Darwin's Digital EcoSystem

Strap on your skates! 
What exactly is that unique quality that separates brands that fall to digital evolution from those that excel?  The ability of visionary leaders to recognize the need for change who then blaze a path toward renewed relevance among a new generation of consumers?

Survival of the Fittest?

Charles Darwin "adapted" this phrase (actually coined by British philosopher and sociologist Herbert Spencer) for use in later editions of The Origin of Species to refer to his Theory of Evolution..

"Fittest" is often misunderstood to refer to the physical sense - as in indomitable. 

Survival of the Most Adaptable would be a more accurate rendering of Darwin's theory.

Digital Darwinism

The demise of once formidable brands like Circuit City, Borders Books, Wherehouse, Tower Records, Pontiac, Saturn, and Palm serve as painful examples of companies that fail to accurately read technological tea leaves.

A Thanksgiving Day Washington Post article defined Digital Darwinism as the evolution of consumer behavior when society and technology evolve faster than some companies’ ability to adapt.

The brands that survive this latest era of cyclical and secular disruption will be those that are best able to evolve through Adaptive Innovation, making for the open ice before the competition is any wiser.

Ketchup on their Face?

And you thought you had post-Thanksgiving ajita?

That pre-TDay Heinz FaceBook only line extension launch hit a few speeds bumps early in the game. But the consumer packaged goods (CPG) giant managed to make lemonade anyway, according to Clickz.

Anybody try this stuff yet?
 
 
In Memorium
 

Outside the world of high-finance, Ted Forstmann was perhaps best known for dating Diana Spencer for a time, and more recently reality show hostess Padma Lakshmi.


Forrstmann was regarded as a philanthropist and a pioneer of the leveraged buyout through Forstmann Little & Co , the private equity firm he co-founded.. Dr. Pepper, Gulfstream Aerospace and Citadel Broadcasting are notable in this respect. He was also chairman and CEO of global sports and entertainment company IMG.

Forstmann passed away on Sunday November 21st at the age of 71.

Condolences to family and friends.