The Profit Prophet

While I try to talk about startups, strategy, and how to manage growth, every now and then I need to be reminded that there are some very critical things that we take as common sense, but unfortunately is not that common. Sometimes, when we start up a business, we get attached to a certain set of beliefs that as we grow and change, need to change with us. To drive home the point is a story below..about believing something too long...   The couple were 85 years old and had been married for 60 years. Though they were far from rich, they managed to get by because they watched their pennies. Though not young, they were both in very good health, largely due to the wife's insistence on healthy foods and exercise for the last decade. One day, their good health didn't help when they went on a rare vacation and their plane crashed, sending them off to Heaven.   They reached the pearly gates, and St. Peter escorted them inside. He took them to a beautiful mansion, furnished...

This post has to do with stereotypes and that sometimes age and cunning will always overcome hubris and arrogance... Hope you enjoy.  ________________________________________  Two businessmen in New York, were standing around and taking a break in their soon-to-be new store. As yet, the store wasn't ready, and didn't even have the shelves set up. One said to the other, "I bet any minute now, some Jewish guy is going to walk by, put his face to the window, and ask what we're selling."  No sooner were the words out of his mouth when, sure enough, a curious old Jewish man, walked to the window, had a peek, and in a soft voice asked, "Vot ya sellin' here?"  One of the men replied sarcastically, "We're selling ass-holes." Without skipping a beat, the old Jewish man said, "Must be doing well...only two left."

Recently, I have had to make some presentations about what it takes to be an entrepreneur or start up a company, and what type of people I would hire or be associated with.  When asked, I usually come back with this question:  If you had a choice to sail the seven seas either with the Royal Navy or as a Pirate/Privateer, what would you choose? Incredibly, the answer to this simple question is really at the crux if you can be an entrepreneur or not.  One choice offers the prestige and power of a great power, and known and respected entity, at the price of having to conform to a certain system of rules and regulations based mostly on seniority and position not necessarily performance and merit.  The other offers a high risk lifestyle, but with some freedoms and the ability to join a group of liked minded individuals.  To sail to unchartered, risky lands; to fight for what you believe in, and to seize opportunities wherever you go. How you answer this questi...

This is an interesting development about how what was old is now new again... Let me see if I have this right... Ukraine buys almost all its energy (natural gas) from Russia.  Revenues from natural gas are a primary source of Russia's income. Because of the recent disagreement between Ukraine and Russia, Russia is raising the price of natural gas it sells to Ukraine. Ukraine is almost broke and cannot afford the increase in the natural gas price because it would be forced into bankruptcy.   President Obama just announced the United States is giving Ukraine $1 billion to assist in paying for the higher priced natural gas it buys from Russia.  So, the United States is actually giving Russia $1 billion because in reality, the money is just passing through Ukraine. The first question: Has Putin figured out a way to raise the price of his natural gas sales and make the U.S. pay for the increase?  Next question: Was he really in the KGB or was he a actu...