Category Archives: Random

Marketing Analysis: Dr. Pepper “It’s Not for Women” 2

This post is a response to the excellent analysis of Dr. Pepper’s new Ad Campaign that Shennandoah Diaz wrote at BrassKnucklesMedia.com, “Lessons Learned from Dr. Pepper’s Facebook Fiasco.”  Her analysis is on point about what can happen when a brand doesn’t take their entire audience into account.  I’ve added my analysis of the issue to [...]

Keepstream from the Global Entrepreneurship conversation with Chile today 0

The 87 things you learn after 9 months at your first startup 4

You have to show up every day.  The endless days where nothing works have their own arithmetic that adds up to breakthroughs of genius.  The sun will come. Everybody works for free at first.  Free doesn’t really mean “free” though.  Free means that you’re an investor.  If you’re the entrepreneur, it means you’re an investor [...]

Specifically Which Customers Do I Fire? 0

Entrepreneurs, here is an important distinction in your customers that I learned at the Wizard Academy a few weeks back.  As you sell your product or service, you will deal with two meta-customers in your business.   One is ideal.  The other is a time-suck.  Respectively, they are called Relational and Transactional.  It’s important to learn to spot [...]

GlutenFree Allergy Sucks (Except When It Doesn’t) 1

Take a blood test.  Submit to the needle invading your arm.  Send off for the results. When I got the results back, they confirmed my nutritionist’s suspicions: my body had developed an allergic reaction to gluten.  That was December 2007.  That month was my last gluten hurrah.  I haven’t eaten most grains, OR beer, since.  But [...]

Why being an entrepreneur is like learning Spanish 2

Kevin Koym has a few phrases that he likes to repeat to me.  Over and Over.  I tend to repeat them back to him, which I suppose only encourages him.  They are turns of phrases that he’s picked up over the years: some from Dave Chappelle, some from Roy H. Williams, and then there are [...]

Perfect Pair: Cigar and Spirit Pairing Party 0

I’ve spent my spare time in the past 2 weeks creating the basic content for the Cigar and Spirit iPhone app. It’s fun duplicating what I used to do in humidors into a mobile app.  My goal when you buy the app is to help you to find that perfect balance between your smoke and [...]

Doing Tai Chi Is Not My Resolution for 2010 1

I’m against New Year’s Resolutions.  I defy them on principle.  I’ve had enough gym memberships to loathe the first two months of the year when new memberships are signed and people clog the place only to fall away at an alarming rate of attrition.  I’m all for self-improvement.  Tweaking myself is probably a vice that [...]

Merry Christmas Y’all 2

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! It’s the week after Christmas and the week of New Years.  As we all prepare to soak black-eyed peas for the 1st, what is the plan for 2010? There are plenty of questions floating around about what happens in 2010, and I’d like to come right out and ask [...]

Simplification: Only One Job 3

First off, I’m really enjoying my new digs.  Owning my own URL makes my day.  I got some great help to set this up from Charles Andretta, who works on many Tech Ranch Austin projects, and also is a founding partner of The Indigo Heron Group. I’m pleased to announce that I’m working full time [...]