The Beatles....

Via Fred Wilson, and his take on Youtube.

Fred, I agree 100%.
And, he adds a The Beatles to make a point. (Ticket To Ride)
Well done Fred. (click on arrow below to begin....)

Had to remove.....

Social Media and Advertising....

MediaWeek did a piece on FaceBook, and their attempt to target their user base base more effectively for advertisers - (hat tip: Andrew W.)

The MediaWeek piece is HERE.

"Facebook plans to unveil a new ad unit in the coming weeks that the company says uniquely harness the site's social networking dynamic. . . . .
When users elect to click on these ads, their entire network of friends will be automatically alerted and then given the chance to interact with that particular marketer's group.

According to Mike Murphy, Facebook's chief revenue officer, the new units are geared for advertisers that are looking to create customized offers for the Facebook community that go beyond standard banner messaging. "Up until now, most advertising on social network sites hasn't leveraged social networking behavior," he said. "This offers a viral opportunity that is unique for advertisers that is not disruptive."

My friend Rob Deichert, has said it better than I can...

From Rob's Blog:

"If I understand this correctly, I'm on Facebook I click on one of these ads and then all my friends will be alerted of the ad I clicked on.

Remind you of something?

Those great chain letters that you get from friends or those jokes you never want to read.

In my opinion this is not the way to leverage social networking.

Social networking data needs to be leveraged in a non-explicit fashion. There needs to be more relevance than just one degree of separation.

If "friending" is a true phenomena the relevancy of association is greatly reduced, thus increasing the annoyance factor of these, "hey I just checked out this ad alerts." The strength of each connection needs to be valued individually to determine the proper group to pass along a similar marketing message."

I agree with the above assesment.

That is why what my company is building, a "non-invasive" - and completely aggregated and targeting algorithym, based partly on DEGREE SEPERATION DATA, as well as many many other components inherit to social networks.

It seems that the entire FaceBook concept is based on the element of, DEGREES. (I could be wrong.)

When publishers choose LOTAME as a tool to help the monetize their inventory......the FACEBOOK solution outlined above is NOT what they will get.....

Facebook sees the value of their data -- from our perspective it's more about aggregating the information more efficiently, and then targeting it more optimally to increase results for advertisers.

That is the foundation of Lotame.

Rolling Stones 9/27/06 Giants Stadium.





I love the Rolling Stones. The talent, the history and the charm of seeing a GREAT band, gets me pumped to go to a show.

Last night I was excited, as I bought my tickets the day they went on sale, (presale) through Ticketmaster.

Floor Seats were $450.00, so I passed on those, opting to be in Sec 130, or off the floor....those seats were a respectable (cough) $175.

I purchased those tickets as "Best Available" within 5 minutes of them coming on sale.

WE WERE IN THE LAST ROW OF SEC 130 UNDER THE OVERHANG, AND THE SOUND WAS MUFFLED AND HORRENDOUS. Imagine, my horror as soon as we went down the steps, and for the 1st time I looked at the tickets -- and they said Row 40......the last row of the section, where you cannot hear ANYTHING?

Now, you might say - "Andy, that is your fault for not checking thoroughly enough to see what row you were buying."

You would be correct.

However, I bought my tickets with a wireless handheld, (Blackberry) so, I did not have full site access. (my fault)

And, I purchased the tickets on a pre-sale, within 5 minutes of the release.

As soon as we got to our seats....I wanted to go home.

Sorry for the rant, but I really dislike Ticketmaster......as the people that were seated in front of me, BOUGHT THEIR TICKETS 4 DAYS AG0 ---and they were in Row 39.

So, I ask -- "how does Ticketmaster move their inventory, and is their some collusion against fans that, THEY KNOW WILL PURCHASE TICKETS THE MOMENT THEY COME ON SALE WITH LITTLE REGARD FOR PLACEMENT IN A GIVEN SECTION?"

Do they save better seats for the consumers, "on the fence" who are just thinking about going as the concert approaches, but are not hardcore fans?


I believe that something fishy is going on with Ticketmaster and their practices, when I am in the DEAD last row of a section, (under the BEST AVAILABLE mantra) within 300 seconds of them going on sale -- and people who bought within the last few days are closer than we were.

Honestly, we had a good time with our friends......but Ticketmaster ruined my evening.

The Rolling Stones
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA
Wednesday September 27, 2006
The set list


It's Only Rock'n Roll
Live With Me
Monkey Man
Sway
Far Away Eyes
Streets Of Love
Just My Imagination
Midnight Rambler
Tumbling Dice
--- Introductions
You Got The Silver (Keith)
Little T&A (Keith)
Under My Thumb (to B-stage)
Rough Justice
Start Me Up
Honky Tonk Women (to main stage)
Sympathy For The Devil
Jumping Jack Flash
Satisfaction
Brown Sugar (encore)

A New Way of Looking At Chili.....*

I love a good bowl of chili. Often times, I will order chili whether at a diner, or eating at a great lunch or dinner place.

Good chili is an art, and it is RARE.

After college, I took a job working "trucking and messenger sales" for a company based in Central Jersey, in the town of Woodbridge. Woodbridge is a cool town, with a large Ford Plant - (one of it's adjacent towns is called Fords) and, one could call it a combination of America at the end of the 20th century.....

It had it's mix of blue collar workers and technology companies literally on top of one another.

Woodbridge is also pretty much the CENTER of NJ.

It is where the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway - Routes 1 & 9, as well as many smaller arteries all intersect.

Right in the town of Woodbridge NJ.

It makes perfect sense to have a trucking company/messenger service, or any kind of transportation company located there.

I worked for this company - and was responsible for generating new business....but many times I ended up doing the "dispatch work" - as our dispatcher liked to sneak cans of Miller Genuine Draft Beer during the day.

All day.

By 4pm he had polished off a about 15 cans of Genuine Draft in a large soda cup from the local convenience store.

He started slurring -- and around 4:30 he was completely unintelligible.

Those of you that have worked in any transportation business, will understand that between 3-6pm is when most of the "action" occurs. That means, the customers call the dispatcher to set up their delivery of goods the next day business day.

The dispatcher has to line up the next day, logistically, and let the drivers know where to go - so as to "organize" the company day.

It was a hard job to learn -- but, I learned it....and our drunken dispatcher went from being angry, early on in my employment - as I was tring to help HIM (he said I was screwing up his whole next day) to, grudging respect.

One day, after he had already passed out at 4pm, and I was on the phones with customers, DOING HIS JOB - setting up the driver schedules for the next day -- he heaped praise on me....

"Kid, you are learning the ropes -- I'm gonna buy you a good bowl of chili."

I was shocked -- and said, "I'm looking forward to it."

A few days past, and I thought he had forgotten about his chili offer.....

He yelled to one of the drivers, Ralphie, who was a overweight 50 year old man, that wore the same jeans EVERYDAY - and who looked like he was a overweight version of Gomer Pyle....

"Hey Ralphie..." The Dispatcher yelled over the intercom.

"Take the kid (me) to OUR PLACE for a bowl of chili..."

I was horrified. It was one thing to work with a guy, but another to break bread with someone who I was genuinely afraid of.

Ralphie looked like a mental patient - and that he could snap at anytime, and bad things could happen.

But, he was a damn good driver. He was reliable, and never turned down a trip.

Ralphie was not someone I wanted to spend a Tuesday afternoon eating lunch with.

"Cmon kid, I got you - jump in my van...."

I climbed into a 1974 VAN that had exposed metal coils on the passenger seat. The Van was littered with magazines, spit cups from chewing tobacco, and bags from fast food joints....

I asked, "Where are we going?"

He replied, "To our special chili place."

He never uttered a word to me, until he dropped me back off at the office.

We pulled up to a sleazy strip joint (topless place) on RT 1, in I believe Edison NJ. I was horrified, and said to Ralphie....

"I'm not going in there...you said we were going for a Bowl of Chili."

His van door slammed, and I was left in the passenger seat alone....alone, sitting on the passenger seat coils, exposed metal sitting into my pants, of a 1974 van - alone in the parking lot of a strip joint wearing a Jerry Garcia tie - and tan slacks.

The parking lot was filled with pick up trucks, and 18 wheelers.

I opened the door of the van - and walked in, alone.

I had never done THIS BEFORE - as my typical lunch was the deli, or if I was adventurous, a drive for Mexican food.....

A topless place? A picture of my Mom ran through my head. "What would she say?" I thought to myself....

As I opened the door of the strip club, there was complete darkness. I could not adjust my eyes, to see anything -- and I felt blinded.

I muttered to a person near the door, that I could not see,

"Do you have a menu.?"

She replied, "Sure, how many in your party?"

I said, "I think two, but I will sit at the bar."

I sat down at the bar -- and the dancers immediately saw me. 2 older ladies (dancers) who I suppose were accustomed to gazing out at the lunchtime crowd, and seeing guys like, RALPHIE -- who I spotted across the bar. He was sitting alone.

I ordered the Chili from the bartender.

I also got lots of focus from the 2 middle age topless ladies who LOVED my Garcia tie. It was one of my more popular days in a bar -- as I'm relatively sure for the 1st time in my life, that I was one of the "attention getters for the ladies" in this dive joint full of RALPHIE look alikes.

One of the dancers was very pleasant asking me,

"what are YOU doing here?"

I yelled over the sound of Depeche Mode (or some other 1990's disco type music), "I'm here for the Chili, I was told it was good."

The Bowl of chili arrived.

IT WAS AWESOME, ONE OF THE BEST CULINARY DELIGHTS I HAVE EVER TASTED.

It had the perfect amount of beans, the sauce was thick -- with the proper amount of vegetables -- and it was just spicy enough to make your lips burn.

I started to pay attention to what all the other people sitting at the bar were eating.....

Most of the guys had bowls of chili, and most of them were not paying attention to the dancers.

I started thinking -- "are people here for the chili or for the dancers?"

Not to get too ahead of myself, I figured the Chili was a distant second to the ambiance of a strip joint, on a highway, at lunch hour.

We arrived back at the office.

The Dispatcher said with a huge chuckle and a rare smile, through his rotted teeth , "How was MY PLACE for the Bowl of chili, did Rhonda dance for you?"

"Of course -- and thanks, the CHILI was excellent, the best I've ever had."

I thanked him. And, moved on with my life. Literally.

I've since grown up - and looking back on some of my post college working experiences, I can honestly say I've learned many things from many people.

As I tackle building my OWN BUSINESS, I use the "Chili analogy" that I learned from the Dispatcher that loved Miller Genuine Draft, as well as Ralphie The Driver.

"Look at people and situations differently. Be different - take risks...and in order to have GREAT EXPERIENCES in business (in this case chili) be ready to go do something every single day -- OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. "


Going to a strip club, certainly cannot be misconstrued as "going out of my comfort zone to make a difference," but it was to me.

It was my little learning about the Social Aspect of working with unique people, like the dispatcher -- and Ralphie.

I recently found out that the dispatcher died from a heart attack, and Ralphie died on the NJ Turnpike in a traffic accident a few years back.

But that bowl of chili, and all the things that came with it -- are just one of the things that goes into my arsenal of being successful when starting my own business.

It's more than the chili, it is LIFE - and getting the most out of it.

To this day, the word, "chili" conjours up a different and substantive meaning to me.

It evokes emotion.

And, that is success in my book. A key learning from a dispatcher and a overweight truck driver. I hope I can give my future employees their own, "bowl of chili."

Minus the strip club.

Family Time in The Apple Orchard....

If you are looking for something fun to do with the family, go apple and pumpkin picking. We had a blast....and have yummy apples as well.

(click on any picture to enlarge)

Sundown Tonight.....

As many of you know, tonight at sundown marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. (The Jewish New Year)

Tonight, and for 10 days (after this evening) - begins the time where all the things that will transpire for the year, will be transcribed in the, "book of life."

Our fate, our path for health, success and challenges are decreed in the "book of life."

Multiple times over this holiday we say the following.
"Who shall live, who shall die. Who by fire, who by water.....etc."


I guess all religions are strange - and the Jewish faith calls this our - "high holy days" (for a reason)

The YEAR IS LAID OUT, in your book of life.

I'd like to wish and pray, on a few things for my Jewish, and non-Jewish friends on this holiday.

1) I wish peace and prosperity, to all people who desire to live side by side, whether they share the same religious values or not.


2) I pray for the safety of our citizens in the USA, and our soldiers in harms way.

3) I pray that many Americans will be able to identify evil, and not shy away from understanding that there are people who want to inflict many more 9-11's on the rest of our people......(I pray for the strength of these people to come up with a solid plan on how to deal with it -- rather than simply ignore it and wish it away)

4) I pray for the people and children in the United States, who feel insecure, or are hungry - or who are in a tough situation by no fault of their own. This is a big one for me.

5) I pray for the safety of Israel and her people. I pray that if a enemy attacks Israel i nthe coming year - that the enemies BEST DAY, will be the day BEFORE they attacked the State of Israel. In other words, any further aggression will be met with a response so devastating that it will create deterrence, to save future innocent Israeli lives.

6) I pray that Israel elects leaders who will understand the nature of the enemy, and not give away land to appease a religion or people who are liars, and seek to destroy the country.

7) I pray for all the people in the Mid-East to desire to live in peace, and embrace co-existence.

8) I pray for STRENGTH for ALL of us to deal with all that will transpire in the coming year.

We eat apples and honey to ring in a SWEET year for us all......

May your "book of life" be filled with AMAZING, sweet and joyous happenings to come.

L'Shana Tova - to a GOOD YEAR.

YouTube's Value.

YouTube is in the NY Post Today.

"September 21, 2006 -- INTERNET upstart YouTube, the bane-du-jour of copyright holders everywhere, won't sell itself for anything less than $1.5 billion, The Post has learned."


Those that use YOUTUBE love the product and service they have built the past 1.5 years.

I use it, and if you are a regular reader on this blog - you have seen my video links, which are all from YouTube's service.

I love their product. I'm a BIG FAN of Youtube.

But.....

Naysayers talk about copyright.

Naysayers talk about content ownership.

I remember when I started selling banners and internet advertising, people would say...

"Those banners and pop ups and so annoying. I never click on those damn things."

My answer was, "one day you will."

Fact is, the Internet Advertising business has grown tremendously over the past 7 years, because, PEOPLE ACTUALLY DO CLICK, AND BUY FROM THOSE ADVERTISEMENTS ON WEBSITES.

It works.

Guess what?

Those same people that doubted internet advertising as a viable medium to further their brand, generate results -- and win in their space -- ARE THE SAME EXECUTIVES AND KNOW IT ALL'S, BASHING YOUTUBE - and their so called, "issues."

Good piece on the value of YouTube in the NY Post.

YouTube is worth MORE than it's current value.

Reason?

Companies built like.......

My company is focused on helping Social Media Providers (Like YouTube) monetize, segment, and target their inventory, MORE OPTIMALLY, so that ADVERTISERS will to be able to drive better ROI for the media on the SMP's.

Lotame will help add to the bottom line of sites like Youtube --
"YouTube's stated business model is to "pursue advertising.""

Lotame works with publishers to help them monetize their inventory -- thus, increasing their market value....

Rock on.

Rolling Stones Europe 2006.

I was lucky enough to jump on the Stones Tour this past summer in Europe.
There is a mighty big story coming on my experiences and takeaways of traveling through Europe on my own.....with one bag and camera.

More than the music I went for - I loved the FABRIC and "zeitgeist" of what I experienced.

Below are some of my pictures that I took in Paris and Amsterdam. I enjoy capturing people and places, in a "naturalized manner."......(click on any image to enlarge)

July and August in Europe.

Starting a Business.....and a "HIT ME" Quote....

"The pain of making the necessary sacrifices always hurts more than you think it's going to. I know. It sucks. That being said, doing something seriously creative is one of the most amazing experiences one can have, in this or any other lifetime. If you can pull it off, it's worth it. Even if you don't end up pulling it off, you'll learn many incredible, magical, valuable things. It's NOT doing it when you know you full well you HAD the opportunity- that hurts FAR more than any failure."

Hugh Macleod.

I wondered why Hugh's words have the special way of nailing what I'm feeling?

Because I have had the great pleasure of working alongside exceptional people for the past 17 years.

Motivated, smart, and brilliant leaders, in my business landscape have helped shape and form my corporate visions for EXECUTING SUCCESS.

I feel as though they tutored me -- in things, and ways I was not aware of at the time...

But, the time is here to build my own castle....

And, as Hugh explains - NOT TRYING IT - HURTS MORE THAN FAILURE.

That's where I am in business.

I'm focused, energized -- and ready to rock.

"Put your whole self into it, and you will find your true voice. Hold back and you won't. It's that simple."

Whether you like him or not.....

President George Bush gave a GREAT speech today at the UN.

He calls out "extremism, and lunatics."

The Video is worth watching -- as it pertains to your future.

I'm hoping at this time next year, when he looks out over this group - IRAN will not have the capability to make weapons grade plutonium.

The video of his speech is HERE.

"Today, I'd like to speak directly to the people across the broader Middle East: My country desires peace. Extremists in your midst spread propaganda claiming that the West is engaged in a war against Islam. This propaganda is false, and its purpose is to confuse you and justify acts of terror. We respect Islam, but we will protect our people from those who pervert Islam to sow death and destruction. Our goal is to help you build a more tolerant and hopeful society that honors people of all faiths and promote the peace. "

Watch it, it is VERY good.

Moderate Muslims.....

"Why do not Muslims, especially the so-called moderates, react with such strength and intensity against the real and eternal desecrators of Islam ­ that is, the Islamic terrorists who kill other Muslims in the name of the same God, radical Muslims who legitimize the destruction of Israel and brainwash ordinary Muslims into martyrdom? Why do they now believe they must start a kind of Islamic "holy war" against the head of the [Catholic] Church who has the right to respectfully express his views about Islam, all the while with clarity on the evident difference between the two religions?"

Rest of the piece is HERE.

And then.....from a so-called liberal writer, at the LA TIMES.

"My correspondence with liberals has convinced me that liberalism has grown dangerously out of touch with the realities of our world--specifically with what devout Muslims actually believe about the West, about paradise and about the ultimate ascendance of their faith.

On questions of national security, I am now as wary of my fellow liberals as I am of the religious demagogues on the Christian right.

This may seem like frank acquiescence to the charge that "liberals are soft on terrorism." It is, and they are.

A cult of death is forming in the Muslim world -- for reasons that are perfectly explicable in terms of the Islamic doctrines of martyrdom and jihad. The truth is that we are not fighting a "war on terror." We are fighting a pestilential theology and a longing for paradise.

This is not to say that we are at war with all Muslims. But we are absolutely at war with those who believe that death in defense of the faith is the highest possible good, that cartoonists should be killed for caricaturing the prophet and that any Muslim who loses his faith should be butchered for apostasy. . . .

And yet, despite abundant evidence to the contrary, liberals continue to imagine that Muslim terrorism springs from economic despair, lack of education and American militarism."

The rest of the piece is HERE.

The Changing Landscape of Media Consumption.



"The study found that about 34 percent of college students recently reported spending more than 10 hours a week online, while only around 19 percent say they devote at least the same amount of time to watching television or listening to the radio. For the report, Burst last month surveyed 800 college students between the ages of 18 and 24. "

From Mediapost - piece is HERE.

Hat tip: Fred Wilson.

My Theory on Motivation....

Successful people in life, are very good at SEIZING opportunity when it is presented. They understand when a situation is presented, and more often than not - can identify and execute, to build something very good, or great.

But, what PUSHES people to be better than the masses, or average workers around them?
What makes a person work harder?
What makes a sales person, MAKE THE EXTRA COLD CALL?
What makes a doctor, see the extra patient?
What makes a builder, build a better house?
What makes a developer, write extra, better code for a technology?
What makes a marketing executive work harder, to differentiate the company message and brand, from the competitor?
What makes a LEADER in business, successful?

Assumption here, all of these people (workers) are self respecting, good people.....but, keep in mind, I am asking, WHAT MAKES THEM SUCCESSFUL, and NOT part of the average masses, in their respective fields?

What seperates them, from everyone in their business?
Why are they "BETTER", than the rest....

2 key ingredients.

Firstly, every interview I conduct - I ask the following question.


"If you had to identify yourself with one of the two following traits to characterize yourself, and describe what makes you BETTER than other people in business -- do you find that......(you have to choose one)

GREED, motivates you?
Or
FEAR OF FAILURE?"


The candidate MUST choose one. (Even if they feel it is NOT applicable, they need to choose the one that they feel most connected to, and the trait that makes them stand apart from the rest)


Based on the answer - THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF DATA YOU WILL EVER GET FROM THIS PERSON -- it will tell you how to MANAGE AND WORK WITH THEM.


Here is WHY.


Greed, is the desire to have more than others. There are many successful GREEDY people, and it is not a bad trait. In fact, when you want to build a company, in the early stages - greedy people are very good self motivators, as they want to make more money, and that VERY activity, effectively BRANDS your new organization, well to prospects. I respect candidates who can admit they are GREEDY, and that money motivates them to want to do better. Bottom line, it's all about making more money.


Fear of Failure. This is a bit more complex. In a nutshell, fear of failure is the motivating factor in almost ALL very successful people. People do not want to fail in the eyes of their peers. They believe rightly, that respect that they receive from their friends and family, comes from their personal success. THEY DO NOT WANT TO FAIL THEMSELVES OR OTHERS -- as they believe that this is NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME. Fear of Failure, can be understood best, as a son, who wants to please his Father - and will do just about ANYTHING to make him proud. This carries over to business - and fosters itself in the corporate world.


Greed, or Fear of Failure.

Two key elements when identifying why someone has, or will be successful in the business world.

(There are many more, but these are 2 elements that I've identified in watching what makes people do MORE in their lives, more than the AVERAGE)

One key piece of this.

Once you have acquired this critical piece of information from the person you may hire......you now know, PRECISELY HOW TO MANAGE THEM.....based on their motivating trait -- greed, or fear of failure.

VERY different attributes for success, and very different ways to work with a successful person.

Which do you identify most with?

I can tell you -- I FEAR FAILURE, MIGHTILY.

To me, failing is not acceptable - and in order to look good for my family, my peers, my investors - and most of all, myself - failing is NOT a option.

I work harder, and push myself, to try to lessen the probablity, and chances of failing.

Fearing Failure is a big MOTIVATOR in life.

It is for my life..

Friday Night Satisfaction.....

All day meetings.
Cell phone "earburn" -- (the radioactive tingling feeling in your hand, and a hot ear)

What makes me smile, and brings me back?

A show from Feb 18, 2006 - on the beach, in RIO.

A Peace Activist Who Supports The Palestinian People.....

Speaks. She has woken up, and has had a reality check on just how the Palestinians manipulate both the media, and their so called -- supporters.

You should LISTEN to her,(she was a activist) and pay special attention to the part "after" the children speak.

Bob Dylan's New Album.


Modern Times is awesome. (Dylan's new CD)
This gets a 5 star rating from the "Andy Guide" of new releases.

Amazon link is HERE, and I encourage you to read the reviews.

Maggie's Farm is below, watch and listen to a bit of old school Dylan - to bring you back.....
(it is a very unique version, that I really enjoy)
- click on arrow and turn on volume -

President Bush & Matt Lauer.....

I would like to see, after YOU watch this video - how you feel about this subject. Many people have varied opinions on this particular topic.
I'm interested to see how my readers feel. Please use comments below.
Thanks.

(click on arrow and turn up the volume)

It's Only Rock and Roll.....

But, I like it.

Feb 18, 2006. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Saturday night on the Beach, with ONE MILLION PEOPLE - (a free show)

Keep in mind, when you are watching this, Mick Jagger is 63 yrs old.

Click on the arrow below, and turn on your volume. Enjoy.

Risk versus Reward.....

As I've disclosed, I've started a internet business, focused on lifting the value of "social network" publishing inventory.

The company is HERE.

I am currently in the midst of hiring world class talent, to help me build the company from a vision - to a kick-ass place that employees want to work, and our clients get value from.

Convincing key employees to come on board early, is a tricky, delicate proposition - frought with risk, and challenges......

There is VERY little money.

It's HIGH risk.

You are basically trying to SELL a good individual, on the merits of this VISION, (and this person is most probably gainfully employed, and is earning a VERY decent wage) and is also, VERY valued by his/her current organization.

It's gambling. Gambling all around.

Entreprenuer's face this challenge every single day. It is a challenge of epic proportion -- because you need to balance two very key elements.

The two elements are:

1) You as a entreprenuer, do NOT want to have to SELL your business "too much or too forcefully" to a potential new hire. They (the prospect) at a certain point, early in the conversation needs to grasp the concept, ask good, pertinent questions....and RUN WITH THE BALL. If you are selling the dream, hyping the vision -- and talking too much, about big picture stuff - then, this is PROBABLY NOT, the proper candidate for the startup. I've hired a few employees, and when the candidates, starting formulating my embryonic vision -- into THEIR CREATIVE LENSE, OF HOW THE PRODUCT COULD LOOK -- THAT WAS THE KEY TO MAKING A OFFER THEY COULD NOT REFUSE.

2) EXPECATIONS AND GOALS. Clear communication about the next 12 months. Small logical steps, to get to the next phase of the company. Making sure the candidate, understands and can process the goals that have been shared to all investors and future employees. I do not believe in the "hype machine" for the FIRST 5 to 10 employees. These folks need to see the 1st down markers, and 10 yard gains, instead of hearing about a Super Bowl Victory - or some unrealistic, improbable win.

Empowerment, and Communication are essential in any business, but I've found for me -they are VERY key ingredients to early success, and momentum....

The risk to the potential employee, becomes somewhat mitigated - when you can clearly communicate goals, and allow the individual the freedom to be creative, and put their unique talent of their personality (I call it, "DNA working stamp") on the vision of the company.

Startup companies are very risky. As a business owner, I've realized lowering risk, through clear goals - and effectively making candidates become, EMPOWERED AND CREATIVE THINKERS....has been key.

I am confident I will be successful in my new venture.

I'm more than confident that my employees will be REWARDED by working with me, and they will be TRAILBLAZERS, in our field - as well as, EXCITED TO GO TO WORK....

And, that is the reward (enjoying work) - for all of us.

I've clearly communicated that.

Sept 11, 2006....

I worked in a office about 8 blocks north of the WTC.

The 1st plane shook our office as it flew over our building. We ran to the window, to see, and we watched the second plane fly in.

I thought the 2nd plane (to fly into the building) was a "emergency plane" or a military plane -- but then, it banked and flew directly into the Tower #2.

My collegues can attest, before the 2nd plane hit, I told my co-workers that this was a act of terror, by Osama Bin Laden.

It was clear to me.

Rob Deichert has a post today on 9-11, from his perspective....(I was on the phone with Rob watching people jump, when the 2nd plane hit) - click HERE for Rob Deicherts Blog.

We ran to the car,which was parked on Lafayette -- and then proceeded to pile 4 of my friends in the car, and had to then drive to Steph's apt to get her dog. (she lived 2 blocks from the Unitred Nations which was becoming difficult to navigate, as garbage trucks started blocking intersections to prevent car bombs)

I asked everyone to keep the windows in the car closed. I thought there was a potential that it was a gas attack. It was 84 degrees, and hot in the car -- but, who knew what was happening?

The buildings were burning, the sky was ablaze, and as we drove north, AWAY from downtown, it seemed the entire inhabitants of Manhattan, were in a mass exodus along with us. The look on people's face. The empty glaze, innocence, and bewilderment on everyones face.

Bridges and Tunnels were closed.

We proceeded to get on the FDR, and somehow managed to race up, to the one crossing that was open.

The Tappan Zee Bridge.

We listened to Howard Stern (on 92.3) who had the BEST COVERAGE in the media. We were listening to him, as we watched the tower fall sitting on the East Side of Manhattan in traffic. (I watched the Sept 11, 2001 show on Howard TV last night, and it was INCREDIBLE)

We made it home after a long journey.

We lost friends.

Going back to life, and work in NYC was surreal.

I end here, but I tell you that the story of 9-11-01, should be taught in schools to EACH AND EVERY student in the United States. A honest story of evil, terror, and those twisted religious values, bent on killing innocent people. Not the PC version.

Fred Wilson directed me to the Google Video Sept 11th video page. It is REALLY GOOD. Fred's take is HERE.

My thoughts and prayers today go to the families of all those lost on Sept 11, 2001.

I will be driving into Manhattan this morning, listening to the Howard Stern replay of what I listened to on the morning of Sept 11th at 8:50am.

A morning we will all never forget.

11-24-78 Grateful Dead
Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ.

*this show made the rounds because it was simulcast on WNEW 102.7FM in NYC*

Jack Straw... click on arrow below -- and turn up the volume.

Images of.....
Escape Routes, Whales, Butterflies, and Fences.
My images.
(click on picture to enlarge)
Filed under: Thursday snapshots.

First Day of Kindergarten.....

My kids have their first day of school today.

They woke up (twin girls) all excited, clothes laid out, made their beds...(which is a rarity) -- and came down in a GREAT MOOD.

I'm not sure how I feel about my ladies starting school. It's a mixture of happiness, coupled with a realization that all parents face.

"The Babies are not Babies anymore."

I feel as though a big part of our lives just walked out the door, (backpack in tow) to experience .... LIFE.

Not sure that I AM ready for that, let alone them.
I brace myself, and remember fondly, Ms. Dicenzo my Kindergarten teacher from Lawrence Brook School. She was awesome.
I'm smiling, with the hopes that my childrens teacher imparts the same 5 year old wisdom that Ms. Dicenzo did on me.

How Cool Are These Guys?

Seriously. 1981.
Great Tune. "Worried About You." - From the Tattoo You, album.

Click on arrow below -- and Turn it Up.

Pictures of Labor Day 2006.
Taken in Chatham, Cape Cod, Mass.
Fun, Sun, Fishing and GREAT family, and friend time.
(click on picture below to enlarge)