Summary of the Core Content
This article uses the classic "only deliver the brain" concept from "The Three-Body Problem" to break down a counterintuitive business mindset that overcomes obstacles. Ordinary people tend to wait until everything is ready before starting a project, thinking that tasks cannot be completed due to a lack of funds or manpower. However, the "only deliver the brain" approach takes a different approach: it identifies the core element that is 100% essential for success and cannot be replaced by anything else, and then cuts out all the unnecessary intermediate steps. These steps can be outsourced or handed over to users/partners. Even if the final product is not complete, as long as the core value is delivered, the task can still be accomplished. The article cites examples from companies like Nike, IKEA, ARM, and Visa to show that this "streamlining" mindset has driven industry transformations multiple times. With the advent of AI, this mindset will further reshape the way organizations are structured. In the future, you won't need to own factories, employees, or offices; you only need to maintain the core ideas and rules, and all execution tasks can be handled by external resources as needed.
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Detailed Analysis of the Content
1. The "Wait until everything is ready" mindset is the biggest obstacle for most people
The common assumption is that to start a project, you need to have everything in place—funding, directors, actors, and post-production resources. Without any of these, the project cannot begin. However, the "only deliver the brain" approach suggests listing all the requirements and eliminating those that are not essential. The remaining, non-core steps can be outsourced or delegated, allowing you to focus on the most critical parts. For example, in filmmaking, you can eliminate tasks like casting, renting venues, and post-production; with AI, these can be done at low cost, and a small budget can still lead to a finished film.
2. The history of business shows that streamlining leads to greater profitability
Over the past few decades, top companies have competed to eliminate non-core elements. Nike, for instance, outsourced all its manufacturing to factories, focusing only on designing new products and advertising. ARM stopped producing specific chips, providing design templates that could be used by others. This strategy reduced costs significantly and made them more competitive.
3. IKEA turned "delegating tasks to customers" into a competitive advantage
IKEA initially faced challenges with shipping large furniture. By breaking down the products into smaller parts and shipping them separately, they reduced costs and improved customer convenience. This not only saved money but also increased customer satisfaction, making them the world's largest furniture brand.
4. Visa transformed into a global payment platform with a set of rules
Visa started as a failing company but realized that it couldn't establish a global network of physical branches. By establishing a unified payment standard, it became the dominant player in the payment industry, earning profits from every transaction without owning any physical assets.
5. AI makes the "only deliver the brain" approach accessible to everyone
AI eliminates the need for many traditional resources. It allows companies to automate tasks, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. In the future, anyone with a core idea and rules can use AI tools to manage projects that previously required a large team.
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In summary, the "only deliver the brain" mindset offers a practical and innovative way to overcome obstacles. By focusing on the core elements and delegating non-core tasks, companies can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and become more competitive. This mindset is particularly valuable for small businesses, as it allows them to share the workload with customers, reducing costs and providing benefits to both parties. With AI, this approach becomes even more accessible, transforming the way organizations are structured.