The Reverse Five-Dollar Shake Test

There’s a scene in Pulp Fiction where John Travolta and Uma Thurman’s characters are sitting in a restaurant booth, talking about “uncomfortable silences.”  The one-way conversation from Thurman goes, Don't you hate that? Uncomfortable silences.  Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bulls*** in order to be comfortable?  That's when you know you've … Continue reading The Reverse Five-Dollar Shake Test

Kids These Days, Those Days, And Multi-Generational Networking

I heard some “kids these days” griping last week.  I’ve had the pleasure of working with groups of high school and college-aged students these past few years.* I’ve met some real future badasses that I’m stoked to have in my network.  So let them complain.  Today’s 17-year-old eventually turns 27, and then 37, and all … Continue reading Kids These Days, Those Days, And Multi-Generational Networking

The Best Career Advice I’ve Ever Read

This is the best career advice I’ve ever read, via Josh Brown: Make yourself useful to smart, successful people. That’s how you should spend the first ten years of your career. Surround yourself with smart, successful people and then bet on them. That’s how you should spend the next ten years. And then you’re done, … Continue reading The Best Career Advice I’ve Ever Read

How To Make Friends And Influence Lynyrd Skynyrd

A roadie wrote one of the most iconic piano parts in rock history.  It’s a reminder: the stronger your network is, the more greatness you’ll have in your gravitational pull. In people, in luck, and in potential.  Lynyrd Skynyrd were recording tracks and trying to piece “Free Bird” together in the studio when they hit … Continue reading How To Make Friends And Influence Lynyrd Skynyrd

Who You Surround Yourself With Matters (A Lot. Just Ask The Sex Pistols)

Who you surround yourself with matters. A lot. It’s connected with the expression, “timing is everything” too. Because if you’re surrounded with people doing good (and potentially great) things, your odds of being in the right place at the right time goes up exponentially. One of my favorite examples/reminders is this recreation of a 1976 … Continue reading Who You Surround Yourself With Matters (A Lot. Just Ask The Sex Pistols)

Podcast Of The Week: Patty McCord On Standing Up To A Terrible Boss

crap boss being crap to a stressed looking employee

Patty McCord is famous for shaping the culture that helped scale Netflix from startup to world-dominating streaming service. If you’ve never seen the culture deck she created with Reid Hoffman to bring on new employees, it’s legendary. McCord guests on the How To! podcast this week to help “Shirley” (identity protected) deal with a terrible … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Patty McCord On Standing Up To A Terrible Boss