CMM January 31st, 2008
Leave it to the ladies at Wallstrip to do an amusing video on vice investing during an economic downturn. Vice investing is purchasing stock in guns, cigarettes, gambling. and booze… all areas of the economy that tend to perform better in an economic downturn. It begs the questions, is that really consistent with the idea that investors always behave rationally in a free market?
My favorite line…. “I’m a hot widgit!”
CMM January 29th, 2008
I grabbed this excellent video from Marc Andreeson’s blog (which I highly recommend). This reminds me of some of the presentations I witnessed/suffered during my MBA.
Remember folks, you can have the dream life of your dreams!
CMM January 11th, 2008
Took a ten minute break from work this afternoon to complete a candidate calculator I saw on the news. I completed a questionnaire on a variety of issues ranking my support and my level of perceived importance. The results are pretty interesting.
3 Most Comparable Candidates:
3 Least Comparable Candidates:
I’d say that is pretty accurate overall, although I’m a fredhead tried and true. You can do the candidate calculator here.
CMM November 29th, 2007
Local entrepreneur, author, professor and community leader Lee Martin is at it again. This time he has moved out of the land of robotics and computer science (a realm where he found success with his last start-up, iPix) and into online retailing… with a social enterprise twist! As even more proof that he can innovate outside of mechanics and engineering, his new company Abunga.com, is a socially responsible online retailer that “empowers decency as your Family Friendly Bookstore.”
Teaming up with the family business behind Family Book Outlet ad SAS & Associates, Dr. Martin is the chairman of Abunga. Abunga sets to provide a family-value alternative to online retailers like Amazon.com. Unknown to many consumers and parents, many online retailers deal with more objectionable material than the new John Grisham novel (forgive the pun). The team at Abunga have set out to do something about it. As an added bonus, 5% of all sales go to FANs– favored Abunga nonprofits like East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and Knox Area Rescue Ministries.
Picture is of Adam Slack of Abunga’s team. For more information visit the Abunga website or the KnoxNews.com article.
CMM November 11th, 2007
5 weeks…
I’ve reached a turning point in my life, or as they say in MBA-speak an “inflection point.” My graduation will be upon me in just a few weeks and I have to make some of “those” decisions. What are those decisions? The “real world” and “tough” decisions that often make for good subplots in whitty romantic comedies or coming-of-age dramas. Fortunately (or unfortunately), my life is neither entertaining enough to be a comedy or revealing enough to be a drama. But that’s how I like it– a life less ordinary.
I’ve long argued that humans control their own destinies through attitude and decisions. Success is not the product of luck or chance but rather the result of discipline, ethic and effort. It’s not just self-pep talk, I really believe it. Now I’ve got 5 weeks leading up to graduation, some serious decisions, and setting in motion the next chapter of my life.
5 weeks of tests, papers, projects and a graduate capstone. 5 weeks to decide on a job, find a new place to live, and organize a relocation. 5 weeks of holiday parties, gifts, and festivities. I’m dealing with a one-two punch from the holidays and graduation.
On one side, so many things are lined up that support staying in Knoxville.
Why is making this decision a challenge? There are all these expectation about being an MBA:
This is my dilemma. What is the current situation? How do I fit? What is my strategy? What are the possible outcomes? How can I draw the appropriate lines? Some might criticize my time line or lack of decision-making. To that I answer, this is my life and I’ll do it on my time line. I know the limits, the consequences, and the magnitude. I’ve got 5 weeks and the clock is ticking.
