I am going to try to discuss some periodic insights into one of my passions: Entrepreneurs.
I LOVE their 24/7 energy. Not only of the founder's but those who are working with them through the start up phase.
I am on the board or advisor to several companies; most of them are listed my LinkedIn site.
The entrepreneur and associated company that is not listed is a 3D without glasses company which, as the others, has a terrific founder at the helm.
He and his team has been pursuing his vision of bringing both the advanced hardware and software to market that together will be a game changer. And he is doing it.
When I describe his characteristics I am presenting the bar that seems to exist in most successful entrepreneurs. HIGH
He is relentless in his vision of bringing a high quality product to the marketplace.
His vision is immense, yet he pays attention (or has people who pay attention) to the details needed to make SURE that things are correct. He is finely tuned to the marketplace and sensitive to nuanced changes, both on a macro AND a micro scale.
He is vastly capable at assimilated a VAST amount of information and putting together in a simple framework to support his business model. And is relentless.
He combines a fearless lack of intimidation with humor and humility (ooh, a nice double H grouping).
What I have particularly enjoyed, with him and others, is watching the change in Bullshit to Substance ration ..(hmm B/S ratio). I think most entrepreneurs may start with a high B/S ratio as their vision is so big that it takes time and A LOT of work to pull together the substance; and as they do, the B/S asymptotically approaches zero.. Good thing it never reaches it because that's the point that there is no increasing vision..and the organization will eventually fail. Blow up in an infinity.
So, as he has traveled the world... working in the Far East for manufacturing, Europe for software... I detected much more substance...until the substance was almost in sync with his passion...nice.. (oh, that begs another ration.. substance to passion.. now when that reached one..is that a bar?) and he is on the road to a potentially dynamite round in capital and terrific new partnership.
I'll talk about others shortly.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Obama, a disappointment? and thus my first major tweet
I have just started getting serious about Tweeting.
It started with my concerns about the upcoming US Presidential elections.
You’ll note how hopeful I (and a lot of others in this country) I was when Obama was elected.
A very good friend, Leo Hindery (@LeoHindery) (who was closely associated with Obama’s campaign), presciently predicted that Obama and his party would be politically challenged by our expectations of him; if those expectations are not met (which was almost impossible given what he inherited), the Democrats would be really challenged in 2010 and more than likely be challenged in 2012.
And is that happening.
( If you’re interested check out Leo’s recent blog on the Huffington Post: http://huff.to/n27Jk3 )
While I admire a lot of President Obama’s agenda, I have become disenchanted by his leadership (or lack thereof).
I think Obama has done a good job with the USA international positioning and image. (See my post about his Cairo speech.)
I think he is addressing a lot of the agenda that he stated in his campaign, e.g. health care.
I am not shocked by his “executive”(just disappointed) behavior (it was pretty well outlined in the New Yorker during his campaign when they talked about his tenure as President of the Harvard Law Review).
I am shocked by the lack of flexibility in changing his agenda.
He could be emphasizing job development faster than other things like health care; he could be holding back on increased regulations …read environmental.. while trying to encourage hiring (business won’t invest in an ”environment” of uncertainty)
He could be follow up on financial regulations..
AND probably most important, he could communicate clearer with voters about these issues. (That doesn’t mean that he is not an excellent speaker. He is.)
Our more conservative friends communicate succinctly and clearly (right or wrong). Our more liberal friends seem to require intellectual rationalization (like this blog post…and all my others).
Some of my dissatisfaction started as soon as Obama was elected.
He has failed in his promised bipartisanship. I understand that he did not even reach across the aisle to Mitch McConnell. AND, the DNC had been so partisanly obnoxious about their fund raising efforts (as soon as Obama got into office) that I put a stop to contributing and put them on a “do not call” list.
I don’t understand why Obama doesn’t step up, use his office and position as the Bully Pulpit, and LEAD.
Thus my interest in tweeting.
I participate in a classroom activity called “Great Decisions” in Princeton.
It is a group who like to follow international issues. There is a “formal’ program, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association) that we follow periodically. At other time we just get together and chat about domestic issues.
Almost to a person we are at least moderately left of center (the rare right of centers are moderately so). So when discussing the upcoming election many felt that Rick Perry might be good for Obama is he ran on the Republican ticket. Obama might have a chance of winning.
And while I respect Governor Perry, I am not in tune with him. I feel that if he were on the Republican ticket, I would almost vote for Obama as a default.
I’m unhappy about that and would like a choice, so when we heard Jon Huntsman interviewed on PBS http://t.co/HydANz0 a week or so ago, I thought: YES.
I also understand Huntsman has little chance of getting on the ballot and thought it’d be interesting to try a “social/political” movement to give him some backing. Huntsman says he’d run under a “big tent” and I think he could. I think he’d draw a lot of unhappy Democrats like me (if Obama doesn’t start leading) and a whole lot of independents.
Thus my first Tweet.
Creating a viral movement, however, is not easy if you don’t have any following:
Yours truly: @larryaevans
It started with my concerns about the upcoming US Presidential elections.
You’ll note how hopeful I (and a lot of others in this country) I was when Obama was elected.
A very good friend, Leo Hindery (@LeoHindery) (who was closely associated with Obama’s campaign), presciently predicted that Obama and his party would be politically challenged by our expectations of him; if those expectations are not met (which was almost impossible given what he inherited), the Democrats would be really challenged in 2010 and more than likely be challenged in 2012.
And is that happening.
( If you’re interested check out Leo’s recent blog on the Huffington Post: http://huff.to/n27Jk3 )
While I admire a lot of President Obama’s agenda, I have become disenchanted by his leadership (or lack thereof).
I think Obama has done a good job with the USA international positioning and image. (See my post about his Cairo speech.)
I think he is addressing a lot of the agenda that he stated in his campaign, e.g. health care.
I am not shocked by his “executive”(just disappointed) behavior (it was pretty well outlined in the New Yorker during his campaign when they talked about his tenure as President of the Harvard Law Review).
I am shocked by the lack of flexibility in changing his agenda.
He could be emphasizing job development faster than other things like health care; he could be holding back on increased regulations …read environmental.. while trying to encourage hiring (business won’t invest in an ”environment” of uncertainty)
He could be follow up on financial regulations..
AND probably most important, he could communicate clearer with voters about these issues. (That doesn’t mean that he is not an excellent speaker. He is.)
Our more conservative friends communicate succinctly and clearly (right or wrong). Our more liberal friends seem to require intellectual rationalization (like this blog post…and all my others).
Some of my dissatisfaction started as soon as Obama was elected.
He has failed in his promised bipartisanship. I understand that he did not even reach across the aisle to Mitch McConnell. AND, the DNC had been so partisanly obnoxious about their fund raising efforts (as soon as Obama got into office) that I put a stop to contributing and put them on a “do not call” list.
I don’t understand why Obama doesn’t step up, use his office and position as the Bully Pulpit, and LEAD.
Thus my interest in tweeting.
I participate in a classroom activity called “Great Decisions” in Princeton.
It is a group who like to follow international issues. There is a “formal’ program, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Association) that we follow periodically. At other time we just get together and chat about domestic issues.
Almost to a person we are at least moderately left of center (the rare right of centers are moderately so). So when discussing the upcoming election many felt that Rick Perry might be good for Obama is he ran on the Republican ticket. Obama might have a chance of winning.
And while I respect Governor Perry, I am not in tune with him. I feel that if he were on the Republican ticket, I would almost vote for Obama as a default.
I’m unhappy about that and would like a choice, so when we heard Jon Huntsman interviewed on PBS http://t.co/HydANz0 a week or so ago, I thought: YES.
I also understand Huntsman has little chance of getting on the ballot and thought it’d be interesting to try a “social/political” movement to give him some backing. Huntsman says he’d run under a “big tent” and I think he could. I think he’d draw a lot of unhappy Democrats like me (if Obama doesn’t start leading) and a whole lot of independents.
Thus my first Tweet.
Creating a viral movement, however, is not easy if you don’t have any following:
Yours truly: @larryaevans
I have just started getting serious about Tweeting.
It started with my concerns about the upcoming US Presidential elections.
You’ll note how hopeful I (and a lot of others in this country) I was when Obama was elected.
A very good friend, Leo Hindery (@LeoHindery) (who was closely associated with Obama’s campaign), presciently predicted that Obama and his party would be politically challenged by our expectations of him; if those expectations are not met (which was almost impossible given what he inherited), the Democrats would be really challenged in 2010 and more than likely be challenged in 2012.
And is that happening.
( If you’re interested check out Leo’s recent blog on the Huffington Post:
It started with my concerns about the upcoming US Presidential elections.
You’ll note how hopeful I (and a lot of others in this country) I was when Obama was elected.
A very good friend, Leo Hindery (@LeoHindery) (who was closely associated with Obama’s campaign), presciently predicted that Obama and his party would be politically challenged by our expectations of him; if those expectations are not met (which was almost impossible given what he inherited), the Democrats would be really challenged in 2010 and more than likely be challenged in 2012.
And is that happening.
( If you’re interested check out Leo’s recent blog on the Huffington Post:
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Chalabi
He’s back!….
Ahmad Chalabi…bigger than life…naturally…
I was looking at Newsweek and saw an article about Ahmad Chalabi. I thought he had disappeared shortly after the US invasion of Iraq, in which he had such an obscene, biased, and falsified influence.
I have dealt with con men in my past and now have an uncanny ability in recognizing one…and he is on the top of my list.
On the other hand I am culturally naïve; I find Russia an enigma, as did Winston Churchill. I find Chalabi an enigma. But both Russia and Iraz have cultures thousands of years older than the one in which I have been raised.
The Russian’s have had a culture of central power and control since somewhere around 900AD; Iraq and the surrounding Central Asian cultures have been fermenting for more than 7000 years.
I need to study this guy Chalabi closer because on the surface I cannot tell the difference between his personal self interest and the interest of Iraq (and Iran), but maybe that’s OK.
Putin and Medvedev seem to address what the Russian’s need.
Chalabi seems to have the art of bridging a whole lot of influencers. And perhaps that’s what is needed for future stability of that region.
In any event, I recently read a book written by Bulgakov and the devil is frequently not who you think he is. Maybe that’s true of Chalabi.
The US doesn’t seem to have any one central figure or government that controls a past culture….and maybe that will be our future culture…and maybe that’s OK as well.
Cultures that seem to stick to what has worked historically seem comfortable, safe, and have confidence.
So, I'll just keep on watching and try to do it with an open mind.
Ahmad Chalabi…bigger than life…naturally…
I was looking at Newsweek and saw an article about Ahmad Chalabi. I thought he had disappeared shortly after the US invasion of Iraq, in which he had such an obscene, biased, and falsified influence.
I have dealt with con men in my past and now have an uncanny ability in recognizing one…and he is on the top of my list.
On the other hand I am culturally naïve; I find Russia an enigma, as did Winston Churchill. I find Chalabi an enigma. But both Russia and Iraz have cultures thousands of years older than the one in which I have been raised.
The Russian’s have had a culture of central power and control since somewhere around 900AD; Iraq and the surrounding Central Asian cultures have been fermenting for more than 7000 years.
I need to study this guy Chalabi closer because on the surface I cannot tell the difference between his personal self interest and the interest of Iraq (and Iran), but maybe that’s OK.
Putin and Medvedev seem to address what the Russian’s need.
Chalabi seems to have the art of bridging a whole lot of influencers. And perhaps that’s what is needed for future stability of that region.
In any event, I recently read a book written by Bulgakov and the devil is frequently not who you think he is. Maybe that’s true of Chalabi.
The US doesn’t seem to have any one central figure or government that controls a past culture….and maybe that will be our future culture…and maybe that’s OK as well.
Cultures that seem to stick to what has worked historically seem comfortable, safe, and have confidence.
So, I'll just keep on watching and try to do it with an open mind.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Comments on GPSEG
Just want to comment on a new organization I recently joined. The Greater Philadelphia Senior Executive Group, GPSEG. First of all, the "Senior" is a reflection on the level of the members of the organization, not the age; I had to clarify this for my wife who assumes, because I am involved in some terrific "senior" educational seminars in Princeton, that everything I do is associated with this age group.
The GPSEG is one of the best networking groups in which I have been involved. Their philosophy is that networking is a lifelong process, which a number of books and pundits advocate, but this group practices. I have seldom met a more engaging or professional group. I have just joined their "CEO Roundtable" and look forward to mutually sharing business and life experiences that will assist in my advice, usually probono, to early stage companies, of which I have a passion.
The GPSEG is one of the best networking groups in which I have been involved. Their philosophy is that networking is a lifelong process, which a number of books and pundits advocate, but this group practices. I have seldom met a more engaging or professional group. I have just joined their "CEO Roundtable" and look forward to mutually sharing business and life experiences that will assist in my advice, usually probono, to early stage companies, of which I have a passion.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Obama Cairo speech June 2009
Well… here I go again. Just as when Obama was elected, I am inspired by our President. I just listened to his speech in Cairo, on Thursday 6.4.09.
And I want to make these comments before I see all of the mixed reviews, as I tend to compromise my positions with other people’s opinions.
(And in full disclosure I do not vote along party lines, and sometimes I do not vote with full knowledge of the candidate’s history. In 2000 I voted for ’43. And in 2004, although I don’t think that ’43 had a strong competitor, I voted for that competitor. And in 2008 I voted for Obama, having followed him for a fairly significant period of time, including getting a sense of how he actually acts as a politician; as was demonstrated by his actions as President of the Harvard Law Review. Some of this information I obtained via the New Yorker and a number of other publications, and communications with people who knew him personally. He was described by one of his advisors, a friend of mine, as other worldly)
Let me go back to my dialogue.
I do think he is somewhat other worldly in the respect that he speaks for values that we hold here in America, and the ideals upon which this country was founded. Ideals that he feels are “human rights” for all people. He speaks with emotional and intelligent commitment. Underneath that I fully understand, by his past behavior that his political actions are based on reality and practicality.
Like my first post, my view of the conditions in this country and the world was lifted by his talk. His vision of fighting extremist (of any religion) and protecting the US; his discussion of Iran; his discussion of nuclear proliferation; of the Palestine/Israel two state solution; and his discussion about women’s right to education, etc, I thought proudly reflect our country’s true position , or at least mine.
That being said, I fully expect that what he said may by an asymptotic dream, but then if one does not have goals, progress will be very, very slow. Nor will it be focused. It will be lucky not to be chaotic.
I thought that his speech had an undercurrent of practicality in that he, like many of our better past president’s reached out to a broad audience (in this case the world) and engaged them. I think the goal is to have them put implicit (and maybe explicit) pressure on some of those factions that he is addressing (pressure on extremist by moderates, pressure on Israel to re engage on the two state solution and Palestine to reduce violence, etc, etc.
Soooo…
I am glad that he is representing our country to the world, and even happier that he is representing human and world values that are appropriate to any individual.
Well, that’s it for now…oh, I did listen to some feedback before finishing this on PBS, and one comment that I agree with is that, yes, his vision still needs details and action and behavioral validation. He needs to tap in on a lot of political capital… which, at this point, seems somewhat unlimited… buy will probably run out of it…sometime..maybe.
(I guess I am not quite done…)_
But, speaking of behavior, he and his administration have, even before inauguration, laid out vision without much detail… received negative reviews subsequently, only to fairly quickly flush out details and implement them with alacrity. And at this point they seem to be having some positive effects.
He has been less than 6 months since he has been president. He and his administration have addressed economic worldwide disaster (with associated industry failures and job losses), two wars, very negative worldwide opinion, Supreme Court justice nominations, etc etc.
So, I will continue to be patient and enjoy the validation of my idealism by President Obama.
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