I'm not sure I really get what the author is trying to say by app versus business.
In terms of what Evernote (and Dropbox for that matter) did, there is a really simple term for this: execution. It is what separates those companies from their competitors in an industry that most probably saw too competitive. This video about Dropbox shows how they did it and I imagine Evernote's success story is no different:
I think I get his point. Not sure if app/business is the right terminology, but he's distinguishing between: building something "better" VS understanding how and why you will realistically win users/customers.
Well said. I have been meaning to write a blog post about this but you beat me to it.
This applies to everything. How many times have you seen the 'dumbest' As-Seen-On-Tv-Gadget and think, ZOMG I could have made a better version.
Guess what, that one is selling like hotcake and yours won't. Some times it's not even about the problem/solution, sometimes it's about the market opportunity. Once it is exploited - especially ones that don't solve a problem - it is gone.
More than app vs business it is idea vs execution. I say that because you might have an idea and build an app for it. The business prospects of it depend on the execution.
On it's own no app or business is nonsense or brilliant, it is the execution that makes a difference.
You can have the most tried and tested idea and execute it well by building the app and one day realise you have a business staring right in front of you.
Especially in Consumer internet, the chances of someone setting off to build a business are lesser. What most people do is scratch an itch and sometimes that solution just works for everybody else.
That is when you have a business. Not when you have mastered the art of selling to users. If that was the case every great business would have been made by the best of sales people. But as far as I know, Mark Z, Drew H, Sean P, Evan W are from from people who are good at selling. They are just great at executing.
In terms of what Evernote (and Dropbox for that matter) did, there is a really simple term for this: execution. It is what separates those companies from their competitors in an industry that most probably saw too competitive. This video about Dropbox shows how they did it and I imagine Evernote's success story is no different:
http://www.socrated.com/user_courses/226?content_item_id=168...