Monthly Archives: May 2011

May 10, 2011 · 10:59 am

The Pros From Dover

I was flipping around the dial last evening when I came across a program called “Talking Funny” on HBO.  It was Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Louis CK and Ricky Gervais talking about comedy and having, as the promo says “an unscripted conversation about what it means to be a comedian.”  It was pretty funny stuff and, more importantly for our purposes in this space, it got me thinking about some broader business points I’d like to share.

One of them made the point that most people can amuse themselves.  You or I can tell jokes and make ourselves and others laugh.  This was said with a touch of bemusement and amazement that despite this fact, people pay a fair amount of money to go to comedy shows.  And that’s the business point. Continue reading →

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May 9, 2011 · 2:40 pm

Flogton

Sad news came this weekend with the passing of Seve Ballesteros.  He was an inspiration to many golfers, including to me in a small way.  Seve was renowned for hitting the ball into all kinds of horrible trouble and fearlessly trying to recover.  Usually, he did just that and he won numerous titles playing from places many golfers didn’t even know were part of the golf course.  That’s the inspiration to me although my success rate in recovering is a tiny fraction of what Seve’s was.

Seve showed a few things about golf to the world: that it builds character, that it’s really REALLY hard even for the best in the world, and that the greatest triumphs come after the greatest adversity.  Which is why I find this morning’s report about Flogton in the Times so frustrating – and there’s a business point in there as well. Continue reading →

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May 6, 2011 · 9:21 am

Living To Eat

Full course dinner

Image via Wikipedia

I was riding home on the train last night and there was a guy chowing down.  “Eating” would be a gross understatement – he was mechanically stuffing his face for nearly the entire hour of the train ride.  Since it’s Friday, he seemed right on topic for our weekly food theme.

If you walk around at lunch time you might spot a number of people behaving in a similar manner.  They’re focused on something other than their food.  Eating is something they do because at some point we all have to.  I get the sense that if they could take a pill and be done with the eating thing they would.  Then there are the folks that don’t really seem to be enjoying their food but just keep eating it.  When they’re done with one thing – or whatever is on their plate – they’ll move on to the next thing – or to your plate!  Kind of food sharks – they must keep eating even if they’re not hungry.

Which of course prompted a business thought. Continue reading →

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