Monday, September 9, 2019

Mugabe Had The Best Job! Why Dictating is Good for Happiness and Longevity


Mugabe's passing reminds us that the best job of the last century - as defined by pay and longevity - was Dictator.

The only concern was avoiding assassination or losing a disastrous war.

To wit:
Robert Mugabe died age 94 - after 37 years in office (Zimbabwe)
Fidel Castro died age 90 - after 49 years in office (Cuba)
Mao Zedong died age 83 - after 27 years in office (China)
Josip Broz Tito died age 88 - after 45 years in office (Yugoslavia)
Joseph Stalin died age 75 - after 37 years in office (USSR)
Mobutu Sese Seko died age 67 - after 32 years in office (Zaire)

Even those who ended badly still had magnificent runs and left the game billionaires:

Muammar Al Gathafi died age 69 - after 42 years in office (Libya)
Saddam Hussein died age 69 - after 24 years in office (Iraq)
Hosni Mubarak died age 91 - after 30 years in office (Egypt)
Adolf Hitler died age 56 - after 12 years in office (Germany)
Mussolini died age 62 - after 21 years in office (Italy)
Nicolae Ceaușescu died age 83 - after 27 years in office (Romania)

As of now, Vladimir Putin is still in training at age 66 with just 19 years on the job. (Russia)

There is something about playing god and really getting back at your critics that is just so darn good for your health.

If only there were a pharmacological alternative.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/06/opinion/robert-mugabe-zimbabwe-dead.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

Saturday, March 16, 2019

3 Essentials to Funding




3 Essentials to Funding

1.     1. Not Just Big – Scalable
Your idea must have the potential to grow big in order to get Investors interested. They need a minimum of a 10x return to break even on their overall investments. Even then, they are looking for promises of more because they know how often even 10x projections fall short.

2.     2. Traction: Some Proof of Acceptance – Patent/Likely Acquirer
Your idea might be brilliant but if no one wants it you dont have a business. Find a way to show that customers of some kind somewhere want it. Otherwise you are relying on the judgment of Investors and they are not likely to trust their judgment unless you can show them there is a line of willing takers somewhere. Patents that are likely to interest partners or protection against competitors, help too!
  
3. Execution: A Team That Can Make it Happen and a Comprehensive Plan
Ideas dont come alive on their own. Either you are uniquely qualified or you can attract a team to make our plan work. Ultimately, the Investors are likely to choose doers over thinkers. Ideas dont get funded but people with ideas do. If you can show that you know how to get things done and get a competent team to follow you, even a mediocre idea can get funded


Thursday, February 14, 2019

What are your thoughts about the lost Amazon deal in New York?

My comment in the NY Times about the dead Amazon deal in LIC.

"Congratulations!

You should be a happy as the New York longshoremen who chased the container industry to Elizabeth, New Jersey in the 60's.

Now, there are bars and no cargo ships in Brooklyn.

Prediction: Nashville will make a country celebration album with high tech effects. 
(New Yorkers can get it by same day delivery - thanks to Amazon Prime.)"

http://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/nyregion/amazon-hq2-queens.html?comments#permid=30618947"