Iterate Weekly - Issue 155
This week we're talking about wallets becoming obsolete, college grads are underemployed, Impossible is getting meatier, In-N-Out & The Oscars, and 9 Ways to Make Housing for People!
Welcome to issue 155 of Iterate Weekly.
Hope you’re all doing well. This is just a friendly reminder that you can always reply directly to these messages or leave a comment on the Substack post. Feedback is highly encouraged and I’m happy to answer any and all questions that come up.
Thank you as always for reading!
🤖 Tech
Are wallets obsolete?
This may not come as much of a surprise to you, but apparently people aren’t carrying wallets as much as they used to.
Young people in particular are finding it much easier to get by carrying only a smart phone these days. And why is that? Sure, there are some obvious reasons, but let’s break it down.
More and more cars can be controlled via smartphone rather than a traditional key. So not only can we ditch our wallets, but that bulky key fob can be left at home too. And did you also have your house keys attached to that keyring as well? No problem, smart locks have become popular enough that your phone is the only key you need. And in my case, I love the super simple keypad to get access to my August smart locks even if I don’t have my phone on me.
Nearly all major credit cards can be saved to the mobile wallet app on your phone so no need to carry around that bulky stack of plastic in your wallet. And if you’re lucky enough to live in a handful of US states that currently offer it, you can carry around a digital version of your driver’s license as well. So what does the lowly wallet still have going for it? I guess maybe you can keep a stick of gum or something?
I do still carry my wallet around most of the time when I leave the house but it’s really only because it’s hard to break the habit. Maybe the bulkiest thing in my wallet these days is a digital tag to find it if I lose it. Hmm, I guess I can see the irony in that. I think it’s time for me to start trying more wallet-free adventures to see if any issues arise.
Anyone else out there still holding onto their wallets?
🎓 Education/Productivity/Work
College graduates are increasingly underemployed
It used to be pretty simple. You’d pick a college major. You’d study it for four-ish years. Then you’d graduate and find a job in that field. It was the universal way of operating for a generation no matter what your chosen profession.
These days, college graduates are having serious trouble finding those relevant jobs upon graduation.
Over half of graduates identify as being underemployed. This could have a few definitions but it essentially means that they’re not working or working a job that wouldn’t require the credentials they hold. And that’s not just a problem for the individual student, but it’s a significant issue for the higher education system as a whole.
Personally, I’m still a big believer in learning for the sake of learning rather than for a guaranteed paycheck. But that mentally doesn’t make sense for everyone. With the ever-rising cost of tuition, college becomes a much less appealing proposition if there isn’t a perceived monetary reward at the end of the journey.
♻️ Health/Environment/EVs
Impossible is getting meatier
I’ve been a vegetarian for all of my adult life, so I know a thing or two about the marketing of meatless products.
And I’m fascinated to see how Impossible Foods latest rebrand impacts their share in the ever-competitive plant-based meats industry.
Impossible has been one of the few thriving brands in an industry that hasn’t seen the expected growth we all thought it would. This rebrand is clearly going after a new segment of the population. Rather than green packaging that appeals to existing vegetarians, these bold new red designs really push the meatiness and taste of the product over any nutritional or environmental promises.
I think the brand deserves bonus points for the use of their new custom typeface they’re calling “sans meat”. You just can’t make this stuff up. Obviously, I’m a bit torn about the idea of masquerading plant-based meat as the real thing. But I can see why they’re going in this direction. It’s also fascinating to realize that nearly all fast-food restaurants in the U.S. rely heavily on the red color scheme. It’s almost like Impossible is just going to the well of what has influenced American appetites for decades.
Americans love meat and they identify it with the color red. So why not hit them with both and ditch all the green-ness of fake meat? It’s hard to argue with that logic and I’m curious to see how Impossible can grow its market share with this approach.
🛍 Grab Bag
How In-N-Out became the fast food chain of the Oscars
Let’s keep the beef discussion going shall we? We’re talking fast food burgers and movie stars!
In-N-Out Burger has somehow become the “it” brand that’s associated with The Oscars and it seems like an odd pairing. Or does it?
Maybe I’ve been out of the loop on this, but I’ve been watching The Oscars for years and only now realized that it’s a thing to get a burger from the iconic joint after winning a golden statue. Hmm.
I guess it is the perfect course correction for dressing up and trying to act proper and refined for a 3+ hour awards show. Or maybe it’s just great late night food after all the drinking. Either way, the brand is getting some amazing free publicity from stars like Ryan Gosling and Paul Giamatti.
It’s also possibly the least expensive food option available for some of the wealthiest celebrities so that juxtaposition could fuel the mystique. In-N-Out has been doing a lot of things right for years to establish a brand identity and an vibe of exclusivity for Californians (and now several other wester states) that outsiders wanted a part of.
And to tie into our previous story, In-N-Out does not offer any plant-based patties. But their famous secret menu will offer up some interesting options for grilled cheese several ways or you can opt for some extra thick tomato slices to enhance your “veggie burger” experience. Add some grilled onions and banana peppers and you have yourself a very unique meal that is miles away from an Impossible Burger but pair it with some fries and you have a satisfying meal when you’re admiring your new Oscar or just you know being a regular person.
💬 Quote of the Week
"Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within."
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
📕Content Recommendation
9 Ways to Make Housing for People
Here’s a fun book recommendation this week.
It’s called “9 Ways to Make Housing for People” from the folks at David Baker Architects.
Hmm, this might sound like an odd choice, but hear me out. David Baker Architects are responsible for building over 15,000 unique and mostly affordable homes around the U.S. with an emphasis on the Bay Area. If you’ve spent anytime in Hayes Valley over the last decade, you’ve undoubtedly seen some of their designs.
I recently attended a talk by David and two of his principal architects as they went over some of the concepts described in their new book. If you have any nerdy urban planning interests or just admire a well designed lobby or courtyard in a hotel or apartment building, you will love this book.
The illustrations are beautiful and it breaks down some complicated architectural concepts into common sense applications that we’ve all seen and appreciated but maybe couldn’t put our finger on why. Simple things like designing entryways to be more welcoming could make or break the decision for a new tenant to move-in.
Even if you don’t give a hoot about architecture, it makes for a thought-provoking coffee table read that you’ll find yourself flipping through again and again. And don’t be surprised if it changes the way you see and appreciate the buildings around you.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
Hey! Could you use some help establishing healthy habits? Do you have a big project or new business that you want to get off the ground but could use some advice? Maybe you could benefit from hiring me as your coach. If you’re interested, read more about my coaching services here, or go ahead and book some time on my calendar to discuss further.
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