“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.” Muriel Strode

I found this quote earlier this week and absolutely love it! What a great thought.

This made be thing of Apple. I am an Apple convert. I just switched from PC to Mac a few months back and this quote really tells what is going on in the software/pc/mobile phone industry. While Apple does not have the large market share that Microsoft does, they are truly the innovation leader.

So, let me tell you my story. I was a Microsoft guy. Microsoft everything, software, phone etc. I made fun of people that had Macs. I was a jerk! Closed minded. About 2 years ago my wife bought a MacBook. She was starting her masters degree in education. She listened to her brother who is a “Mac Guy”. He talked about how much easier it was to use a Mac, how it was a more stable operating system, yada, yada, yada. She had some initial growing pains, but she figured it all out. (without a lot of help from me.)

About six months ago I upgraded my phone to an iPhone. Oh, was I hooked. Awesome phone, just awesome.

So, I played with my wife’s MacBook. It was pretty cool. It worked.

At work I have a very crapy Dell that has XP. The more I use it, the slower it gets. I had the IT guys re-image the laptop – no good, still slow and crapy…. I could take it no longer.

Came time for me to get a personal laptop. I am working on my PhD and needed a laptop to do all the writing. I did my research. I wanted a MacBook Air – but ended up getting a MacBook because MicroCenter had a $200 rebate. $799 for a MacBook – not bad.

OK – back to the purpose of this post. Look at the trail that Apple is leaving. The innovation with the iPhone. What the iPhone has done for mobile apps. M-Commerce is now a reality. That is innovation. Now look at the Mac’s. I recently installed a TimeCapsule – how cool is it to walk in the house, open the lid to your MacBook and have it automatically get backed up. That is cool. I also set up my stereo system with a AirPort Express so I can play my iTunes wireless from my laptop. Too cool. Then look at the long tail of iTunes and what it has done for the music industry. Apple TV is up next. Wait till that changes the way we watch our movies and tv shows.

Compare this to Microsoft. I remember when you would have a major release of either the OS or Office every year. Now, nothing. They have lost their innovation spark. Vista was a joke, IE is losing its monopoly to FireFox. I really like the new Safari BTW.

I think there is a lesson here for any business professional. Don’t look at your competition and react, leave the path and make your own trail. Make your own path, don’t follow someone else. That is a great lesson.

BTW – can’t wait to get the new iPhone!!!

Chris Reighley is an eCommerce marketing professional, online consumer behavior expert and social marketing evangelist. He is currently working on a PhD in eCommerce for Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Arizona.  Chris owned and operated many ecommerce retail stores in the music, golf and health & beauty categories.  Currently Chris is the Director of eCommerce at FillTek in Cincinnati, Ohio where he works with online retailers such as Hugo Boss, Tretorn, Tommy Hilfiger and Bluefly