You have to ask. If there’s something you want, you just have to ask. Wilco - the band - got paid not once, but two times (TWO!) for their breakout album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Both paychecks came because they had the nerve to ask. The first time the band got paid was in the form … Continue reading If You Want Something, Ask (How Wilco Got Paid 2x For “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”)
Tag: business strategy
Podcast Of The Week: The Tangible ‘20s
Disclosure: to my non-financial markets friends, I offer you this insight first, and then for whoever else still cares, you’ll want to check out the podcast below. One interpretation of the decade (still mostly) in front of us is that it might be like The Roaring ‘20s all over again. Advances in technology, low unemployment, … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: The Tangible ‘20s
How Oasis Saved Their Bank Account With Autographs
Oasis once offered a refund to fans after a very hyped gig experienced some very frustrating technical difficulties. The problem with the refund was… it was crazy expensive. Here’s how they turned bad news into a great story. The band found themselves on the hook for about 1 million pounds to some 20,000 people. Understanding … Continue reading How Oasis Saved Their Bank Account With Autographs
Weakness And Ignorance Are Not Barriers To Survival, But Arrogance Is
Liu Cixin’s Three-Body trilogy may be science fiction, but it’s not just for sci-fi nerds. If you like game theory, markets, geopolitics, world-building, or creativity - this is a modern masterpiece. One non-sci-fi quote that will stick with me: Weakness and ignorance are not barriers to survival, but arrogance is. The weak can get by. … Continue reading Weakness And Ignorance Are Not Barriers To Survival, But Arrogance Is
The Two Things You Need To Communicate “Value”
There are two things you have to know to communicate your value: The value you think you’re creating, and Why the person you’re creating it for thinks it’s valuable Lemonade stands are great, but mostly in summer and not in the winter. If you make the stand because people like lemonade, don’t be surprised when your … Continue reading The Two Things You Need To Communicate “Value”
When They Start Yinning, You Start Yanging
I got some advice from a friend going through some hard stuff lately. She said, When the universe starts yinning, I start yanging. Just keep it on the positive. If something extra bad happens, make the effort to put something extra good out there. If something extra good happens, forgive the extra bad, or extra … Continue reading When They Start Yinning, You Start Yanging
Podcast Of The Week: Will Smith, Before The Slap
This is the Will Smith conversation I needed. Pre-slap I was evangelizing the book as maybe the best non-business business book I’d read so far in 2022. Post-slap I had a lot of “arghs” “ughs” “icks” and “what” meets “why” feels. Jon Caramanica and Soraya Nadia McDonald get into the career arc of Smith, how … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Will Smith, Before The Slap
Words Matter: My 2 Go-To Expressions For Better Days, Teams, And Projects
These two sentence modifiers tell me when I’m working collaboratively with good people and when I’m doing good work on myself (as well as when I’m not). I look for them all of the time. Good, collaborative people: “yes, and…” more than “no, but…” Ex. “yes, and…” is about agreeing and then building further. “No, … Continue reading Words Matter: My 2 Go-To Expressions For Better Days, Teams, And Projects
Podcast Of The Week: Musk, Twitter, And Strategy (And Stratechery)
What happens if the world’s richest man becomes in charge of the most important information platform? The “Elon Musk wants to buy Twitter” story may be stale by the time I click send on this email, but this conversation between Derek Thompson and Ben Thompson will still be significant. Derek has previously called Twitter “a … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Musk, Twitter, And Strategy (And Stratechery)
The Incredible History Of Dippin’ Dots
We were in a New Jersey rest stop staring at a vending machine. “Remember Dippin’ Dots?” “Yeah. I used to love them. They make me think of the mall and the boardwalk when I was a kid.” “Me too. I wonder what happened to them.” “And who is this knock-off? I’d feel like I’m cheating … Continue reading The Incredible History Of Dippin’ Dots