Hi Reader,
Since my first startup was into mobile repairing & refurbished devices, I've always been embroiled in the Apple - Android battle. In fact even today (8 years later), I still carry both! But what I love foremost is the Apple 'brand' & community that they create with their events. (Samsung tried it, but feel short. Google seems to be doing a much better job, though, because of their extended ecosystem).
So you must have guessed what today's topic would be. Apple launching the iPhone 17 Air last week, with the headlines focused on how thin (5.6mm) and light (165 grams) it is. While the Apple naysayers (& Google ads) made fun of how the design hasn't changed, but the power of community speaks otherwise. They have received record pre-order numbers in India & even in China (where the iPhone 17 Air is delayed due to only-eSIM functionality). How?
It's the power of subtraction over addition.
- It's a smaller battery, yet still lasting 27 hours
- A simplified camera system delivering 48 MP results
- No physical SIM slot - only eSIM. (In the US, iPhone 16 also only comes with an eSIM)
In a market obsessed with “more” - be it more cameras, bigger batteries, extra sensors, 2 SIMs & an AD card - Apple went the opposite way. They didn’t just remove parts, they turned limitations into selling points.
- The notch wasn’t engineered away; it became the Dynamic Island.
- The bulky camera bump on the thinnest iPhone? It became the Plateau.
- Removing a sensor? That became the Fusion Camera.
Apple doesn’t treat limitations as problems. They reframe them into features people celebrate.
This lesson transcends technology.
- In life, we often pile on more responsibilities, skills, or commitments in search of progress. But true clarity comes from subtracting the non-essential, focusing instead on what drives real impact.
- In business, many try to serve every client or tackle every opportunity. But resilience comes from saying no - to misaligned clients, distracting projects, or unnecessary complexity - and focusing on what aligns with your core mission.
- The brilliance isn’t in having less. It’s in choosing better.
This is more than product strategy. It’s a masterclass in storytelling and reframing.
In your work - whether it’s marketing, leadership, or personal growth - how often do you view problems as roadblocks versus opportunities to reframe the narrative?
Let’s embrace subtraction as a superpower. Because sometimes, your biggest weakness becomes your strongest message.
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We just dropped Episode 99 of "Brain Box - The Leadership Podcast" which was voted 9th pan-India by Spotify in 2022:
Youngest ever guest (16-year old) in 99 episodes! Meet Anakh, the CEO of RiceKids.
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Fundamental difference between a "Good Client Mindset" & a bad one.
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Actual PR Case Study of how we helped an educational org.
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