Middle Class Buzz

We've Moved!

2011-07-26T08:39:00.003-04:00

Just a quick programming note- Middle Class Buzz has moved. I will leave this site up for a while (at http://middleclassbuzz.blogspot.com) so you may access my older content.

My new home can still be reached at http://middleclassbuzz.com.

See you around!

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-07-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

"Each generation should be made to bear the burden of its own wars, instead of carrying them on, at the expense of other generations."

- James Madison

Chris Sacca interview with Kevin Rose.

2011-07-12T12:00:00.001-04:00

Just what I needed to see. Chris Sacca's story is pure hustle and pure inspiration.

Foundation 07 // Chris Sacca from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.

Buffett at Sun Valley

2011-07-11T12:00:00.002-04:00

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-07-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

“Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak arabic, love music, and never forget you come from a long line of truth seekers, lovers, and warriors."

- Hunter S. Thompson

Wendover Will

2011-07-07T12:00:00.000-04:00

Love my home state.

Photo courtesy of Andy Barron/Reno Gazette-Journal

"The Mother of All No-Brainers"

2011-07-06T12:00:00.003-04:00

"...the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative.

The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no.

The members of this movement do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities. A thousand impartial experts may tell them that a default on the debt would have calamitous effects, far worse than raising tax revenues a bit. But the members of this movement refuse to believe it.

The members of this movement have no sense of moral decency. A nation makes a sacred pledge to pay the money back when it borrows money. But the members of this movement talk blandly of default and are willing to stain their nation’s honor.

The members of this movement have no economic theory worthy of the name."

Great words by David Brooks (a moderate Republican) in the New York Times. We can't let political ideology, from either side of the aisle, get in the way of pragmatism.

Splitscreen: A Love Story

2011-07-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

Beautiful video. I adore both New York City and Paris. If you've traveled to either of these places, you'll know what I mean.

Splitscreen: A Love Story from JW Griffiths on Vimeo.

Message to the Axis Powers, 1944.

2011-07-04T18:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday, America!

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-07-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

“Show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past.”

-Jack London

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-06-24T21:53:00.000-04:00

“A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.”

- George Bernard Shaw

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-06-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

"Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it."

- Chinese proverb

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-05-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

"Only the paranoid survive."

- Andrew Grove

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-05-20T12:00:00.002-04:00

"You should never, when facing some unbelievable tragedy, let one tragedy increase into two or three through your failure of will."

- Charlie Munger

Trader Joe

2011-05-17T12:00:00.000-04:00

Cool little interview from the Los Angeles Times with the founder of Trader Joe's, Joe Coulombe. I try to do as much of my grocery shopping as I can at TJ's- the value they provide cannot be beat.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-05-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

"Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance."

- Kurt Vonnegut

Brian Wong on Foundation

2011-05-11T12:00:00.004-04:00

Fantastic glimpse into one of the minds of the next generation of tech entrepreneurs from Kevin Rose's "Foundation" interview series.

Foundation 05 // Brian Wong from Kevin Rose on Vimeo.

Munger on Sokol, tax rates, anger

2011-05-10T12:00:00.002-04:00

Bonus: Charlie Munger on Trump! Of course it's entertaining!

Why One Man Works

2011-05-03T12:00:00.001-04:00

This is, simply put, a damn good piece of non-fiction from a marvelous writer.

"The Loading Dock Manifesto" by John Hyduk from Esquire magazine.

Warren Buffett's Testimony

2011-05-02T12:00:00.002-04:00

At Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting over the weekend, they played this video. Twenty years ago this happened, and it's every bit as relavent today.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-04-30T11:23:00.000-04:00

"Lose money for the firm, and I will be understanding; lose a shred of reputation for the firm, and I will be ruthless."

- Warren Buffett, testifying to Congress on the corporate scandals that took place at Salomon Brothers back in the early 90's

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-04-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

- Teddy Roosevelt

Gary Vaynerchuk blows minds

2011-03-21T12:00:00.002-04:00

Gary V. blowin' minds on MSNBC.

Pay attention, business world. This is what's coming.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-03-18T12:00:00.000-04:00

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.

- Winston Churchill

Play the Cards That You Were Dealt

2011-03-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

There's no sense in spending time wondering why you aren't better off than other people around you.

Equally important is not spending time trying to figure out why you're so lucky while others around you suffer.

You have to play the hand that you were dealt. To do anything less is a sin.

Buffett On Executive Pay Excesses

2011-03-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

"...total shareholder return must take place before the executives are paid."

I think this should be a law. In one fell swoop, it would eliminate a great deal of bad behavior by incentivizing good management and stewardship.

Warren Buffett on pay excesses from Bloomberg.com.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-03-11T17:52:00.002-05:00

“There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else.”

-Andrew Carnegie

5 Easy Steps to a Quick Self-Esteem Boost

2011-03-07T12:00:00.004-05:00

1. Great friend from college, who also happens to be a savvy investor, forwards a prospectus to me from a company that's going public. He tells me he has his own opinion on the IPO, which he would be glad to share, but he'd love to hear mine first.

2. I take about a half hour to scan through the paperwork and quickly decide that it's not for me (and probably not for anyone else). For a variety of reasons.

3. I share my opinion with my college buddy, whose views were similar to mine.

4. And whaddaya know? Days later, I click over to the Wall Street Journal to find an article that confirms a lot of what I'd found on my own.

5. And boom, there it is. I love it when my investment calls are proven right.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-03-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

"Being early is the same thing as being wrong."

- Mark Suster

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-02-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

I made a deal with myself ten years ago- and I got ripped off.

- Homer Simpson

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-02-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

"It's hard to get a man to believe X when his living comes from believing in Y."

- Charlie Munger, as told to the blog "Mungerisms".

Privacy in the internet age

2011-02-16T12:00:00.002-05:00

Some thoughts on privacy in the age of the internet, courtesy of Mike Skinner of The Streets.

The Gateway to the West

2011-02-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

What Technology Wants

2011-02-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time- author Kevin Kelly explains what the title of the book means here on TechCrunch TV.

I do not fear technology for many of the same reasons that other people fear it for. Definitely some interesting things to think about.

Godin on TechCrunch TV

2011-02-12T12:00:00.004-05:00

"Yelling at people is going away."

Seth Godin on the role of technology in the post-industrial age.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-02-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

"Do unto others. How much deeper into religion do we really need to go?"

- Jack Nicholson

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-01-29T13:06:00.002-05:00

"A man who cannot be enticed by money or intimidated by the threat of jail or death has two of the strongest weapons that anyone has to offer."

- Jesse Jackson

Silver State of Mind

2011-01-25T12:00:00.002-05:00

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-01-21T12:00:00.003-05:00

"You'll never see a hearse with a luggage rack."

- Mike Ness, from the song "Can't Take It With You" by Social Distortion

Reaching up, to the moon

2011-01-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

The Slow-News Movement

2011-01-18T12:00:00.001-05:00

You've heard of the slow-food movement. How about the slow-news movement?

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of The Economist. It never dawned on me prior to this week, though, that one of the main reasons I like it so much is that it only comes out once a week. It would seem like that schedule would be inadequate for staying current in this day and age; if a major news story breaks on a Friday, it won't show up in the pages of The Economist until a week later* (the magazine is published on a Thursday). Information is so rapid-fire that one can't stay informed if they only read a weekly periodical, right?

Well, I've found the opposite to be true. When you think about it, most news can wait. Unless you are a trader on Wall Street or you are going to be affected by an emergency situation nearby, you don't need up-to-the-minute breaking news. I would even argue that constantly receiving rapid fire information is bad for you, but that's another post for another day.

The advantages for newspapers that only publish once a week or once a month are these: they have more time to digest a story, more time to analyze it, more time to get every angle, and more time to let it play out. They have less time to make mistakes, less pressure to report before the competition, and less opportunity to give out bad information.

I saw this happen during the tragic shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. In the hours immediately after the shooting, no single news organization had any idea what was going on, and most of them reported that Congresswoman Giffords was murdered. They got the story horribly wrong in a rush to beat the competition. There was no time to get the facts right, let alone provide intelligent analysis of the situation. The result was misinformation that caused fear and confusion.

Contrast that experience with The Economist, who reported on the story in the print pages of its magazine a week later. They had the facts and the proper time to look at the big picture, helping them bring a brilliant analysis of gun control in the U.S. that seemed to be lost on most other media outlets.

My point is this- most news stories can wait, and it's helpful to filter the noise that reaches you. The noise that does reach you should be as accurate as possible, and it should be delivered with thoughtful insight and analysis. This is impossible to obtain via the 24 hour television news channels, most websites, Twitter and Google email alerts.

For all the talk about old-school print journalism collapsing due to technology and the web, is it really possible that taking extra time to report a story could be turned into a competitive advantage? I believe it is, and I think this is something that every major news organization should be thinking about when considering strategies for staying relevant and building franchises that readers will value.

The slow-news movement. You should think about joining.

*note: The Economist is able to mitigate the lack of immediacy of the print edition with their website, providing a great complement with daily updates and breaking news.

King. RIP.

2011-01-17T12:00:00.001-05:00

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. "

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-01-14T12:00:00.004-05:00

"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are."

- Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Jack Dorsey on Charlie Rose

2011-01-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

The mastermind behind two of my favorite products, Twitter and Square, on Charlie Rose the other night.

Incredibly clear, concise interview on what design means and what's ahead for the future of technology.

I posted a couple of clips below; click here for the full interview.

Cuban

2011-01-12T12:00:00.002-05:00

Love Mark Cuban. In this interview with Howard Lindzon of StockTwits, it's not hard to see why.

Pop-up ice skating rink

2011-01-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Andrés

2011-01-10T12:00:00.009-05:00

"... when I hear we do strange things, I don't get it. For me, it's more strange to have a ham and cheese sandwich with Coke."

- José Andrés on the future of food.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2011-01-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.

- Anonymous

Of Banks, Restaurants and Monthly Fees

2011-01-06T16:56:00.001-05:00

I was reading an article on the new service fees that Bank of America and others are considering to make up for lost revenue due to new Federal regulation this morning when something caught my eye. JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon spoke up about new fees that his bank was considering charging:

"If you're a restaurant and you can't charge for the soda, you're going to charge more for the burger."

There are obviously a thousand reasons why a bank is nothing like a restaurant; any fool could list a few of them. But bank execs and their companies reap billions of dollars annually by convincing you, the consumer, that they do in fact make money the same way that businesses like restaurants do.

They don't. Let me break it down for you.

Banks make money by taking the money that you deposit with them, and loaning it out to others at higher interest rates than they are paying you. This spread is what they use to operate their firms and hopefully turn a profit with. Anything else they charge you is just extra revenue- and people have gotten so used to the fees and charges, that they don't even think of it anymore.

The truth is, banks make enough money on this interest spread alone. You should never pay monthly fees for having a checking account, doing balance transfers, overdraft protection, checks, etc. Let me repeat that. You should never, ever pay a bank for these things.

If financial regulation stopped a bank from making a profit on the spread in interest rates, then I'd allow Jamie Damon his comparison to charging more for burgers. But that's not what's happening. The service fees that Bank of America and Wells Fargo charge are pure profit; but talk to a banker and you'd think that they are the only thing keeping the lights on. It's dirty marketing and people fall for it.

There are a ton of reasons to drop your mega-bank (poor customer service, stingy interest rates, sub-prime mortgages... did I mention helping plunge us into recession?). This is yet another one. Find yours and get the hell out.

New Jersey beyond the Hudson

2011-01-06T13:41:00.002-05:00

Snow on the Highline.

2011-01-05T12:00:00.002-05:00

Creative Credit Card Destruction

2011-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

Bank Simple could have put any name on this credit card. They chose Joe Schumpeter.

Utterly briliant.

100 Things to Watch in 2011

2011-01-03T12:00:00.005-05:00

It's always fun to know what's on the horizon before the rest of the world catches up. I thought it would only be fair to share this great slideshow from JWT with you, so you know what to expect from 2011. A lot of this stuff is already happening, but it made the list for this year because it has yet to hit critical mass. Some of the other stuff is a bit further out I think, but what do I know? Debating these lists and speculating is what makes this so fun. I shared my ten favorites below the slideshow- because I think they are either the most interesting, the most realistic, or the most disrupting (or some combination of the three). I'd love to hear your favorites when you're through viewing. Leave 'em in the comments section and enjoy! Thanks to Fred Wilson and the always-wonderful AVC.com for the pointer.JWT: 100 Things to Watch in 2011

According to many food/beverage experts, beer is infinitely more complex and diverse than wine could ever be. Why not have a beer sommelier?

Mother Nature still can't be beat when it comes to design. Why not let her do some of the heavy lifting?

As much as I hate advertising everywhere, this was just too clever to leave out. It just makes sense.

I need a lot more of this in my life. I'm already trying to figure out ways to implement these breaks from tech.

This is going to be great for people like me that still use libraries... but what are the Amazons, Apples and the book publishers of the world going to think?

Lots of potential here. And by potential I mean value and efficiencies for both the consumer and the retailer. These don't come along too often.

I don't wish to be completely ignorant. But being able to filter out unimportant information is becoming more and more valuable to me.

I already do this. In a world in which it seems like everything is becoming cheap and commoditized, it feels great to own goods that feel rare and precious.

...and how do goods become rare or precious? Typically, by having an interesting story attached to them.

I through this on here because I happen to work right next to the Highline, and I consider it to be one of New York City's treasures. I'd like everybody to have one of these in their neck of the woods.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-12-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

"Vision is something that you have in your mind."

- Ray Charles

Sex sells. Even for Zagat, apparently.

2010-12-31T09:21:00.001-05:00

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-12-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney

Fred Wilson at the Paley Center

2010-12-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

Great interview and Q and A by Fred Wilson at the Paley Center for Media. I get a lot of my insights on the future of tech from reading Fred's blog, AVC.com, which I also recommend.

Watch live streaming video from paleycenter at livestream.com

Ten minutes with Vaynerchuk

2010-12-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

Great ten minute video with Gary Vaynerchuk, doing what he does best- schooling us lesser mortals on social media and how it's changing the business world.

One quote really stuck out to me, from Eric Schmidt of Google. I'll paraphrase: "There is as much content created every two days now as there was from the beginning of time until 2003."

Try and wrap your mind around that one, I dare you.

A Question and a Christmas Wish

2010-12-20T12:00:00.003-05:00

Imagine, for a few minutes, that you are a billionaire (or even a multi-millionaire), and Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have just talked you into signing The Giving Pledge. This pledge is a commitment to give away the majority of your wealth to a philanthropic endeavor of your choice. With me so far?

My question for you is, where would you put your money to work? Is there a cause that's close to your heart, and if so, why? If there are multiple concerns of yours, share them all- no need to stop at just one. I hope to hear back from as many of you as possible. If you don't want to comment publicly here on this blog, please email me, message me on Facebook, or DM me on Twitter.

I look forward to hearing your ideas. I'd like to use this data for a project I'm thinking of starting, so it's important to me that I get as many responses as I can. I'll share some of the results with you in the very near future, as well as comments on what needs I'd like to see met and why.

And also, my Christmas wish: if you are able, give a little to the cause that you just told me about. Even better would be to make a commitment that you will contribute to that cause on a regular basis over the coming new year. It doesn't have to be much and it doesn't matter to me what the cause is. It's a great practice to get into for everyone, no matter who you are.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-12-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

Would you rather be underpaid or overrated?

- Jay Z

The Curious Class

2010-12-15T11:00:00.024-05:00

Marketers, take note- for 2011, I'm predicting that the term "curious class" is going to take off like wild fire. It's not-too-distant cousin, the "creative class", was a phrase coined years ago by thought leader Richard Florida. Curiosity is often synonymous with intellectualism- which is often synonymous with affluence- so it's obvious why a marketer would want this demographic.

The Las Vegas Sun has a nice piece on an advertising campaign being waged by the all-new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (which, coincidentally, opens today). Their first commercial is aimed directly at this "curious" crowd. If I'm not mistaken, their marketing team created this term, so kudos to them.

The Curious Class. Be on the lookout for it.

Bob's Red Mill

2010-12-14T11:00:00.003-05:00

I haven't heard too many stories of an entrepreneur retiring from a company he founded like this- so in keeping with the spirit of this blog, I thought it warranted a mention.

Bob Moore, founder of Bob's Red Mill, chose to leave his company to his employees through an employee stock-ownership plan. He wisely surmised that the alternatives- selling his company to a larger competitor or the public through an IPO- would likely ruin the culture he spent decades building. Mr. Moore came to the conclusion that his employees and their livelihoods were more important than making a few extra bucks, so he let them take control.

I'd really like to see more businesses do this- if there are examples you know of, please send 'em to me. Employees (with or without ownership) are often looked at as second-rate citizens when it comes to investors, which is a huge mistake. Companies like Southwest have found that by putting employees above customers and shareholders, they could become more profitable and build a stronger culture.

Inc. Magazine has some good pointers on this topic, if you feel like employee stock ownership might be the right thing to do for your small/medium/large business. It's worth taking a look at- because like my pal Gary Vaynerchuk says, "legacy > currency".

Things I've Learned, Thirty of Thirty

2010-12-12T15:00:00.001-05:00

If your life isn't getting better as you get older, you're doing it wrong.

Things I've Learned, Twenty Nine of Thirty

2010-12-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

You gotta be willing to learn a lesson as many times as it takes for it to stick. Don't give up just because you keep making the same mistakes over and over again- you'll get it one of these days.

An Irishman explains the financial crisis

2010-12-11T11:00:00.001-05:00

I couldn't help but post this video (NSFW). I love this guy.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Eight of Thirty

2010-12-10T16:00:00.000-05:00

Knowing what you can change in this world, in this life- and what you cannot- is incredibly useful.

Useful in terms of knowing when to hold 'em, and when to fold 'em.

Useful in terms of knowing what's worth getting stressed out over, and what is not.

Useful in terms of knowing how to spend your relatively short time on this planet.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-12-10T10:00:00.003-05:00

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Seven of Thirty

2010-12-09T16:00:00.001-05:00

Only a fool would allow perception to act as a substitute for reality.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Six of Thirty

2010-12-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

The concept of "what got you here, won't get you there" should be required curriculum in business school.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Five of Thirty

2010-12-08T10:00:00.005-05:00

The ones who refuse to complain never get enough credit for it.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Four of Thirty

2010-12-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

You don't have to be a billionaire to engage in philanthropy.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Three of Thirty

2010-12-06T10:00:00.002-05:00

Extraordinary people don't always expect to be treated in an extraordinary manner; but if you want to keep them in your life, you can't treat them just like everybody else.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-Two of Thirty

2010-12-05T10:00:00.008-05:00

Humility is a pre-requisite for leadership. Leaders often need guidance from their people- if you can't humbly seek this, you have no business being a leader.

Things I've Learned, Twenty-One of Thirty

2010-12-04T10:00:00.007-05:00

Anger can be harmful, there's no doubt; but anger is also a powerful motivator for positive change. I don't know where I'd be in life, and what causes I would or would not have stood up for if it wasn't for anger.

My Artisan Hotel Review

2010-12-03T15:00:00.002-05:00

My very first hotel review was just published by my good friends over at VegasTripping.com. Go take a look and let me know what you think. I had a good time shooting pictures and jotting down my thoughts while I was staying there, so expect to see more of that type of thing. Have a great weekend!

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-12-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

"In 20 years, you will be more disappointed by what you didn't do than by what you did."

- Mark Twain

Things I've Learned, Twenty of Thirty

2010-12-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

Gracefully accepting a compliment is more difficult than gracefully accepting harsh criticism.

Things I've Learned, Nineteen of Thirty

2010-12-01T10:00:00.003-05:00

Rebellion calls for participating in the systems that you don't agree with.

Sitting on the sidelines out of protest is almost never effective- the world is ran by those that show up and get involved.

Things I've Learned, Eighteen of Thirty

2010-11-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

Learn to like doing those things you have to do, yet hate. That way, you'll never have to do anything you don't want to.

Things I've Learned, Seventeen of Thirty

2010-11-29T10:00:00.001-05:00

Traveling is not optional.

Traveling can positively impact your life in ways that cannot be measured.

Things I've Learned, Sixteen of Thirty

2010-11-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Oysters, black coffee, beer and sushi.

The foods and beverages you have to acquire a taste for become the flavors you can't live without.

I guess because you have to work so hard at it.

Risk = Reward.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-11-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

"We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."

- Charles Bukowski

Things I've Learned, Fifteen of Thirty

2010-11-25T10:00:00.003-05:00

Don't wait for the turkey and stuffing to be served- find something to be thankful for every day, no matter how trivial.

Things I've Learned, Fourteen of Thirty

2010-11-24T10:00:00.001-05:00

Be wary of those who call themselves "idea people".

Ideas are a dime a dozen. Converting ideas, dreams and strategies into reality- that is the rare gift.

If someone is too important to be bothered with the "details", it's probably because they don't understand the details and couldn't manage them even if they wanted to.

Things I've Learned, Thirteen of Thirty

2010-11-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

If your plans revolve around the desire to tell great stories, you'll never have a dull life.

Things I've Learned, Twelve of Thirty

2010-11-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you wouldn't say it out loud, don't write it in an email.

Things I've Learned, Eleven of Thirty

2010-11-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

A little at a time. Two steps forward and one step back can be frustrating, but at the end of the day, it's still progress.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-11-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

"No is easier to do. Yes is easier to say."

- Jason Fried

Things I've Learned, Ten of Thirty

2010-11-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

Maximize the pleasure you derive from the things you have to do- eating, sleeping, and getting dressed don't have to be mundane activities. They can actually be the best parts of your day.

Things I've Learned, Nine of Thirty

2010-11-17T10:00:00.001-05:00

Before you invest in stocks, bonds, frozen orange juice futures, or whatever, invest in yourself.

Buy a suit and read some books. It's difficult to make the big investments when you haven't laid the foundation. The foundation is you.

Thoughts on Facebook's "Messages"

2010-11-16T13:00:00.019-05:00

Yesterday, Facebook announced their long-awaited "Messages" product. For those of you who aren't up to speed on what this is, feel free to check out the video below from TechCrunch.

I've been reading a lot of comments from people who don't like this product and don't intend to use it. While I'm not a big Facebook fan either, I do think that this product will solve a problem that I've been having for a while. And if I'm having it, I'm sure many others are, too.

I don't like using Facebook to communicate with people. I don't like when people use Facebook to try and communicate with me, even though I understand why they do. For me, email is just quicker. It achieves the same goal as logging into Facebook, finding a recipient, and then sending them a message. When someone uses Facebook to send me a message, I get it in an email, and then if I need to reply I'm forced to log in to Facebook and repeat this process. What I've wanted is a seamless way to communicate with people who prefer using Facebook, without having to log into Facebook myself. And it seems as though Messages will accomplish this. If I'm understanding the product correctly, I should be able to reply to an email from Facebook containing a message and have my response reach that person either on Facebook or in their inbox. I get to communicate in a way that's efficient for me, and they get to communicate in a way that works for them.

Messages won't be an email killer; at least not any time soon. People are going to have another tool to exchange information and ideas, and that's a good thing. Many, including younger generations, will prefer this to email, and that's fine. I'm just happy to have a solution to my Facebook email problem. It's a win-win.

Things I've Learned, Eight of Thirty

2010-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

There are very, very few amazing albums that have more than 10 or 12 songs on them. It just doesn't happen.

Things I've Learned, Seven of Thirty

2010-11-15T10:00:00.000-05:00

You'll never have to get great at playing defense as long as you have a magnificent offense.

Think in these terms: procrastination = defense, and
initiative = offense.

Things I've Learned, Six of Thirty

2010-11-13T10:00:00.001-05:00

The things you choose not to do are almost always more important, more critical, and more life-changing than the things that you choose to do.

Wisdom for the Weekend

2010-11-12T10:00:00.001-05:00

‎"Cologne should never linger longer than the man wearing it"

- Ralph Lauren

Things I've Learned, Five of Thirty

2010-11-11T10:00:00.002-05:00

Gain an appreciation for craft beer- but never find yourself unable to knock back a Bud Light with someone who doesn't have that same appreciation.

Things I've Learned, Four of Thirty

2010-11-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Send snail mail. Thank you notes, postcards or long letters. I recommend finding someone on Etsy to customize something for you. It shows class and helps you stand out, and it's fun to say you have someone who designs your stationary for you. In this competitive day and age, you're going to need every edge you can get.

Things I've Learned, Three of Thirty

2010-11-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

People aren't always going to criticize you in constructive, tactful ways. Don't let the offense you take at someone's bluntness cause you to miss out on useful advice.

Things I've Learned, Two of Thirty

2010-11-08T10:00:00.001-05:00

Never buy anything on impulse*. Ever.

If you see something you want, hold off on buying it for a couple of days. 99% of the time, you won't end up buying it and you won't suffer buyer's remorse.

*This rule does not apply to food. Why? Because we don't take enough joy in eating in the United States, and we may as well make the most out of something we have to do anyway.

Things I've Learned, One of Thirty

2010-11-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

You have to sell yourself to others, at least at the beginning. You may think that because you are talented, you can skip the selling part; and later on you may be able to. But first you have to prove to people that you don't need to sell yourself, and the only way you can do that is by selling yourself. At least at the beginning.