I agree with the main idea, but not with the Margherita metaphor, and here's why. Some things work perfectly as they are and don’t need to be improved. They thrive in their simplicity because they cater to both those who have plenty and want something minimal, and those who can't afford more. That’s why the Margherita works: it’s easy to make, accessible to everyone, and let’s be honest—you’d eat it if it were in front of you.
Let me share a story that illustrates the concept you're talking about: A long time ago, a man named Bíró invented the ballpoint pen—an amazing invention, right? But he couldn’t capitalize on it and eventually sold the patent to Marcel Bich. Bich made a few adjustments to Bíró’s design: he improved the ink flow, put the pen in a plastic casing so you could see the ink level, and gave it a hexagonal shape so it wouldn’t roll off tables—all while using cheaper materials. The Bic pen has remained unchanged for years... because it just works. The key is knowing when to innovate and when to stick with what already works.
The Margherita absolutely works, no doubt about it. My question is: is it your favourite pizza?
I do love the Biro anecdote, thanks for sharing it! It's really cool to see how small tweaks work so well. However, back to my point: not everyone loves Biros :)
Great point Gus! It reminds me of something fascinating about the 'wisdom of the crowd.' After 9/11, some researchers noted that Google search patterns seemed to hint at unusual activity before the event...a kind of emergent collective signal.
I think that solutions like the Margherita or Bic pen work because they align with collective intuition. They meet universal needs so effectively that they become timeless. But as you said, not everyone loves Biros (or even Margheritas). Maybe simplicity wins the masses, but individuality sparks passion. Balancing the two might be the ultimate challenge.
I agree with the main idea, but not with the Margherita metaphor, and here's why. Some things work perfectly as they are and don’t need to be improved. They thrive in their simplicity because they cater to both those who have plenty and want something minimal, and those who can't afford more. That’s why the Margherita works: it’s easy to make, accessible to everyone, and let’s be honest—you’d eat it if it were in front of you.
Let me share a story that illustrates the concept you're talking about: A long time ago, a man named Bíró invented the ballpoint pen—an amazing invention, right? But he couldn’t capitalize on it and eventually sold the patent to Marcel Bich. Bich made a few adjustments to Bíró’s design: he improved the ink flow, put the pen in a plastic casing so you could see the ink level, and gave it a hexagonal shape so it wouldn’t roll off tables—all while using cheaper materials. The Bic pen has remained unchanged for years... because it just works. The key is knowing when to innovate and when to stick with what already works.
The Margherita absolutely works, no doubt about it. My question is: is it your favourite pizza?
I do love the Biro anecdote, thanks for sharing it! It's really cool to see how small tweaks work so well. However, back to my point: not everyone loves Biros :)
Great point Gus! It reminds me of something fascinating about the 'wisdom of the crowd.' After 9/11, some researchers noted that Google search patterns seemed to hint at unusual activity before the event...a kind of emergent collective signal.
I think that solutions like the Margherita or Bic pen work because they align with collective intuition. They meet universal needs so effectively that they become timeless. But as you said, not everyone loves Biros (or even Margheritas). Maybe simplicity wins the masses, but individuality sparks passion. Balancing the two might be the ultimate challenge.