Understanding the authors incentives

I wrote last week about how lucky we are that ideas can be shared so easily these days.

But recently, someone (I can’t remember who!) made the point to me that much of the data thought leadership we’re consuming comes from data vendors with a product to sell.

And, while so much of it is great, they do also have strong incentives to promote an idea that aligns with their products.

This isn’t bad - again, the more ideas out there, the better! - but since that point was made to me I am thinking more about the authors incentives when reading their article, listening to their podcast, or reading their books.

That context helps me understand their point of view, and helps me decide what I should take from their content - and what I might choose not to.

Having this stuck in my head hasn’t changed what I consume - just how I consume it.