Thanks for reading Must Reads this year, I trust you had a good 🎄, you got a break and for those who are working enjoy the peace and quiet today. This weeks this the last newsletter of 2019 and as promised is sharing many things to look forward to in 2020 and the interesting reads from the last week.

😍 The Must-Reads Of The Week 😍

2020 👓

• Here is what is going to positively impact your business in 2020?  

• The most important social media changes coming in 2020

• Strategies for leveraging GIFs, Instagram posts & TikToks for the new year 

Business 💼

• More than 1 million people worked Xmas day

• How Allbirds built their empire and it has all been sustainable

• I found this a really interesting read about why Chinese food is so popular and a tradition in America, but here is another side of the story of tradition Chinese restaurant closing down as second generation going to work in different environments (but is considered a good thing)

• Why eBay are going to continue to struggle against unbundling…namely from more niche marketplaces offering better value 

• Did you complete a home DNA test? Might want to think about the usage of it… Pentagon warnings about home DNA tests pose ‘personal and operational risks’

• Travis Kalanick sold all of his remaining Uber shares that equals over $2.7 billion. Here’s what he’s betting big on (Ghost Kitchens)  I often share updates about ghost or dark kitchen where you actually order from kitchens or unit specifically designed for take aways. Chances are you’ve likely ordered from at least one if you’ve used Deliveroo or top app in the US. Uber eats was a huge internal favourite at Uber and many reports suggests restaurants are losing dinners to take away or app based orders and money. Travis might have a few insights that will enable him to win again.

• What’s your favourite product of the decade? Here’s a pretty compelling case for zoom Zoom was one of many products that really shook up the b2b software stack, having a great product has moved the decision making from the IT pro to the internal staff. The likes of Slack, Box and Dropbox are prime examples of this and really took a consumer approach to boring b2b.

• Here is a great thread from Shopify CEO on his work life balance (it exists) and how working smart with great people is essential 

• Alternative view to what actually makes a “great leader”

Video Spotlight ⏯

I have been quite ill over the the past week, so I spent a lot of time watching numerous videos and YouTube videos between naps and feeling sorry for myself stuck in bed. Why these? Well, are you struggling to understand AI, ML and everything connected to it? These YouTube originals with Robert Downey Jr will really help. The second video has an incredibly touching video with an ex pro NFL athlete and Google working on speech recognition

Sometimes in the Western World we have a rough time or too many cameras on us, this video into China and the tech they have developed and used is incredible. Social credit is something I have referred to a number of times in this newsletter and shared professionally, don’t be surprised if these types of systems make their way to the West in coming years.

My Podcast Picks From 2019

• The missing cyrptoqueen - great podcast series from BBC, talks onecoin and the insane goings on.

• The anxious achiever podcast - if you have any anxiety or want to know how high performers cope, this podcast series is great and very honest.

The Future of Journalism in 2020

The rise of the journalistic influencer“How the hell are we going to empower citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing if they’re too bored to even bother?” Lauren Duca

My pick of the reads

Podcasting unsilences the silent Operationalising community engagement in and out of the newsroom Gen Z demand great products, we should be building them for the best news

Lastly, Happy New Year To You & Yours!

Here’s to 2020 and many more Must Reads.

As always, if you have any stories, feedback or want to discuss more personally happily DM me on Twitter (my DMs are open) or LinkedIn. Or email me with the button below.

Curated by Danny Denhard - About Me: 19 years in Marketing, Product, Business Leadership and Growth. I recently presented RIP to the CMO role presentation and write this weekly Must Reads Newsletter.

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