Summation

the paradox of listening to others

Great entrepreneurs rarely change their mind yet they always change their mind.

Most people think great entrepreneurs are poor listeners with a tin ear. They think ... this guy isn't hearing me ... or she is just too dogmatic.

What happens is this ... great entrepreneurs do change their mind, but very slowly (unless it is extremely obvious they are wrong). So when you meet with a rock-star founder, they are probably not going to listen to your advice right away. And that's a good thing as they are other getting conflicting advice from tons of different people ... so if they listened to everyone, nothing would ever get done.

But slowly (and sometimes too slowly) the advice seeps in and they gradually change their mind (and the direction of the company).

Pubs are getting hit HARD

There are not a lot of advertisers ... well-regarding sites like theStreet.com and TechCrunch are now running lots of remnant ads (back-fills from DoubleClick Exchange and Right Media) on their front page (really bad sign)

money CAN Buy happiness: happiness depends on how you spend money

turns out that happiness depends on how you spend money ... not how much you earn ... this according to a study from professors at Harvard Business School and University of British Columbia.

we should put MLK Jr.'s picture on the $20 bill ... he's much more inspiring than Andrew Jackson

And why does Lincoln and Washington get to be on two forms of currency?? (they are both on coins AND bills)

12% of new gym memberships are started in January.

I would have thought it would be 50% due to new year's resolutions

if your mate could only be beautiful in public and hideous at home privately or vice versa. What would u prefer?

Matt Roche sent me the question ...

good post on the Abilene Paradox

Chriis Michel forwarded me this blog ... well worth reading:
http://freekvermeulen.blogspot.com/2008/10/abilene-paradox-it-is-well-known.html

It is a well-known phenomenon from social psychology that people are reluctant to voice minority opinions. My guess is you may recognise this issue and feel it yourself sometimes; when a whole group of people seems to agree on something (a course of action, proposal, etc.) but you have doubts about it, there is a bit of a psychological hurdle to speak up against it. And if you do collect the courage to speak up against it, you do so reluctantly, ready to take the heat.

everyone should have a drink of choice

when the cards are down and you have the bartender's or the waitress's attention for a few split seconds, you need to make a decision fast --- very fast. at this point, everyone should have a go-to drink that they order. ever notice how some people take a really long time to decide??? just make a decision. some people order a complex martini, others a Manhattan, some a beer, and still others a virgin Sprite. but whatever your fancy, have a drink .... and decide fast ... others are waiting ...

math geek alert -- calculator SNL skit

this was the funniest skit i have seen in a long time:

The $5.99 shampoo bottles at Walgreens are behind glass locked cabinets

Are times THAT bad that people are trying to steal big cheap shampoo??