...on The Rising Cost Of Fruit.:
13:54, August 7th, 2008: While I don't think everything should be price driven, this is the reason businesses will never adopt an apple platform. Equipment replacement cost is a big deal to large organizations and when the cheapest workstation you can get is double a Dell's equivalent, simple economics dictates decision. There will be those handful of architects, design houses, creative types who will Mac Out their office, but that's it. We aren't far enough into the computer age yet where people don't remember a day where a computer was at work and internet was work only. As we get further along the 2 uses will collide and open source from work to home seamlessly will win the day. I say in 20 years apple is a consumer product and entertainment company only. Their PC's will be niche and quaint.
...on Beer Is Beer, Except When It Isn't.:
19:45, July 14th, 2008: I wonder if they made the offer before the tremendous success of Bud Lime with "real lime flavoring."
...on eBay Small Businesses Take A Hit.:
19:35, July 14th, 2008: With a few friends who started million dollar ebay businesses back in the hay day, I've watched ebay slowly hose the power sellers for years. It has looked like for at least the last 3 years when they can't drive more traffic or deliver more market share, they simply twist up the fees on the sellers to make their numbers. This is real tough on someone who the fee is a COG versus a commish to dump some old comic books you are happy to get some money for. I think this will inevitably yield a powerful competitor who charges a flat fee for unlimited listings and sales. Good buy power sellers and all you have is a buy.com redirect.
...on The Economy's Bad! Let's Drink!:
18:37, July 2nd, 2008: I think bars do better not so much the producers. I think people seek companions in despair.
Last night I was at El Gaucho and the bartender said business traveler bar business was way down. They had the same regulars but less "suits and expense cards" than any time he could remember.
...on Do I Really Need A Formal Business Plan?:
13:43, July 1st, 2008: I don't think the real question is whether you need a "business plan" but "what constitutes a business plan?" I think Tim Berry addressed this thoroughly on his blog here - Business Plan Bashing
...on Should eBay Be Held Responsible For Fake Goods On Their Site?:
15:52, June 30th, 2008: Maybe they should sue New York... Time Square has a ton of Vouis Luitton. Is NY providing the medium for people who sell the stuff... like Ebay?
Also, I don't think knock-offs in this case hurt a brand. It's the very very small pragmatic minority who would buy a fake if they could afford the real deal anyway.
...on Entrepreneurs: How Do You Feel About The Economy?:
17:30, June 23rd, 2008: I think it will depend on what you are in. Restaurant entrepreneurs and used SUV dealerships... bad. Debt consolidation, credit counseling... looking for VC for alternative fuel... good! I think even in the tough sectors people will spend money on great businesses. Y
ou just wont get away with being average, if you ever did.
...on Small Restaurant Lets People Pay What They Want, Owner Apparently Not Crazy.:
16:44, June 6th, 2008: It already worked. We're talking about it :-)
As for longevity, I think its a good idea for a small place. Lots of times I know portions are huge and I wish I could have 1/2. All you would need is a quick scale in the back to know what something is per ounce. Smart.
...on CEO Screw Ups: I Was Just Trying To Have Some Fun...:
13:45, June 6th, 2008: "Cheech and Hank Nicholas the 3rd Up In Smoke" just doesn't have the same ring.
...on Sure It's Green, But Is It Profitable?:
13:43, June 6th, 2008: Maybe if you crank out enough watts they give you a discount for bucks on the grid!?
0:00, June 6th, 2008: invest... no... join... probably 10% more likely based on green. Do I get a cool "I exercise green" tee?
...on Kindle Won't Kill Book Biz - Yet.:
13:41, June 6th, 2008: This is where Apple got it all wrong too. Why in the world would you buy a $300 MP3-4 player when you can still use a $30 CD playing Walkman... or pay $500 to switch plans and buy a new iPhone when your old Samsung free phone works just fine. Stupid stupid Apple.
...on How Not To Pitch An Investor:
19:34, June 3rd, 2008: The problem with all of this is the posturing. From a very recent meeting with an investor what I came away thinking was the biggest problem with investors is that they believe they have the money, they are worth it. Feedback from "pitch coaches" are always "don't say this" and "don't say that."
Why?
Am I to understand that whether or not someone of supposed high business intelligence (since they hit a home run at some point) has cashed in their human element and are now judging my idea solely based on delivery? So I can't be nervous? I can't say something stupid or obvious without the investor jumping all over me thinking "A HA! I knew you were wasting my time! No merit! Get out!" Recent industry examples abound of VC's passing on great ideas. I wonder how many of these were from arrogance and self importance that shut off the VC in mid pitch without seeing through the human mistakes to the business model below.
The new VC model should have a well balanced screener who talks to the entrepreneur, someone devoid of judgment. When they realize this person is a crackpot, "thanks but no thanks" or has a great idea that fits in the firm's profile, they relay the idea to the VC who knows this screener wouldn't "waste their time" and can make decisions solely based on idea merit—not personal crap. So every entrepreneur gets their time with the screener and its probably still 1 in 500 who have a decent idea. Last I checked, missing one potential home run far outweighs employing a few extra people—but maybe that makes too much business sense and doesn't hold to the old guard. Just an idea.
...on Wii's Lesson For Entrepreneurs:
17:16, June 3rd, 2008: Next is WiiSleep. Like sleeping but you get points for lying very still on the wii board without fidgeting. Not as good as a real nap but why not... its through a Wii.
...on Wal-Mart v. Craigslist:
16:54, June 3rd, 2008: CL is too "open" to be unseat by anyone with a profit motive. As soon as CL loses its free-for-all design and access... it moves into the RIP column.
...on Why Can't Starbucks Even Get Wi-Fi Right?:
16:52, June 3rd, 2008: It's free and easy if you have an iPhone... AT & T customers with a data package get the 'bucks for free.
They should make it free but you should get an annoying pop up every 30 minutes you are on their network that says "Buy something."
...on Is Amazon's Kindle A Threat to Small Booksellers?:
18:48, June 2nd, 2008: Both probably right if the kindle were simply an ebook reader—but I have one and will never go back. Here is why:
1) Its not just an ebook reader. It has a basic browser and I can get my gmail delivered to it.
2) I can have my normal email forwarded to it and its digested into a daily delivery and converted to E-Ink. Yeah, its no blackberry but its another way to stay connected with a full keyboard.
3) I get the Wall Street Journal and Investors Business Daily when they are printed, not delivered. They automatically hit the kindle at about 3:00am PST.
4) Hard covers cost 9.99 and are available the moment they come out. Too bad I'm not a Harry Potter fan.
5) I was recently having a good conversation with someone suggesting a relatively obscure book. I had it on the kindle in 15 minutes and was versed in it within an hour.
6) I hate having books. I feel wasteful throwing them away but I also hate having them. Kindle, 'nuff said." Click click—deleted. Or its got a gig which is like 27,000 books if you want to e-collect.
The only drawback—no sharing really. To share a book 2 kindles have to be on the same account.
Its a home run. Is it going to be any measurable % of book sales anytime soon... probably not. Apply long tail economics to it and it doesn't have to be. It's a full bookstore in your hand. Like Itunes, the major money will be made by millions of obscure sales you won't find in a normal store, not the 100,000s of hits. It's a game changer.
...on You Can Take Our Dignity, But, Please, Not Our Snacks!:
13:24, May 30th, 2008:
Airlines... hear me:
Raise prices/ free booze OR snack/ charge for carry on bags but only if it secures you the overhead bin directly above you. The mad dash to board is basically a mad dash for primo overhead.
...on Web 2.0 Doesn't Make Money. VCs Keep Funding.:
14:12, May 28th, 2008: Bubble 2.0
...on New Ideas: Internet Search For Tech Geeks:
18:59, May 27th, 2008: Lame. A handful of IT peeps will find it neat but how do you parlay it into mass appeal ad revenue? What would I be searching another machine for to find something interesting on a casino, online pharmacy, real estate, or local resources? Last I heard these are the big search drivers making google scads of cash.
...on Why Grants are Like Ghosts:
23:49, May 14th, 2008: But what about the guy in the scrubs with the ???? all over him looking like the riddler... his book is only $29 and I can get a grant to pay off my car...
...on Citi's $30 Million Tagline Upended By Larry the Cable Guy:
13:27, May 13th, 2008: It makes me nervous when banks don't sleep. They become delusional and start forgetting basic math. That's really how the sub prime crisis was started... no naps.
