Today’s conversation is about the value of diversity in America. Several pundits forcefully argue that cultural diversity is, in fact , NOT a strength, but rather a liability. I would disagree and could back up my position with lots of historical, financial, empirical and anecdotal information. In short, a fact-based analysis supports the case for diversity. However, never mind that, for now.
Read MoreThe real challenge for a #Dreamforce18 newbie like myself is scheduling… Just how is it conceivable to hit as many relevant sessions as possible, work in the @Salesforce Customer Success Expo and hands-on training, meet with industry leaders and attend client mixers, and still have some time to eat and sleep?
Read MoreThe question is, “how much money is F-U money to you?” I hesitate to define the question—part of it’s charm is it’s ambiguity. Nevertheless, it should be obvious that at least part of the ask is about how much money you think you need not just to get by, but to defiantly do what the hell you want.
Read More“I have a soft spot for Pan Am. I took my first international flight on this airline in 1972, from Houston to Hong Kong via Honolulu and Tokyo. It took forever, including an overnight stop in Honolulu because back then, the aircraft could not span the Pacific Ocean non stop. I was a poor student, riding in the very back of the plane, but I recall the grandeur of the front and the general romance of the experience. What a great idea for Anthony Toth to recreate it in a very unique restaurant atmosphere near Los Angeles. I’m so there!”
Read MoreWhen I read this article by Richard Florida, entitled “The Global Tourism Backlash”, it reminded me of my own master’s thesis at George Washington University about the negative effects of international tourism on small Caribbean island nations. Back then, as now, tourists can overrun places, affecting the local culture, environment, transportation and economy. Back then, as now, tourism can also be a boon to the local economy and a force for positive change. These arguments are similar to those concerning the effects of urban gentrification. I can’t help but believe these conversations are also a backlash against the borderless world spawned by post- WWII globalization and the new fluidity of our urban and cultural boundaries. How can we maintain the benefits of this fluidity without turning every place of history and art into a theme park, or hipster watering hole? Who has the right to benefit (financially) from this? What happens when more than half of the planet, recently deemed “middle class or more” has the resources to travel to your city to see your great sites, clog your roads, and generally misbehave?
What rights must we have to maintain some semblance of “order”. Who is “WE” , anyway? And who are “THEY”?
Read MoreA lot has been written about the virtues and independence associated with being a small business owner. However, comparatively little attention is paid to the instinct of “going with the flow.” After all, entrepreneurs are usually Type A control freaks. However, being on and part of the water in a small boat will eventually inform you that you are not the thing, but rather just part of the process, and your job is often just to keep everything afloat and moving forward in the right direction.
Read MoreThis article describes another string that connects- expectations. We see what we expect to see. Only this time, research shows that those who choose to see the brighter side more often than not end up with the brighter outcomes. Did you expect something different?
Read MoreToday I take this moment to acclaim the week in our year that should not be known for its length, but rather for its balance.
Read MoreIn the gospel of Fred Rogers, children are our superiors in the way they trust each person they meet, the way they lack guile, the way a child can admit simple vulnerability.
Read MoreA lot of people I know are sick of hearing me say, “I hate attending investment pitches”. Those same lot of people will also hear me say, “I don’t watch Shark Tank. It makes me nervous.” While I appreciate the entertainment value of good pitches and also the fact that this seems to be the most accepted way for Founders to present their story to investors, pitches have become “the deal”. No. The DEAL is “the deal.” Can we just skip to that?
So with this surly attitude I sat down one day to hear Brittany Hill’s pitch her start-up SaaS platform, Catalist (www.gocatalist.com), which helps connect “companies with causes.” Within five minutes, I realized I was looking at something which could be truly transformational. Catalist uses the latest technology to bring nonprofit fundraising into a more modern era, and at the same time, employs the latest algorithms and data analytics to help corporations’ CSR (“corporate social responsibility’, i.e. their charitable giving programs) measure the impact of their efforts and also find new non profits which more closely aligned with their branding, customer base and mission.
I liked it so much I invested! However, my greatest hope is that Catalist will help great causes raise more money to have more far-reaching impact.
Read MoreWhen I discovered this list from Australian sociologist William D. Rifkin some 30 years ago, it blew my mind, because it had never occurred to me that many so-called “experts” are either self-designated or are crowd-designated by virtue of a ritualistic presentation of one’s self, and one’s material. This does not imply that there are no actual experts in the world, but rather that we should be a bit more discerning about the real ones and the poseurs.
What does it take to be regarded as the voice of authority? Here are twenty-five tips to gain “expert status”, to be recognized as an expert or perhaps just to be able to recognize when somebody is trying to make you think they are an expert.
Read More“All great restaurants are manifestations of their place and time,” said Buley. He continued, “What purer manifestation of place than heirloom grains that only grew here?”
Read More“Most of us are lucky to see Paris once in a lifetime. Please, make the most of it by doing as little as possible. Walk a little. Get lost a bit. Eat. Catch a breakfast buzz. Have a nap. Try and have sex if you can, just not with a mime. Eat again. Lounge around drinking coffee. Maybe read a book. Drink some wine. Eat. Repeat.” -Bourdain
Read More"Texas politicians' position should be to improve and prolong Nafta, but they seem to be trying to show party solidarity, and are not speaking up." -Ray Brimble, in a recent article by BBC news
Read MoreI love Toms Shoes LLC. I thought their original business plan was enlightened and impactful. The person(s) in charge of their giving program around the world, Jessica Shortall, is one of my favorite people in the world. Toms has been upheld as the best example of dynamic social impact investments. So what the hell happened? This article takes a look and may serve as a warning to all of us commercial/social impact do-gooders, as well as those of us who like to invest in proven social impact businesses.
Read MoreWhile most express carriers utilize containers on the maindeck of widebody freighters, the use of containers on smaller, turboprop aircraft, and in the bellyhold of narrowbody aircraft was a popular topic at Cargo Facts Asia.
Read MoreFor a company to grow, it first must understand the components that actually drive the growth of its value.
Once a KPI target has been set, dive into the characteristics of the users to understand the perfect client profile.
To sustain growth, measure the actions that correspond to user retention and focus on them going forward.
Read More“Global trade skills deficit”, reads the headline!
What a disconnect between reality and the sordid political discussions on the subject of world trade. Global trade seems to be the “bad guy” these days, even though it has brought tremendous prosperity to way more Americans than those who have unfortunately had their jobs shipped to China (and for sure, that has happened too).
Here is the fact, and the deal. If you are a student and want an interesting and well paying job, think about studying international trade.
Read More“It feels a bit like a gold rush now. Everybody feels a need to have a massive perishables facility, but it’s not a panacea. This is not for everybody,” Ray cautions.
Read MoreEveryone can use a little ZEN in their life, right?
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