November 2007
17 posts
Munger’s Worldly Wisdom
I think the reason why we got into such idiocy in investment management is best illustrated by a story that I tell about the guy who sold fishing tackle. I asked him, “My God, they’re purple and green. Do fish really take these lures?” And he said, “Mister, I don’t sell to fish.” Investment managers are in the position of that...
Berkshire Hathaway’s Other Half
Munger said that he wanted to be wealthy so that he could have a large family, but also so that he could be independent, follow his own ideas, and live life the way he chooses. He hopes to follow the example of Benjamin Franklin — to use his wealth and independence to do good works. His legacy will be that of a self-made billionaire who also is a...
He makes it sound so easy … (via Julia Allison)
Julia: So what’s the secret? Why are you still married when most people aren’t?
Dad: You just make your best choice. And hopefully you do that wisely, but one of the things you’re choosing is someone whose commitment level you think matches yours. Both mom and I are very committed to one another. And that obviously is...
“All this stuff about divorce - it’s so negative, when marriage is really...”
– My dad, tonight.
via Julia Allison
“The best gift a parent can give a child is a happy marriage.”
– My mom used to say this to me throughout my childhood. I think it makes a lot of sense.
via Julia Allison
WatchThe Diamond Empire: Oppenheimer family’s cartel, Artificial scarcity (Frontline 1994)
Have a company voice.
… we have been brought up to think that business is serious, and that we have to be serious if we want to be taken seriously. As the saying goes, this is serious business. So, we (meaning you) spend lots and lots of time depersonalizing our corporate communications, because, you know, we can’t say that!.
It is a competitive advantage for you to have a unique voice in...
“… the investing public is fascinated and captured by the great financial...”
– John Kenneth Galbraith A Short History of Financial Euphoria via VesTopia.com
Thanksgiving
Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner...
The 20 Worst Venture Capital Investments of All... →
… a flat structure where any idea could win the day.
Thiel’s leadership style is as unconventional as his worldview. His hallmark management MO at PayPal (at least, pre-IPO) was the all-hands open-book session. Customer logs, revenue flow, fraud losses, burn rate: He’d display it all for every employee to see. This access to information, coupled with the lack of offices, created...
YouTube / HD
A lot of people are asking me what I think about YouTube’s vague HD aspirations. My response is the same as to any other YouTube product announcement.
YouTube is an illicit organization built upon a self-destructive philosophy. This is not an academic point: all businesses depend on their philosophy. Whether that philosophy is determined though conscious design, or whether it...
colour lovers →
20 Design Resources →
A list of Inspiration, Printing, Web Services, and Blogs for Designers — ideas
StoryCorps, Recording America →
Since 2003, thousands have taken part in the StoryCorps oral history project, describing their lives and history.