The Experts Are Always Right!

This morning, over a nice cup of coffee while watching the snow fall, I read the article in today’s Wall Street Journal, Technology Predictions are Mostly Bunk by L. Gordon Crovitz. From the article:

Arthur C. Clarke, the science fiction writer, identified what he called the "three laws of prediction," reflecting an optimistic view of ingenuity: 1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong; 2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture past them into the impossible; and 3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Take a minute, get a cup of coffee or depending on the time of day, a Knob Creek and water, and read the piece. And think of it the next time some talking head gives a prediction on the state of the economy, the state of technology or the state of the National Football League.

Let's Do Some Good

If you haven’t seen this piece in the NY Times, take a moment to read it. Especially as we consider the holiday season and what it has turned into, this is a good time to think about doing good. The article is titled Doing Good by Paying Forward by Ron Lieber.

Love and War

Here at Syracuse University, it’s been my pleasure to work with the outstanding Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program. As I’ve had the chance to talk to and work with veterans from the various branches of the military, I’ve become more and more appreciative of the level of dedication and commitment that they’ve shown to our country. In today’s Wall Street Journal, take a look at another example of young men and women who provide service to our country, even if it means, as the article puts it, juggling “marriage and mission.” The article is entitled: Love and War by Michael M. Phillips.

Two from Today

I got to a meeting early today, and since there was a copy of the USA Today sitting there, I had the chance to read two interesting stories. The first has to do with making money off YouTube, entitled, YouTube Keeps Video Makers Rolling in the Dough. The second story, which has nothing to do with entrepreneurship, but which absolutely pulls at your heart, is called Hospice Santa Volunteers Face Grief, Kids’ Hard Questions. I dare you to read this story without having to wipe the tears from your eyes.

Pay Toilets on Airplanes?

If you didn’t see this article about Ryanair in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, you might want to read it and learn about a company that really thinks outside the box! How outside the box…how about charging airline passengers to use the toilet? Now, I’m certainly not advocating that level of cost cutting, but I really like Ryanair’s approach to thinking way outside the box as a way to reinvent a company or even an industry.

Never Give Up!

Here is an interesting video of an athlete who isn’t going to let anything get in the way. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ1cCfi4YUw ) It has a nice Syracuse University and Whitman School of Management connection because Augusto Perez, is a client of our Start-Up NY program through his business that provides motivational speeches and also provides Spanish translation services. Greg Callen, who is also featured in the video, is also a StartUp NY client having started a not-for-profit, MoveAlongInc which provides wheelchair recreation for people in Central New York.