Not intended to be a definitive list. Just trying to make a point.
Google: set out to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Did just that. Figured out how to monetize it and the rest was history.
YouTube: make something that was scarce (online video), ubiquitous, reliable and free. Make it easily searchable. Give it logical spotlighting (e.g., top, favorited by…). Perfect sharing tools to the point that you become the viral favorite.
iPod: put your entire music library on the go. Make it easy to buy individual songs. Instantiate a workflow that is seamless, natural and fun to use. Reward people for loving their music.
eBay: create a predictable online marketplace that has a “national” footprint, scales down to small transactions and scales up to high dollar items.
Amazon: first and foremost, be a great retailer. Deliver product breadth and depth. Be an honest source of product reviews. Live to the credo of being a "safe choice" in online ordering.
And that ends the first half.
