Weekly Reflections: What’s My Edge, Why Rush to Fly, and the Beauty of Impermanence
Three lessons on strategy, growth, and embracing the present — actionable in
There are only two ways to truly internalize knowledge:
- Making mistakes (to discover what you don’t know)
-Digesting then outputting (explaining it in your own words).
Hence, I’m following the Weekly I/O model: each week, I summarize what I’ve learned or recalled in bullet points, to organize my mind and force myself to keep growing.
生命經驗告訴我，將「知識」有效內化的方式唯二：
- 犯錯（因而知道「你所不知道」的事）
- 咀嚼後輸出（用「你的語言」 說一遍）
於是我決定模仿 Weekly I/O，將自己每週所學（或偶然想起的觀點），以列點、摘要的形式寫下來，一方面整理腦子，另一面強迫自己必須定期長腦。
以下是我的本週「咀嚼」：
1. Cut decisively — avoid the innovator’s dilemma
當斷則斷，避免「創新的兩難」
The innovator’s dilemma: companies focus on current customers and markets, miss paradigm shifts, and fail to embrace disruptive innovation — ending up overtaken by new entrants.
Classic cases: Nokia/iPhone, Microsoft PC vs. iOS & Android, Blockbuster/Netflix.
The Browser Company’s recent pivot from Arc to Dia is a live example. Arc, a Chrome-based browser with standout UI/UX, achieved:
- Over a million users globally
- A loyal fanbase, with “Arc is the savior” vibes
- $550M company valuation
「創新的兩難」（The Innovator’s Dilemma）是個經典困境，成功的企業因為「專注在既有的客戶跟市場」，因為忽略（或意識到但已來不及）新的典範轉移（Paradigm Shift），反而無法「擁抱破壞式創新」，最終被新進者超車。
經典案例如 「Nokia / iPhone」、「微軟的 PC 主義 / iOS and Android」、「百視達 / Netflix」族繁不及備載，我也懶得多談，反正 You get the point。
近期新創 The Browser Company 選擇「棄 Arc、投 Dia」的戰略，讓我回想起「創新的兩難」。Arc 是一款從 Chrome 改造而來、令人驚艷無比的瀏覽器，其絲滑、處處為 user 著想的 UI / UX，使它成功：
- 在全球累積破百萬用戶
- 用戶死忠、熱愛這個產品，討論的風氣彷彿「Arc 是救世主 」
- 讓公司估值達到 5.5 億美元
But behind the scenes:
- Never became a phenomenon (unlike ChatGPT)
- Signature features rarely used (Space 5.52%, Live Folders 4.17%)
- Rushed releases led to technical debt and performance bottlenecks
After tough reflection, CEO Josh Miller ended Arc’s development and pivoted to AI with DIA — upsetting loyal fans and drawing negative YouTube comments.
但在光鮮亮麗的背後，這家公司和其產品卻面臨：
- 始終無法變成「現象級產品」（至少不是 ChatGPT 那種）
- 引以為傲的「亮點」，其實鮮少人使用（Space 5.52%, Live Folders 4.17%）
- 倉促 Ship 產品，累積的技術債已導致產品出現「效能瓶頸」、「疊床架屋」
在痛定思痛後，CEO Josh Miller 宣布停止開發 Arc，轉向 AI 戰場，最終推出了 DIA，這個決定讓 Arc 的死忠粉絲們感到背叛，導致這家新發布的 Youtube 影片充滿負面言論。
I once felt resentment toward the company’s decision, but after setting aside my emotions, I realized:Arc’s pivot to Dia reveals a classic innovator’s dilemma!
- Arc operated in a saturated, non-disruptive market; growth was capped from the start.
- Dia targets a blue ocean: everyday life redefined by AI, with far less direct competition
Google and Microsoft browsers have integrated Gemini/Copilot, but legacy user bases and antitrust risks prevent bold AI adoption.
Apple is late to AI and is acquiring Perplexity to catch up; Comet will likely compete head-to-head with Dia.
Brave, Firefox, and similar browsers remain in the traditional space and are not current threats.This is a textbook case of the innovator’s dilemma and blue ocean strategy in action!
My reflections:
- Sustainable advantage requires honest self-assessment and strategic focus.
- What is my edge, and will it still be an edge in the future?
- Avoid crowded markets and fighting entrenched strengths.
- Seek blue oceans — find spaces where your strengths are unique and competition is scarce.
對於這家公司的決定，我也曾感到憤恨，但撇開情緒後，不難發現：
- Arc 位處紅海市場，它的創新並非破壞式，注定長不大，
- DIA 則相反，瞄準了「AI 重塑後的，人們生活日常」這個藍海市場
目前 Google / 微軟的瀏覽器，雖已導入 Gemini / Copilot，但受限於其龐大的傳統用戶基數、反壟斷訴訟可能，仍無法大刀闊斧導入 AI。
在 AI 領域上明顯慢半拍的 Apple ，則嘗試併購 AI 搜尋新創 Perplexity 來跟上趨勢（後者正準備推出 AI Browser Comet, 多半會和 Dia 直接競爭）
至於其他的 Brave / Firefox 等，則仍停留在傳統瀏覽器的戰場，不構成威脅。
這不是藍海市場是什麼？這就是一次處理「創新的兩難」的經典情境呀！
我反思是：
- 我有什麼優勢？它在未來還是一種優勢嗎？
- 不要去人多的地方、對抗他人的既有優勢
- 尋藍海，尋找「你的優勢無可取代，人又少」的地方
2. Don’t try to fly before you can run
還不會跑，別想著飛
I once nurtured a “little devil” — full of potential, so I gave everything, hoping it would shine and take on real responsibility.
I shared my fruits, taught how to plant, even how to tell the world about your own harvest — wanting this seed to become an angel: value-driven, visible.
But it grew into something showy, obsessed with performance, blind to whether it brought value to the group or the world.
This left me questioning: I tried to build a culture of morale, mutual support, and value, leading by example — so where did I go wrong?
Mentor’s advice:
- If you model self-promotion before someone understands value, you risk growing a weed, not a tree.
- Maybe, to them, I am the “little devil” I complain about.
My reflections:
- Lay the groundwork first. Don’t try to fly before you can run.
- Beware the trap of form without substance.
我曾親手培育出了一隻「小惡魔」。
初來乍到的它，看似潛力無限，於是我傾囊相授、希望它發光發熱，終能承擔大任。
我有果實就分享，也教它如何種樹、如何向他人宣揚「自己種的果子多棒」；我希望它變成一個「致力於創造價值，同時也會被看見」的天使。
但它卻變成了一個好大喜功、熱愛表演，卻不關注自己「對大環境、對大家是否有價值」。
這件事讓我很疑惑，我希望打造一個士氣高昂、人人互助、價值導向的氛圍，也言行一致、避免自己變成錯誤榜樣，究竟哪裡出了差錯？
我向前輩請教，得到以下回饋：
- 我在對方尚未理解「價值為何物」時，就先示範了「怎麼大聲宣揚自己」
- 這導致心性未穩的幼苗，在因緣輾轉下，長成了毒瘤
- 說不定它眼中的我，就是我現在口中的「小惡魔」
我的反思是：
- 紮穩馬步很重要，還不會跑，別想著飛
- 且忌「只得其形，未得其髓」
3. Cherish the present — A thing isn’t beautiful because it lasts
珍惜當下，事務並非因其長存而美好
This is Vision’s classic line from Avengers: Age of Ultron, reflecting two ASIs’ opposing views on humanity — one sees us as doomed and imperfect, the other finds beauty in impermanence.
這是 Avengers: Age of Ultron 裡 Vision 的經典台詞，映照出兩個 ASI (人工超級智慧）對人類的不同態度，一者認為注定消亡（Doomed）的人類是「不完美的」，一者則認為「事物並非因其長存而美好」。
Vision offers more wisdom:
- “There is grace in their failings.”
- “What is grief, if not love persevering?”
Whoever wrote these lines truly has great wisdom!
I gave this line to a friend who was stuck in doubt, afraid to invest in something that might not last.
Whatever our state, we’re already our best selves — there’s nothing to fear, nothing to hesitate over. Live boldly. The real regret is never having tried.
My reflections:
• Don’t fear failure; it’s the best way to learn.
• Fully experience the present, not just chase permanence.
• You’re already at your best — go for it.
Vision 還有很多金句，例如：
- 失敗有其優雅之處（There is grace in their failings）
- 何謂悲傷？不正是因為愛仍堅持不懈（What is grief, if not love persevering）
寫出這些句子人真有些大智慧！
我將這句話，送給了近期自我疑慮的一位朋友，其裹足不前，不敢投資一項可能不會永久的項目。
不管我們的狀態如何，我們都已經是「最佳版本的自己」，所以沒有什麼好怕、好猶豫的，勇敢的體驗你的人生，人生的真正遺憾是「當時自己什麼都沒做」。
我的反思：
- 不要怕失敗，因為失敗是學習最好的途徑
- 全力體驗當下，而非追求事物的長存
- 我們都已經在自己的 Best version, go for it!
