Difference: Summary Review
This is a summary review of Difference containing key details about the book.
What is Difference About?
"Difference" by Bernadette Jiwa is a book that explores the concept of differentiation and its importance in creating successful and meaningful businesses. Jiwa argues that in today's crowded and competitive marketplace, it is not enough to simply offer a good product or service - businesses must also find a way to stand out and create a unique value proposition that resonates with customers. She provides examples of companies that have successfully differentiated themselves, and offers practical guidance on how to identify and communicate a unique point of difference. Jiwa also emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding the customer's perspective, and provides insights into how to create a customer-centric culture that fosters innovation and differentiation. Overall, "Difference" is a thought-provoking and practical guide to the power of differentiation, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone looking to create a meaningful and successful business.
Difference lifts the lid on how brands like Airbnb, Uber and Apple have succeeded by creating difference and gives you a new one-page method for reimagining your business and reinventing your marketing. It helps you to recognize opportunities that create value, to develop products and services that people want, and to matter to your customers.
Summary Points & Takeaways from Difference
Some key summary points and takeaways from the book include:
* Focus on the customer: Jiwa argues that businesses should put their customers at the center of everything they do. By understanding their customers' needs, desires, and pain points, businesses can create products and services that truly make a difference in their lives.
* Embrace your uniqueness: Rather than trying to copy what others are doing, Jiwa encourages businesses to embrace their unique strengths and values. By leveraging what makes them different, businesses can create a compelling and authentic brand that resonates with customers.
* Tell a meaningful story: Jiwa emphasizes the importance of storytelling in creating a memorable and compelling brand. By telling a story that connects with customers on an emotional level, businesses can differentiate themselves from competitors and create a loyal following.
* Simplify and clarify: Jiwa believes that simplicity and clarity are essential to standing out in a crowded market. Businesses should strive to simplify their messaging, products, and processes to make it easy for customers to understand and engage with their brand.
* Continuously improve: Jiwa encourages businesses to be open to feedback and to continuously improve their products, services, and customer experiences. By embracing a culture of continuous improvement, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and provide real value to their customers.
* Overall, "Difference" is a book that emphasizes the importance of understanding customers, embracing uniqueness, telling a meaningful story, simplifying and clarifying, and continuously improving to stand out in a crowded market.
Who is the author of Difference?
Bernadette Jiwa is an Irish Australian author who began her writing apprenticeship as a blogger and non-fiction writer in her mid-forties. In 2019 she embarked on writing her debut novel, THE MAKING OF HER, which will be published in 2022.
What are good quotes from Difference?
“When you go the extra mile, people will know, and that knowing changes everything about how they feel about what you do.”
“Difference thinking’ is more than the ability to connect the dots, though. It’s about seeing the truth, recognising the opportunity in that truth and then acting on it. You need to learn how to see the dots and understand the significance of connecting them before you can begin.”
“the masses don’t want to feel like ‘the masses’.”
“The truth is that what really moves us is feelings, not facts.”
“give them a reason to care, a story they can believe in.”
“As soon as we open our eyes in the morning, what we want most is to matter, to live a life and to do a work that has meaning. We have evolved to feel this way. Man's first thought was 'I AM'.”
“It isn’t the person with the best idea who wins; it’s the person who has the greatest understanding of what really matters to people.”
“And increasingly what they care about is what the choices they make, and the things they consume, buy, share, or relate to, say about them.”
“what differentiates a good anything from a great anything you care to think about (business, movie, hotel, product, blog, book, packaging, design, app, talk, school, song, art… keep going) is that the great stuff, the things we give a damn about, have the heart left in them.”
Book details
- Print length: 110 pages
- Genre: Business, Nonfiction, Entrepreneurship
What are the chapters in Difference?
Chapter 1: Our Marketing-Made World
Chapter 2: Our Bell Curve Is Melting
Chapter 3: Made To Matter
Chapter 4: The Difference Model
What do critics say?
Here's what one of the prominent reviewers had to say about the book: "Have you wondered about that 'certain something' that makes an extraordinary business? Bernadette's stylish little book is that 'certain something' explained." — Mark Schaefer, Author of Return on Influence
* The editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, chapters, or takeaways. If you're interested in furthering your personal development, I invite you to check out my list of favorite personal development books page. On this page, you'll find a curated list of books that have personally impacted my life, each with a summary and key lessons.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
