Dave Hitz, in How to Castrate a Bull:

On running your business: If the opportunity to grow big is there, take it. At least listen to opposing views. A tangible connection to your end customers is paramount.

On work: Like your co-workers. Take pride in your work. Find a place where you trust management.

10-year trends: Cloud computing. Mobility.

You want financial advice?

Have $1000 cash in emergency money, tear up your credit cards, pay off your debts. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

–Reader, Wall Street Journal

Anecdotal Sydney

Observations on Sydney, Australia from a friend on a business trip:

• There is a cap on Internet access– 4 GB a month
• A lot of snobbery towards America, especially from Europeans. They think Americans are so crude, obnoxious, self-centered. Most of them express awe/surprise at how we elected George Bush for his second term.
• CNN has an entirely different line up– more world news, Mideast coverage, shows on Musim youth. In the U.S., the media paints everything Muslim as terrorist-related.
• Hard to find good Mexican food– the burritos are horrendous. Not too many Mexicans in Australia.
• Central business district has lots of food courts, typically in the cellar. You can walk between train stations just under sub ways. There are shopping centres, cafes, food courts all under ground.
• Housing- a mixture of apartments and houses
• Lots of Asians

Lessons Learned from LinkedIn

In response to the question (paraphrased), “What lessons have you learned and wish to share with others?”, Craig Hohnberger, President/CEO at ActionCOACH of Indiana and Central/South Ohio, responds:

Compliments of Rose from Chicago (I was 30 and she was 75 and we were sitting next to each other on a long flight…her returning from vacation and me from a regular two-week business trip away from my family. On this particular trip my oldest daughter learned to walk and I had to wait 11 days to see her).

Rose said, “If you want to get to my age with no regrets, and regrets are the worst part about being my age, there are 3 things you must do:

1. Take time to invest in and love other people, starting with your family, and you can’t do that from a business trip. Always remember, your kids spell love – T-I-M-E, they don’t spell it l-o-v-e.
2. Pursue your dreams – whatever they are…not your company’s.
3. Take more risks in life and never let fear stop you. I certainly won’t go to my grave wishing I’d played it safer.”

Her advice led me on a journey of soul and career searching that changed my life and is continuing to.

Anecdotal India

• A lot of poverty but culturally enlightening
• Was treated like a king, had own driver, servants on hands and knees sweeping up dust balls in the hotel room
• Huge building boom
• Bought jewelry for the equivalent of the driver’s monthly salary

We have limits, but we can always do better [go beyond our limits].

Focus like when you’re skydiving.

Larry Ellison on Taking the Long-Term Perspective

The market gets it right over a long period.

Warren Buffett on Buying Stocks

“They say in the stock market…buy stock in a business that’s so good that an idiot can run it because sooner or later one will.”

The orchestra as a metaphor for the possible

[The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra] is a transformational experience for the [Arab and Israeli] musicians. Being an orchestral musician means you have to express yourself to the utmost while simultaneously listening and responding. That’s an important skill for conflict resolution and for life.

Daniel Barenboim, conductor, quoted in TIME magazine, April 14, 2008.

Movie Reviews To Go

3:10 to Yuma. Christian, you rockest. Russell, what happened?

300. This is the future! Of filmmaking.

Antwone Fisher. Denzel’s directorial debut jerks at tears.

Atonement. Annoying typewriter.

The Black Dahlia. Eh.

BloodRayne. Pure garbage. Michelle Rodriguez + British accent = paycheck for Sir Ben Kingsley.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. Deceptively brilliant.

The Darjeeling Limited. Pretentious? Who cares?

Date Movie. Absolutely dreadful. A career low for Alyson Hannigan.

The Departed. Well-executed ripoff.

The English Patient. Almasy wins first prize in romantic futility.

Everything Is Illuminated. Laugh out loud turns to somber realism. Liev delivers.

Flags of Our Fathers. Clint, you’re awesome. Veterans, thank you.

Forrest Gump. Go Forrest!

Fun with Dick and Jane. Enron/Adelphia/Tyco debacle + keeping up with the Joneses + bilingual babysat children + migrant workers = brilliantly sly take on our times.

Gattaca. Go Vincent!

The Godfather. Back when Al was good.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Clint, you’re awesome.

The Great Raid. Not bad, James. Unbelievable but true story.

A History of Violence. Pleasant surprise with William Hurt in a supporting role. Not Viggo’s best movie, but he was believable enough.

The Illusionist. Predictable.

In Her Shoes. Layered, authentic, character-driven, smart, unflinching. Cameron Diaz nails it.

The Island. One long commercial. Steve Buscemi appears out of nowhere like whack-a-mole.

Jackass: Number 2. Got brain?

Jarhead. Brilliantly written book, not as good Hollywood version. Dennis Haysbert, the poor man’s Denzel Washington, makes a cameo.

Last Holiday. Ladies Love Cool James loves Latifah. Cheesy and formulaic, but a guilty pleasure.

The Last King of Scotland. Forest, you were always this good.

Letters from Iwo Jima. Clint, you’re awesome.

Madagascar. Inessential.

March of the Penguins. Amazing.

Matchpoint. Where’s the tennis?

Mission Impossible 3. Non-stop action, worthy of big-screen ticket price. Keri Russell breaks out of Felicity.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Unexpectedly good enough to rent. Funny marriage jokes.

Out of Time. Good sidekick humor, Denzel in peak form.

The Prestige. Chris, you rock. Christian, you rockest.

The Professional. Natalie, I always knew you’d be a star.

The Shawshank Redemption. Go Andy!

Stranger Than Fiction. Cool watch.

An Unfinished Life. Another one of these roles, eh, Morgan? J.Lo, enough.

The Weather Man. Camel toe.