String Theory by Ray Brimble
A place for writings, ponderings and images about what a gloriously strange place the world is today.
This is about Shark Tank- the TV show. Lots of people equate starting and investing in businesses to Shark Tank. It's the gold standard. The north star. The bee's knees. Any other superlatives you can think of.
The first leg of what would become a life of many wonderful journeys, both mentally and physically, started here. Right where you are now: The University of Texas at Austin.
Last week, I was on a business trip visiting one of my old haunts—the Marylebone district of London. It was a place that became the center of my business operations for a while. It’s also where I learned that there’s an art to failing.
Don't we all have “singing frogs” in our lives? Not literally, of course. What I mean are…great things that seem so clearly incredible to us, but are invisible to everyone else.
I have to admit… I’ve gotten to see a lot of spectacular things while doing various gigs around town—and around the world. However, the event I attended last Friday at Elon Musk’s Gigafactory was more extravagant than anything I have ever seen.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that predicting the future is risky business. The global pandemic has amplified this even further. Therefore, a lesson learned is that no matter how much you predict and plan for the future, you must make sure your boat is seaworthy and prepare to get a little wet if necessary.
There is a saying: perceptions are reality. Of course this is not true, and it’s important to untether yourself from the tyranny of how you think things will be, so that you may be open to other realities—perhaps more “real” than those you bring with you.
It’s the most non-modern of ways to prepare. It requires sitting quietly and letting "it" happen. Some of the catalysts and causes are not exactly predicable or explainable. Yet, for the most part, it comes out okay.
Base Operations, a company I have invested in, does threat analysis through map visualizations. They are now making their real time COVID-19 map free and accessible to the public, in hopes their technology can support you or the organizations you are involved with.
How convenient to point the finger of guilt at everyone else. But as my uncle used to tell me, every time you point your finger at someone, three of your other fingers are pointing back at you.
Why shouldn't we just stash our cash in the mattress and be assured to getting $1 back for every $1 we “deposited” in the mattress? Gesell thought that too, so he came up with a solution.
When I think about the world of the near future, and what kinds of businesses and services will prosper, unfortunately, there are many new and severe challenges to address.
To me, this story speaks to an almost romantic notion of enterprise, opportunity, and freedom. It's also a definition of a paradigm shift.
It turns out that kindness is one of the most powerfully beneficial forms of “connectivity.”… I have always thought this to be one of the most wonderful mysteries of life.
Like many (most) philosophical debates these days, socialism versus capitalism is a circus of false choices. In this article, William Taylor suggests what we should REALLY be talking about, and I couldn't agree more.
What is it about this era that we lack confidence in humankind's ability to do good and prosper, in spite of such evidence of our positive headway?
“There are thousands of human beings, animals, causes, ideas tended thoughtfully, lovingly, and yes, anonymously, by folks we never get to hear about. These are the doers of good deeds, who just do what they believe is their job. These are the unnoticed good deeds which are the fibers that make up the strings that bind us all. Yet their actions often go unheard, just like the falling of that solitary tree in the forest.”
One’s skill becomes a craft when soul and destiny are tied to it. Often, this skill seems like something found, when in reality skill is a blossom made visible by the fertile soil of necessity. While necessity may be the soil, the rain which draws the bloom into our world is one’s proclivities.
Leonardo’s wisdoms were for times like his, times like ours . They are uniquely suited, not just for survival , but also extreme accomplishment. All we must do is learn to “see” what is connected to what, and how it works.
I have been involved in a lot of fund raising over the past couple of years, both for my own deals, and as an investor in other folks' deals. The emphasis tends to be on the total amount raised. However, as Alejandro Cremades says in his article, "How to Find a Lead Investor," sometimes finding a lead is the most important step toward also finding the total amount of investment you seek.
The 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?
The 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.
When 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”?
A 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.
A 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.
“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?”
"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
I 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.
For 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.
When you find a good beach with a great, unobstructed view of the ocean, the shade of a swaying palm tree, powder-like sand to sink your toes into... why would you ever leave?