughts.

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg will delve into Chat GPT and express their concerns and fears about it. You'll understand the intricacies of using Chat GPT for a JTBD interview or book summary. Bob will explain Clayton Christensen's theory of disruption as Greg shares how he distorted the context of that theory. You'll discover situations where Chat GPT can be helpful. Is Chat GPT a shortcut, or do we actually create more work with it? Bob will discuss why Chat GPT is a great tool for prototyping to learn but not for JTBD.

Greg will talk about considering using Chat GPT to write his mother's obituary after she recently passed away. Also, someone uploaded their interview on Chat GPT; you'll learn why this could be misleading and take information out of context.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking discussion about ChatGPT.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

How to use Chat GPT.
The theory of disruptive innovation.
What they like about Chat GPT.
The danger of using Chat GPT to outsource thinking.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E10 | The Rest of the Milkshake Story Mar 14, 2023

Demand is demand, and supply is your supply. And you must match the two. Only when both sides match can you make a product.

In today's Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg unpack the milkshake story, or what their competitors call "the milkshake marketing myth." They'll explore how the fast food restaurant was able to increase sales of milkshakes and review the entire process. Fun fact: This happened almost 30 years ago. You'll learn why switching the milkshake from ice cream to yogurt increased sales.

This is the most recognizable application of the Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) theory. You'll discover why this is the case as you get an introduction to Clayton Christensen's concept of "disruptive innovation." Bob and Greg will talk about the tests and interviews they conducted and why the franchisees rejected the project. They will also explain why it's the job of people in innovation to design their supply to fit the demand.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The first step in JTBD.
Why do you need to match both the demand and supply side?
What creates demand?
The importance of having a third party in your company.
Similar examples to the milkshake story.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E9 | How to Make Habits Stick Mar 07, 2023

Progress is when an F1 and an F2 are greater than an F3 and an F4. So push and pull are greater than habits and anxieties. In today's Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg discuss why New Year's resolutions or new habits are hard to maintain as well as their frameworks for achieving and maintaining them. As a first step, they address the forces of progress before moving on to effective strategies. These include making the change smaller, matching it to your motivation and building a time wall. You'll will be introduced to the concept of "outcome vs. output"

Bob will share his weight loss journey, his two key metrics and how these strategies have worked for him. You'll understand why these strategies don't work for everyone and why you need to find out for yourself which one is right for you, depending on your personality.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Aspirational goals versus progress
The force of progress is not stagnant; it’s dynamic.
How to make your goals more attainable
The importance of building a time wall
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E8 | Selling New Ideas Feb 28, 2023

If I paint the picture for you, I'm convincing. If you paint the picture for me and answer my questions, you create your own context. On today's Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg tackle the myth of convincing and how it leads to buyer's remorse as they talk about selling new ideas. Bob describes a case from the past where convincing someone completely failed.

You'll understand why it's difficult for people to change and how you can help people understand the context they're in without convincing them. You'll learn why they hate prefabricated presentations and why it's important to understand and recognize the forces of progress. They'll go into detail about the tactical steps you should take when selling a new idea, namely understanding why you want to change, finding out who to talk to and developing a plan. You'll discover their different perspectives on selling and why the sales process doesn't end with a "yes". Greg will explain what he calls "fake interactions" and why every conversation is an interview. You'll discover why they want to be more transparent with their clients.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

How do you sell new ideas?
The difference between convincing people and helping them see progress.
The importance of understanding your anxieties.
Why marketing, sales and customer success need to be aligned.
The two types of unknowns.
How to develop a plan.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Re-Wired Group Website

S2 E7 | | Identifying and Making Trade-Offs as a Product Developer Feb 21, 2023

Empathetic perspective and trade-offs kind of go hand in hand. In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg continue their discussion of Bob's book, focusing specifically on trade-offs. You'll learn how empathetic perspective and trade-offs intertwine, for example, by understanding and emulating consumer trade-offs when designing a product.

Greg will explain why you need to understand both the demand and supply sides as well as your technical capabilities to gain sufficient perspective on the trade-offs you need to make. You'll understand how JTBD helps with trade-offs and why it's important to be flexible even if you have built a time wall.

Bob will share his different reference points for measuring progress. You'll also learn about the milkshake analogy, which illustrates the importance of open communication between developers and managers so that developers can formulate the trade-offs for executives. They will disclose when it is best and worst to consider trade-offs during the product development process. They will also discuss how the other four building blocks - an empathetic perspective, uncovering demand, causal structures, and prototyping to learn - make it easier to make trade-offs.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The definition of trade-offs
How empathetic perspective and trade-offs intertwine
The importance of setting realistic expectations and benchmarks on your time wall
Integrating the four building blocks to make trade-offs
The evolution of Bob's and Greg's 20-year partnership
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E6 | Causal Structures Feb 14, 2023

Cause and effect is something that affects every area of our lives, even if we aren't aware of it. This is particularly true in innovation. On today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg dive into a subject covered in Bob's book, "Learning to Build," namely causal structures, and why they represent one of the five bedrock skills every innovator must possess. They discuss correlation versus causation, as well as the differences between iterating, innovating, and inventing.

They also discuss what's coming next for Bob's book, including a course based off the training in the book coming in 2023.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking and timely discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Why causal structures are one of the bedrock skills that an innovator should have.
The importance of thinking about cause and effect in relation to a product?
Understanding the interdependence between inputs and outputs.
The primary difference between innovating and iterating.
And so much more...

Resources:

Learning to Build book

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E5 | Benchmarking in Business: Types and Benefits Feb 07, 2023

Technical benchmarking is usually done on the supply side, and consumer benchmarking is done on the demand side. On today's Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg talk about benchmarking and how it works as a kind of prototyping to find a common language for marketing, sales and developing a better product. You'll learn about technical benchmarking and customer benchmarking and how they are used at different times for different purposes, yet blend seamlessly. You will learn about the importance of technical and customer benchmarking. Bob's perspective as an engineer and product developer will help you understand technical benchmarking and its two roles. Bob will also discuss the QFT method and how it relates to benchmarking.

Greg will explain why he calls consumer benchmarking "contextual benchmarking" You will learn about the process of consumer benchmarking and why most companies are better at technical benchmarking than customer benchmarking. They'll explain why you need a third party for benchmarking to move your business forward. You will learn how benchmarking leads to more Jobs To Be Done. Greg will talk about how he has seen benchmarking go wrong.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking and timely discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The different types of benchmarking
Can you do technical benchmarking in a school?
Why benchmarking is not the same as concept testing
Why do technical experts need to be involved in consumer benchmarking?
How important it is to build a competitive set when purchasing
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E4 | Reframing the Sales Process With Demand-Side Sales Jan 31, 2023

I don't need to sell my product; I need to help people buy it. On today's Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg discuss their book Demand-Side Sales. They will talk about why they wrote it, and what they learned from it. They'll also talk about what they believe to be the most difficult challenge for people implementing demand-side sales. Bob will give his perspective on between getting the first yes or no, which is more important in sales. You will learn what progress means in Jobs to Be Done and why it is so important in sales. You will discover why you, as a salesperson, actually need to be a therapist. They'll discuss the problem of feature-benefit selling and how to make it more effective.

You'll discover why it is difficult to apply demand-side sales to companies that have not done Jobs To Be Done. They will share how difficult it was for them to do Jobs To Be Done as well and how contracting with another company changed their sales and marketing processes. They will provide insights into the two demand-side sales courses that are yet to be launched.

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking and timely discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Why are there no sales professors?
The mindset shift that most salespeople need
In sales, is it more important to get the first yes or the first no?
The value of understanding Jobs To Be Done when doing demand-side sales
Do most companies know why customers buy their product?
Why you need to hire someone to do Jobs To Be Done
Tidbits about the demand-side sales courses
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E3 | Unraveling the Concept of Impulse Purchases Jan 24, 2023

When you do a survey or ask a customer in a very generic way, "Why did you buy this?" and they say, "On impulse," that's just a way to shut you down. On today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg unravel impulse buys. They talk about the classic mattress, the interview with Brian Walker where he explains why buying a mattress was an impulse buy for him. This topic is covered in more detail in Competing Against Luck and Demand Side Sales 101. From a business perspective, you will see why classifying your products as impulse buys is a bad idea: It's a form of laziness. Greg will use an analogy to show how quickly people can make decisions.

You'll learn why you should not stop when you hear the word "impulse buy". It's time to dig deeper and your job is to help people remember why. Greg will explain if Bob is an impulse buyer. You will also find out why Bob bought the rare Ohio State University medal as well as all of their efforts to get Bob to minimize his purchases. You will understand why people use shopping websites.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Is there such a thing as an impulse buy?
Why classifying your product as an impulse purchase is a form of laziness.
How quickly humans can make decisions.
The two main categories with impulse buying
Why irrational becomes rational with context.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E2 | Shopping vs Restocking Jan 17, 2023

Restocking is all about consistency, and shopping is when I have an anomaly. On today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg go over the difference between "restocking" and "shopping" and show you how to get your customers into the habit of buying. You'll learn how to change the design of your product to make it more impactful, and that doing so may be harmful. If you have a top-selling product and change the packaging to make it better, are you really making it better or making it harder for people to find? They'll also talk about advertising and developing a more context-driven product. You'll learn how their shopping-restocking framework incorporates an empathetic perspective.

You'll hear Bob's narrative about switching shampoos and how it fits into their shopping-restocking framework. They'll explain how you set up criteria for a Job To Be Done when you are in shopping mode. You will also understand why you should not rely on a product being "out of stock" to generate new sales. They will define the terms "restocking" and "shopping."

Join Bob and Greg for this thought-provoking and timely discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The difference between restocking and shopping?
Why restocking is all about habit
How you can use Jobs To Be Done when shopping and in advertising
The importance of empathetic perceptive
What the consequences are if you alter your product while someone is restocking
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S2 E1 | Practicing an Empathetic Perspective Jan 10, 2023

Really good innovators and entrepreneurs have this ability to see things and connect the dots between different views. They are empathetic because they do not judge what it is. Rather, they ask themselves, What is it? And what can we do with it? On today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg talk about the empathetic perspective in Bob's new book, Learning to Build. Bob will explain why he does not like personas and why you need them. You'll discover why the empathetic perspective is more art than science. You'll also learn why you need diverse perspectives on your team and how different worldviews are connected.

When Bob wrote his book, he studied a lot of good innovators and entrepreneurs. You'll learn how they anticipate problems before they happen. Greg will address the most difficult aspect of having an empathetic view of people. He will also talk about his experience working in an independent living facility. You will learn why it is easier to practice an empathetic perspective in a group setting than alone. You will see why Greg is known as "Bob's Whisperer" You will also learn the steps you need to take to adopt an empathetic perspective.

You will discover several skills that are part of an empathetic perspective. Bob will explore some of the obstacles that prevent us from adopting an empathetic perspective. You will learn how Greg maintains an empathic stance with Bob and what is the most important thing you can take away from an empathic perspective.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

What is an empathetic perspective?
A teaser of a future episode
How good innovators and entrepreneurs see problems before they arise
The importance of being able to put yourself in someone else's role
The importance of empathetic perspective in the workplace.
Why Bob always asks unconventional questions
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website

S1 E16 | Season 1 Podcast Wrap-Up Jul 12, 2022

We do a postmortem on the podcast to help us frame what we're going to do in season two.

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, we reflect on a tool we frequently use, the postmortem, and present some thoughts on the season that just ended.

You'll learn about the unexpected growth Bob and Greg have achieved.

You'll learn what strategies they plan to use to increase growth next season.

Join us for this fascinating and thought-provoking discussion!

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Bob's mastery of the postmortem and when he employs it.
Some of Bob and Greg's struggling moments in the first season.
Hints at the possible themes for season two.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

The Postmortem PDF https://bit.ly/3yfSzfs

S1 E15 | Understanding Prototyping to Learn Jul 05, 2022

I see prototyping as a tool that I can use on both the supply and demand sides.

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, we take a closer look at one of the skills Bob discusses in his book Prototyping to learn.

Bob distinguishes between divergent and convergent prototypes and the contexts in which both can be used.

You'll learn about the dimensions of prototyping.

You'll learn why 80% of the code generated by some software companies doesn't make it into the product.

Bob explains why A/B testing is the most ineffective way to test anything.

Join us for this fascinating and thought-provoking discussion!

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The difference between the demand side and the supply side.

About the role of prototypes.

Questions to ask yourself to understand what prototypes you need.

Is A/B testing prototyping?

And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

S1 E14 | Understanding Where You Need Big Data vs Small Data Jun 28, 2022

When we are at a very early stage of the development process, it is very difficult to get big data.

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, we take a look at Big Data to show you how to develop better products.

You'll learn why Big Data is not the answer, but only part of the answer.

Bob will talk about design of experiments.

You will discover why it is very important to look at the market in context.

Bob will share the projects they have worked on to help with Big Data.

Join us for this riveting discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The impact of Big Data on innovation.
Where you can leverage Big Data.
Why over-reliance on Big Data is detrimental.
The importance of clustering data rather than segmenting it.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

Todd Rose | The End of Average

Thomas Kuhn | The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

S1 E13 | Understanding the B2B vs. B2C and Product Development Formats Jun 21, 2022

“When you're actually in the B2B space, you need to satisfy both the consumer and the customer.”

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg discuss the distinction between a customer and a consumer and how you can distinguish the two.

Bob will also explain the difference between big hires and small hires.

You'll discover a unique scenario where 'Jobs To Be Done' are in conflict.

You'll learn how to determine the overlap between the customer and the consumer.

Bob will reveal his approach when dealing with clients.

Join us for this insightful discussion about approaching your business from a customer-consumer perspective

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Identifying who needs to make progress for you to sell more.
The importance of aligning both the consumer and the customer.
How making trade-offs ensures customer and consumer satisfaction.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

S1 E12 | Finding Non-Consumption to Help Your Business Grow Jun 14, 2022

"Another essential ingredient to non-consumption is a desire to be better."

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, we dive into unpacking non-consumption and how it helps people grow their businesses.

You'll learn why companies should be concerned about non-consumption.

Bob will share why "blue-sky thinking" doesn't work for him.

You'll discover whether big companies or startups are better at identifying non-consumption.

Bob and Greg will reveal how they got out of non-consumption.

Join us for this illuminating discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Bob's concept of non-consumption, its underlying premises, and real-life illustrations.
The contrast between blue-sky innovation and non-consumption innovation.
The barriers that limited them from consumption.
And so much more…

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

S1 E11 | Unpacking the Word “New” May 31, 2022

“So the jobs existed, but the change to a new product did not change the jobs. It changed the solutions that were available to satisfy the jobs.”

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg chat with Matt Sheppard, Associate and Principal at The Rewired Group.

You'll learn why there is no such thing as a new idea.

Bob will talk about the knowledge that Jobs To Be Done is built on and how Dr. Deming influenced JTBD.

You will learn about the new book Bob is writing.

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Why creating a new idea is supply-side thinking.
The difference between usage and attitudes and need states.
Has the pandemic economic crisis created new jobs?
Why working from home is not a job.
And so much more…

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

Book | Demand-Side Sales 101

S1 E10 | Paradigm Shifts You Need to Become Truly Customer-Centric May 24, 2022

Is your innovation plagued with biases that prevent you from becoming customer-centric?

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, we talk about the biases innovators need to drop and the paradigm shifts they should adopt to help them use Jobs To Be Done (JTBD).

You'll discover the common assumptions innovators make and why these often act as constraints to innovation.

You'll discover why innovators need to spend most of their time focused on what they don't know instead of dwelling on what they already know.

You'll learn how innovators often ask the wrong questions and why this inhibits them from becoming customer-centric.

Join Greg, Bob and Matt for this fascinating discussion.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Prevalent biases innovators and entrepreneurs need to watch out for and get rid of.
Critical paradigm shifts businesses and innovators have to embrace to fully utilize Jobs To Be Done.
What it takes to become truly customer-centric.
The indispensable set of skillsets you need in order to employ Jobs To Be Done
What is the goal of unpacking in the product design process and why this is so important?
And so much more…

Resources:

Jobs To Be Done`

S1 E9 | Learning Jobs To Be Done May 17, 2022

While a lot of people tell us that they want to learn 'Jobs To Be Done,' this often leaves us with a tough question to answer—to what extent do they want to delve into the process?

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker Show, Bob and Greg delve into some of the challenges they see people facing when trying to learn 'Jobs To Be Done' and some of the arguments this has raised between them.

You'll discover what they think learning 'Jobs To Be Done' will take vs. what most people believe and why there's often a discrepancy between the two.

You'll discover why learning 'Jobs To Be Done' is often a big ask for most entrepreneurs.

You'll learn why Greg and Bob often argue about the best approach to help their clients learn Jobs To Be Done.

Join us for this timely discussion about figuring out Jobs To Be Done (JTBD).

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

What exactly does it take to learn 'Jobs to be Done, and is it possible to master the framework?
Why learning Jobs To be Done can never be one-size-fits-all.
The difference between how to do 'Jobs To Be Done' and how to use it and why most people need the latter.
Some of the struggles Greg and Bob have to deal with when guiding their clients through the process of learning Jobs To Be Done.
Why it's essential to embrace discourse in the workplace.
And so much more...

Resources:

Book:Demand-Side Sales 101

Jobs To Be Done

S1 E8 | Sneak Peek: The Five Bedrock Skills of Innovators and Entrepreneurs May 10, 2022

In 1991 one of his mentors, Dr. Genichi Taguchi told him to write a book and 31 years later, he's finally written his first book.

In Today's episode of Rewire Show, we discuss Bob's upcoming book Learning To Build: The Five Bedrock Skills of Innovators and Entrepreneurs.

You'll discover Bob's primary motivation for writing Learning To Build and how he was able to write the book despite being dyslexic.

You'll discover the main lesson Bob learned from each of the four mentors featured in Learning To Build.

You'll learn five critical yet often overlooked skills to help you address the unknowns and succeed as an innovator.

You'll learn what kind of entrepreneurs will benefit the most from reading this book.

Enjoy!

What You'll learn in this Show:

Why the title "Learn To Build."
Learning from your mentors and why it's essential to pass on what you've gained from them.
What to do when you realize you don't have a specific skill.
Innovation in the corporate environment.
And so much more...

Resources:

Learning To Build: The Five Bedrock Skills of Innovators and Entrepreneurs

Scribe Publishing

S1 E7 | Unpacking Jobs To Be Done May 03, 2022

In product design and development, the thinking is often on what's next. The challenge is defining what's next for the consumer, since most of us can't really envision how a product can be improved.

In today's episode of the Rewire Show, we dive into the concept of 'Jobs to be Done,' a process for determining what the next steps are in developing new products that will help consumers solve their current problems and help them achieve more in the future.

You'll learn about the concept of 'Jobs to be Done,' including what constitutes a job, and how defining them can help create progress.

You'll discover why there's a lack of symmetry between the problem consumers are experiencing, and the solution they believe they need.

You'll also learn how areas of your business such as Marketing can benefit from JTBD by helping to define and then educate consumers on problems they didn't realize they'd been struggling with.

Join us for this fascinating discussion around Jobs to be Done and gain clarity on creating future product offerings for your customers.

Enjoy!

What You’ll Learn in this Show:

A definition of the concept of 'Jobs to be Done,' and how it's related to progress.
The lack of symmetry between the problem a consumer has, and the solution they are looking for.
How JTBD can help areas such as marketing, in helping consumers to see problems they didn't even know they were struggling with.
And so much more...

Resources:

https://therewiredgroup.com/

S1 E6 | Katherine Thompson | From School Administrator to Principal at The Rewired Group Apr 26, 2022

In today's episode of the Rewire Show, we chat with Katherine Thompson, one of the Principals at The Rewired Group.

You'll learn about Katherine's career background in education and how she came to join The Rewired Group.

You'll learn what motivated her to enroll in business school while working a full-time job as a school administrator.

You'll discover the key lessons Katherine has learned working at The Rewired Group for the past two years.

You'll learn some of the ways Katherine helps the company and its clients navigate the complex business landscape.

You'll discover the importance of training yourself to take a step back and actually evaluate what you mean or what someone else means when they say they want something.

Join us in this fascinating and insightful discussion!

Enjoy!

What You'll learn in this Show:

How Katherine landed her current job at The Rewired Group and her role at the company.
A comparative look between working in a school environment versus working at The Rewired Group.
Katherine's advice on embracing change and reaching out for new lanes of growth in your career.
The power of "Unpacking Words"— go beyond a superficial level of understanding and ask pertinent questions.
How Katherine was able to shift her mindset from Perfectionism to Progress.

Resources:

The Rewired Group

Katherine Thompson

S1 E5 | Unpacking Supply And Demand Apr 19, 2022

We're all familiar with the concepts of supply and demand, at least in the abstract. However, many of us fail to understand the differences between these concepts from a product development standpoint, as well as the ways they work together.

In today's episode of the Rewire Show, we dive deep and offer some insights into the concepts of supply and demand.

You'll discover how supply and demand differ when placed in a product development context.

You'll learn how to determine whether you're seeing the world through a supply or demand mindset, and how that can dictate the way you approach your work.

You'll discover the importance of seeing supply and demand as an interdependent system and how that can affect product development.

Join us for this fascinating discussion around seemingly simple concepts that are in fact far more interesting and complex than you may have realized.

Enjoy!

What You’ll Learn in this Show:

The difference between supply and demand in terms of product development.
How you can determine whether you're looking at the world through the less of supply or demand, and how the two can work together.
How supply and demand diverge from each other and what that means to the product development process.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Re-wired Group

S1 E4 | Smell The Progress Apr 12, 2022

Do you consider yourself artistic or maybe creative? They are distinctly different, if related, concepts.

Sometimes, we take on new tasks or hobbies seemingly at random, as if the impulse to do a thing came from nowhere. This is flawed logic. All your actions, desires, etc. come from somewhere - there's some motivation behind it.

In today's episode of the Rewire Show, we're discussing creativity and art. While many use these terms interchangeably, they are quite different in their approach.

You'll discover the distinct differences between creativity and art, and how understanding these differences can help you use them to achieve outcomes.

You'll learn why very few things you do are "random" - They all have purpose, even if you can't see it.

You'll also discover how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to be more creative when problem-solving.

Join us for this fascinating discussion around the reasons we do what we do and why our actions may not be as random as they appear.

Enjoy!

What You’ll Learn in this Show:

The differences between art and creativity.
The importance of understanding why you do the things you do, and why it's likely not random.
How the COVID-19 pandemic has both empowered and challenged the ways we approach creativity.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Re-wired Group

S1 E3 | Q&A with Bob and Greg - What Debating Can Teach Us About Ourselves Apr 08, 2022

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker, the roles are reversed, and Katherine takes up the show moderator role. This is the pilot episode for a new segment whereby Greg and Bob dig into their experiences and answer different questions from their audience.

You'll learn steps you can take when you get stuck and are not making progress in your work.

You'll discover how to prioritize your tasks effectively and get more things done.

Join us for this fascinating and insightful discussion on how we navigate some of the challenges we face in our everyday work at the Rewired Group.

Enjoy!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The difference between being "stuck" vs. being "unmotivated."
How to stay motivated even if you have a very demanding work schedule.
Different prioritization strategies Greg and Bob use to stay ahead of their work
What's the role of debate or discourse in the workplace?
And so much more…

Resources:

The Re-wired Group

S1 E2 | The Secret Language Of "Bob-isms" Apr 04, 2022

"Your product is not the sandwich; it's probably the mustard."

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker podcast, we break down this aphorism and others Bob frequently refers to on this show and some of the classes he teaches.

Product marketers are not going to like this, but in this episode, you'll discover why products play a much smaller role in people's lives than what we think they do.

You learn why you need to be aware of the different contexts and their impact on how much value your product adds.

You'll discover the difference between context vs. contrast and how this influences the consumer's decision-making process.

This last one might surprise you.

And you get the learn the secret language of "bob-isms"

Join us for this fascinating and thought-provoking discussion!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

The different aphorisms Bob uses and their real-life applications.
Why your product is never the entire solution.
The importance of questioning why a product fits well in one situation vs. another.
The definition of "value" to the consumer vs producer.
The differences between context and contrast.
And so much more…

Resources:

The Re-Wired Group

S1 E1 | Unpacking "Innovation" Apr 04, 2022

There's no denying that words and terms are powerful tools for communication and understanding. However, words can be overused, diluting their meaning and causing more confusion.

In today's episode of the Circuit Breaker podcast, we're discussing the meaning, use, overuse and context of words and terms.

You'll learn why the context in which people use words and phrases is as important as meaning in communication.
You'll discover the meaning of 'innovation", as well as the reasons why it's become such a popular word in business and on Wall Street.
You'll learn why overuse of the phrase 'customer loyalty' has diluted its meaning and created confusion among those who use it.

Join us for this fascinating conversation as we unpack popular words and phrases and try to gain a better understanding of what they mean to people in the context they're in.

Take your notebook out, and let's dive in.

What You’ll Learn in this Show:

The importance of understanding not only the meaning of words people use a lot, but their context as well.
What innovation is, and what it isn't, as well as the reasons the term is so popular with Wall Street.
Why the term customer loyalty has been overused to the point where it no longer has meaning.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Re-wired Group

0 | Welcome To The Circuit Breaker (Origin) Mar 31, 2022

We tend to stare at problems with the same lens over and over again and expect different results. And how can you get different results? You can't.

Or at least with that frame in mind.

In the very first episode of the Circuit Breaker podcast, Bob Moesta and Greg Engle share their motivation for starting this podcast and the value it will offer listeners.

Bob and Greg are co-founders of The Rewired Group, a product and business development consulting firm based in Michigan.

You'll discover the vision behind the Circut Breaker podcast.
You'll learn if you are in the target audience of people who will benefit from listening to this podcast.
You'll discover why and when you need to listen to multiple episodes or focus on one or two.

Join us on this fascinating journey and get ready to dive in!!

What You'll Learn in this Show:

Why the name "Circuit Breaker"?
What to expect and what not to expect from the Circuit Breaker podcast.
The 3 promises Bob Moesta is making to the audience.
And so much more...

Resources:

The Rewired Group Website (https://therewiredgroup.com/)

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