You can’t do big things. You can only do small things. Do them well and they might add up to something big over time.
Product & Startup Builder
Our Shared Humanity
Last night at an after party the topic of Israel and Palestine came up.
Me: "These are a brutalized people who've been oppressed, slaughtered and dehumanized by the other side. They are lashing out with whatever they have at their disposal. Their enemy wants them eradicated off the face of the earth - wouldn't you want to defend yourself under these circumstances?"
Her: "Which side are you talking about?"
Me: "Exactly..."
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Until we (globally) understand our shared humanity, and let go of our historical narratives, nothing can get better.
How To Identify Toxic People
How to identify toxic people:
When you encounter people who are regularly badmouthing others and constantly surrounded by drama that “isn’t their fault” - you can usually be rest assured that they are the source of the problems in their life.
It’s pretty easy to tell how they operate, though, because as part of their bad mouthing, they are typically reflecting their worst traits onto others. Just listen. Whatever they’re blaming others for is exactly what they themselves have done.
Historically the small tech community has hesitated to call these kind of people out because we don’t want blow back. But many of us know who they are. I think it would help a lot of founders if we collectively made a stand against these people more swiftly.
Sometimes it’s extra hard because these people, at times, appear to add a lot of value. But really it’s like an abusive relationship. As a friend of mine once said, the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
Star Trek: Picard Episode 1
Star Trek: Picard episode 1 was really great. I’m so, so happy that it all felt intentional, patient and nostalgic without being stuck in the past.
Also, the afteshow hosted by Will Weaton was equally amazing.
Can’t wait to see where it goes next!
Samasource Mourns Loss of CEO
This really breaks my heart. I barely knew her personally but her energy and positivity leapt off the screen. Life isn’t fair.
Win or Learn
Articulate your vision
Believe in the abundance
Bet on yourself
Have conviction
Act decisively and effectively
Win or learn
Late Show: Deepest Anxieties
One of the best interviews I've seen on Colbert. So honest and heartfelt between host and guest.
Youtube Video: “John Mulaney And Stephen Colbert Explore Each Other's Deepest Anxieties”
Cruise's First Driverless Car
This is the future. Any mobility company not aggressively perusing this form-factor is in trouble. Traditional car layouts (with a drivers seat etc) will become small-scale luxury items (like horses). This chariot style vehicle running on ride share networks are going to take over most mobility needs currently serviced by cars and even busses.
Youtube Video: “Exclusive look at Cruise’s first fully driverless car”
Fox News Is A Threat To National Security
Hah! There’s an Arabic saying that literally translates to “slow down” said in a sarcastic way. It means “what the hell took you so long”. Never been a more appropriate use of the term.
Spacex Blows Up Falcon 9 Rocket
Another major milestone toward a multi-planetary future. Inspiring and exciting
The Need to Reintroduce Ourselves
Sometimes I feel like I’m regularly reintroducing myself to people. Every few years. As a son, as a student, as a graduate, as an entrepreneur, as a worker, as a husband, etc.
We all change all the time. If we’re very lucky we’re evolving into better, more comfortable versions of ourselves.
If that’s the case, we have to keep reintroducing ourselves to our lifelong friends and family and measure the distance we’ve come by the new connections (often with old people) that we form.
Porsche vs. Tesla
People (especially Robert) have asked me why I don’t drive an electric car - particularly a Tesla. Here’s my thinking...
Remember when horse riding was a thing people did out of necessity, and now it’s a sport and novelty?
That’s the difference between a Porsche sports car and a Tesla with its self driving tech.
As a practical car that gets you from A to B, probably nothing beats a Tesla. It drives itself!
As a thing you do as a hobby/sport/activity in and for itself, nothing (for me) beats a Porsche. You drive IT.
I don’t have a commute, so that’s why I’m comfortable driving a car with a combustion engine every now and then. I believe, in the future, a few classic relics (used infrequently) will be fine. But the vast majority of travel and power must come from clean sources.
This is How You Respond to Bullies
This is how you respond to bullies, liars and psychopaths
(Link to Marco Heithaus Facebook Post)
Google and Amazon Are Now in the Oil Business
Let's Make This Easy For Climate Change Deniers
You know what. I take all of the thoughtful rhetoric back. Park your car in your garage turn it on and sit there and take deep breaths. See how you like it.
So Many Things Are Broken
Lately I go around the world and I see so many broken things. So many small but obvious things that the employees and owners of spaces apparently don’t notice or don’t care about.
Either my OCD has gotten worse or my expectations have gotten higher. Probably a little or both.
Disgusting public toilets in otherwise nice restaurants, bad smells in hotels, over-scanned TVs displaying clearly cut off news headlines, damaged/aging laminate in little cafes. On and on.
No pride. No ownership.
Visiting Parliament House
Visiting our nations capital. A beautiful building covered in grass and open to all who want to visit.
Sitting in the chamber for House of Representatives there was a large family of Africans from Burundi. A country I later found out has a history of assassinations and coups. The father was explaining to his children how the leaders of Australia sit here and discuss the laws.
Brought a tear to my eye. We’re so lucky.
Note the senator palpatine in the senate of the LEGO replica located in one of the rooms. Gotta love aussie humor.
Racism in the British Press
The World Is Like A Huge High-Rise - And It's On Fire
“The world is like a huge high-rise. The first 50 floors are on fire and the people on level 100 are having parties and focused on trying to make it to level 900. Since 50 floors are on fire the price of everything above is going up because there’s more scarcity. So the people on levels 51 to 900 are getting excited that the value of their apartments is increasing.”
A great analogy by Marcus Segal