w5h

[tomloverro-deactivated20250505]

My take on this topic: innovation in NYC has been accelerating for the past decade and the last five years in particular, but the perceived hype most definitely got ahead of reality for a couple years in the 2010-2012 timeframe as consumer-facing co’s such as Tumblr, FourSquare and Fab grew and rode the classic hype cycle. The hype has abated and continues to abate. Meanwhile, beyond the hype you will find large and successful companies from Etsy to OnDeck. Sure there were and will be flameouts but that’s the name of the game in startups. One thing is for certain: this isn’t the same NYC as a decade ago. NYC is now the #2 tech scene in the country, something most talking heads would have doubted a decade ago. It is real and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. I’ll bet NYC stays firmly #2 (and only solidifies that rank) over the next 20 years. NYC will not overtake the Valley in that timeframe but I don’t see Boston or anyone else surging past the Big Apple. NYC has a population advantage that is hard to ignore.

Note: the NYT article misses RRE portfolio company OnDeck, which could be one of the largest NYC tech IPOs of all time. That miss is symptomatic of the larger issue of media attention and hype focusing on consumer tech (which is more hits driven and hype-prone) while neglecting B2B (which is understandably harder to grok and therefore harder to write about, or more accurately, harder to write about and MUCH harder to generate traffic from).

[w5h-blog]

FiveThirtyEight and the End of Average - Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson did an amazing job summarizing something fundamentally important about what digital has done to industry--that is, removing the average out of everything:

This, of course, is made possible by the Internet. No longer are my reading choices constrained by time and especially place. Why should I pick up the Wisconsin State Journal – or the Taipei Times – when I can read Nate Silver, Ezra Klein, Bill Simmons, and the myriad other links served up by Twitter? I, and everyone else interested in news, politics, or sports, can read the best with less effort – and cost – than it ever took to read the merely average just a few short years ago.

But the real kicker comes when he looks at the broader implication of choice and access; my favourite moment in the short piece: 

What then, though, of the tens of thousands of journalists who formerly filled the middle of the bell curve? More broadly – and this is the central challenge to society presented by the Internet – what then of the millions of others in all the other industries touched by the Internet who are perfectly average and thus, in an age where the best is only a click away, are simply not needed?

[w5h-blog]

Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government - Gavin Newsom

Citizenville is Gavin Newsom's vision for a better connected and more involved American constituency. The former Mayor of San Francisco turned Lt. Governor of California, Newsom explores a variety of case studies where technology has helped to encourage participation within a stagnating electorate. 

The book is an easy read, and presents innovative ideas clearly. Newsom looks to examples in America, and abroad, where the private and public sector fuse their skills and resources to develop tools that will engage voters. More importantly, Newsom argues that the current role of government is outdated--stuck in the previous century--and should look to private sector development as an opportunity to speed up tangible change. 

He presents a strong belief that the mountainous volumes of data held by government can be an asset to private sector companies who are agile, nimble, and not tied to red tape bureaucracy that impedes innovation. A partnership where communities and governments at all levels share data to build tools that improve our lives is not only socially beneficial, but also an opportunity to transform our economic output. 

The Obama administration has taken a giant leap forward in bringing government up-to-speed with technology, with notable bumps along the way (all things aside, Healthcare.gov is a dramatic shift in the way we connect with citizens)--Newsom continues this charge by looking to the CEOs, entrepreneurs, scientists, students, and digital enthusiasts who are carving out a new path for America. 

[w5h-blog]

Bandcamp Finds: Joel Helander

I’m always searching for new music. Bandcamp has been an awesome destination to easily search and discover music in a variety of genres. Bandcamp Finds is my irregularly scheduled effort to highlight and applaud artists I’ve enjoyed. 

Flood by Joel Helander.

Flood is a relaxing journey through modernized classical compositions. Joel Helander's piano work is soothing and meditative. The album nudges you through the day with gentle lifts and reflective dips, and is a great accompaniment to move through the work day, or while enjoying "do nothing" moments. 

<a href="http://joelhelander.bandcamp.com/album/flood" data-mce-href="http://joelhelander.bandcamp.com/album/flood">Flood by Joel Helander</a>

[w5h-blog]

Why I'm Pumped for Satya Nadella

There's been a lot of fanfare surrounding the announcement of Microsoft's new CEO, Satya Nadella. From the official webpage declaring his role, to the press tour he's been on, I'm pretty impressed with Microsoft's "on-the-surface" communications approach to introducing Satya. 

To me, his selection for CEO is a big deal because he's been tasked with propelling Microsoft into the next era of their business--a much discussed evolution from hardware-centric products, to software-centric services.

He's a different type of thinker, and it shows in everything he does. Adam Bryant from The New York Times snagged Satya's first official interview as CEO, and it's answers like this that excite me: 

I fundamentally believe that if you are not self-aware, you’re not learning. And if you’re not learning, you’re not going to do useful things in the future.

One of the things that drives me crazy is anyone who comes in from the outside and says, “This is how we used to do it.” Or if somebody who’s been here for a while says, “This is how we do it.” Both of them are such dangerous traps. The question is: How do you take all of that valuable experience and apply it to the current context and raise standards?

Satya has echoed these statements through a variety of messaging--and he's consistently mentioned how his "always learning" habit has defined his approach to business. 

I'm mixed when organizations rely on their pasts. To me, it usually means the organization has nothing to say about the future, and for the most part hold onto tradition as their clout to justify some form of market dominance. History and heritage are important--but should never be the only argument. Satya's perspective is refreshing, and true to his experience as an engineer and business leader:

Longevity in this business is about being able to reinvent yourself or invent the future. In our case, given 39 years of success, it’s more about reinvention. We’ve had great successes, but our future is not about our past success. It’s going to be about whether we will invent things that are really going to drive our future.

One of the things that I’m fascinated about generally is the rise and fall of everything, from civilizations to families to companies. We all know the mortality of companies is less than human beings. There are very few examples of even 100-year old companies. For us to be a 100-year old company where people find deep meaning at work, that’s the quest.

Microsoft for a long time hasn't been self aware, and they've trapped themselves into a bubble that I believe Nadella will burst. If anything, Microsoft's dominance and market share may influence some exciting changes and unearth new opportunities for other players in the space. 

I work with a lot of businesses that are seeing titanic shifts within their industries. The folks in publishing, retail, and electronics that only leverage their past dominance as a means to stay competitive are ultimately missing the bigger picture.

Holding on to a time that once was will matter to a core group of enthusiasts, but it will never acquire a new generation of customers. I don't deny that this is a challenge. Startups constantly argue that keeping your core base happy is what matters most--but how does a business grow when your ceiling is defined by people who want services to always be the same? 

I think Satya sees the benefit in reshaping Microsoft's original vision of "a computer on every desk and in every home". 

I think Satya sees the opportunity sitting within a new generation whose mindset is to be the always-connected being. 

I think this is really exciting. 

[w5h-blog]

The Art of the Deal - Donald Trump

I recently read Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal--the half memoir, half business book he co-wrote at the height of his late 80s real estate fortune. 

The book is an eye opening look into Trump's early days in the real estate business, and it's a glimpse into the loud-mouthed asshole he would soon become. 

But, if you remove the sums of those shitty parts that make the man--and trust me, I tried really hard here--there's a lot to learn about life and business. 

Always keep your options open--and never commit to to the first thing that walks through the door.

Be patient. That goes hand-in-hand with keeping your options open. The first deal might not be the best, and your market may change in an instant. Wait it out if you can--this can prove beneficial to future decisions.

If you miss the train because you waited, get over it. You weren't meant to be a part of whatever was leaving the station--there are other opportunities.

Find a new, unique approach to everything. If you failed one way, go back and try again. Be different each time, but also do better.

Be fair, but don't dilute what you have to offer in order to secure the deal. Don't low ball yourself, ever.

Know your shit. Do your homework. Come prepared. The more informed you are, the more agile you are at making better decisions.

Persistence and perseverance pay off--if that means writing an email everyday to a prospect who keeps saying no, you keep writing (go back to point #2).

Relationships matter. Cultivate them because you never know when you'll need someone's help, credibility, or influence.  

The book is a fast, entertaining read. I think despite Trump's flare for controversy, there's some great foundational advice to being a better decision maker.

If anything, it's a great example of how overdoing it and failing to be true to the values you live by can ruin you. Trump would lose much of his fortune shortly after he published the book due to a collapsing real estate market and mounting debt.

[w5h-blog]

How I'm Informed with Matthew Bellows

We are all involved in different interests, careers, and aspirations. Keeping informed is an important part of evolving your perspective, but also staying up-to-date. I asked a number of people in different industries to share their reading habits, and how they keep-up with the constant flood of information that matters to them.

Matthew Bellows - Founder & CEO, Yesware

I wake up at 6am and read/respond to email. On the bus to work, I check the normal tech websites and DailyKos. Most gaps in my meeting schedule during the day I fill with reading and replying to email with occasional forays into LinkedIn and Facebook to catch up on friends' lives. The one place I do not read emails is in meetings. It's the height of arrogance to focus my attention on electronic content when my colleagues are having a discussion in the same room. I really try not to do that.  At night before I go to sleep, I usually read a chapter or two from a real physical book. I'm currently reading "The Better Angels of Our Nature". It's an amazing survey of data that shows, all things considered, violence in society is declining. In between non-fiction like that, I'm reading the three volume "Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma" by Trungpa Rinpoche. It's a brilliant, very accessible and funny explanation of Buddhism by one of the 20th century's most important teachers. 

Matthew Bellows is founder and CEO of Yesware--an email tool for sales people. He regularly tweets about startups and business building as @mbellows. 

[w5h-blog]

Bandcamp Finds: 유카리 (Yukari)

I’m always searching for new music. Bandcamp has been an awesome destination to easily search and discover music in a variety of genres. Bandcamp Finds is my irregularly scheduled effort to highlight and applaud artists I’ve enjoyed. 

Echo by 유카리 (Yukari).

Echo is a wonderful, slow-moving dreamscape of electropop. Yukari's combination of lush synths and airy vocals transport you like an invisible presence through a time-lapsed experience--think bustling cityscapes or a sweaty basement club dance floor. Just relax and let the sounds engulf your mind. 

[w5h-blog]

How to Avoid Meetings

The sneaky little bastards are such time suckers. 

This post was originally published on Medium. 

I hate meetings.

Honestly, unless I’m presenting something final, I find meetings to be the most unproductive aspect of my working life.

Here are some ways I actively avoid meetings to ensure the utmost productivity.

Check-in, frequently

Email. Post-it notes. Knock on the door and ask, “Do you have a second?” Check-in frequently and display your progress regularly. It’s the only way to avoid booking a meeting and collecting a mountain of feedback in one-sitting. The more frequently I check-in, the more nimble I am to feedback and suggestions I can layer into my work as I’m building a presentation, briefing document, or report.

If your direct report is all grumbly about the frequency of your check-ins, remember this: measure 50 times, cut once. No one can argue on the idea of doing something once and getting it right the first time. Communicate, plan, and prepare in a thorough manner before taking action.

Use the power of email

If a colleague suggests meeting (verbally, or within an email), I highly suggest emailing them to understand what purpose the meeting might serve, or if an agenda is being bounced around. With this information laid out to you in the body of an email, you can immediately figure out how to provide answers within a response—avoiding a meeting altogether. Email is great for collecting and displaying thoughts succinctly. Take the time to write a powerful email, and you’ll be amazed at how much back-and-forth can be minimized.

Use the power of Basecamp, or other management tools.

There’s a lot of great software out there that helps track teams and individuals—including plenty of open-source options. These tools can help you delegate tasks, monitor progress, and have virtual meetings without the fuss of gathering everyone in one room. A quick Google search will return a deluge of “top 10" lists trumping the best software, but this Lifehacker post is a good start.

For me, meetings get in the way of reaching my goals—I avoid meetings, but that doesn’t mean I’m avoiding work. Meetings, in most cases, create more uneccessary work.

[w5h-blog]

How I'm Informed with Joel Gascoigne

We are all involved in different interests, careers, and aspirations. Keeping informed is an important part of evolving your perspective, but also staying up-to-date. I asked a number of people in different industries to share their reading habits, and how they keep-up with the constant flood of information that matters to them.

Joel Gascoigne - Founder & CEO, Buffer 

For a few years, I had a love-hate relationship with RSS. I loved the idea, but I was always overwhelmed because there was far too much to read in my RSS reader. It took me far too long to realize the key reason for my problems: I subscribed to too many blogs.

If there was any one piece of advice I would give about RSS from my own experience, it would be: be very selective about what you subscribe to. That way, you can always be sure that when you jump into your RSS reader, you will be able to read great content. On top of having a great reading session, since the content will be top quality, you’ll have plenty to share too.

The other hard part, is to find the high quality blogs to subscribe to in the first place. Here are a few tips which have worked well for me:

Always be on the lookout for great content. I seem to find the best on Hacker News, Twitter and Reddit.

When you find a great article, go to the blog homepage and read the latest few blog posts.

If their latest articles are very good, and they don’t post too frequently, hit subscribe!

Avoid big publications with many authors, as the content is far too varied, and the volume will take over your RSS reader.

Joel Gascoigne is Founder and CEO of Buffer--an app dedicated to a better way of sharing on social media. He also writes about startups, life, learning, and happiness on his blog Joel.is.

[w5h-blog]

Popular Science Shut Off Comments Because They Failed to Adapt

Mathew Ingram published a great perspective on Popular Science's recent move to turn-off comments on their website content. I agree with Mathew: the moment I read the article I immediately wondered why the magazine made no attempt to fix their commenting framework, resulting in a more curated and factually sound conversation.

Popular Science argues that the general audience conversation can still take place on Twitter and other earned platforms--but really, what's the point? The same issue they're trying to prevent will continue to take place and grow within the channels Popular Science can't control.

The Guardian's Social & Communities Editor,  Joanna Geary also made a great point:

@popsci shouldn't be saying "comments don't work" but "our implementation of comments hasn't worked".

Popular Science isn't the only publication to completely shun the value of comments within their websites. And it is important to note that many websites have been experimenting with their commenting systems to evolve the framework. 

I've worked with a number of publications and news organizations that simply see no value in the comments section of their content. Here are my thoughts directly related to the Popular Science announcement, with some insight into what I've experienced when working with other content organizations to see value in their comments section:

To those who are "applauding" Popular Science's move

You're completely missing the picture. The goal of their content is to educate the masses on why the research that is conducted is so important to our existence. This includes fostering discussion among those who support, and those who disagree with what's being studied. To restrict the flow of information and discussion that is happening is to do the same thing opponents of scientific fact are doing. If there's one thing science suffers from, it's the elitist attitude that is projected on the discipline by opponents for not immersing all levels of intellect into the debate. Shutting off just distances the majority from what's being discovered. They'll go elsewhere for their news, and they'll get it from sources who shun facts for sensationalist perspectives. 

You're blaming technology for actions that humans are conducting

It is very typical to blame technology as the source of our woes. It's because of commenting that trolls are appearing, it's because of Facebook that cyber-bullying exists, and it's because of the Internet that newspapers are going extinct. Blaming the very tools that are meant to foster dialogue is a cop out from evolving the way these tools work to facilitate the right actions. We shouldn't be running away from what's happening, we should be embracing and learning from this activity to design a better experience.

The Solution? Curate the conversation

Very few websites do this. In the midst of all the noise that's happening in the bottom of a piece of content, you're bound to find the handful of people who are creating thoughtful perspectives on what's been published. The Huffington Post in one way, does this by curating and elevating active commenters that are rated by the audience for not just the volume of participation, but for the context of their participation. 

Highlight the right people and elevate their opinion. However, it's crucial to include all sides of the conversation to keep the debate healthy. Filter out the noise and define the types of participation your community should be condoning--really, it's in your best interest to set the tone and nature of the actions you want to accomplish. 

Bring in experts to cultivate the right discussions

We are in an era where the live chat has become a great tool to extend the message and unearth fresh perspectives. Content can now live longer than its publishing time through Google Hangouts and Webex and other "right now" applications. These organizations can benefit from bringing in the right experts to facilitate the right discussions--whether it's taking a page from Reddit's AMA's, or hosting a prominent science professor to discuss the outcomes of a new study within the walls of Popular Science's website. 

Content itself has become more social. Rather than simply doing social, be social. Yes, access to so much information has resulted in everyone becoming experts--but it's on us to unearth the right opinions and shape the right social behaviours that occur from that activity. 

Nobody wants to hire the moderator turned "comments editor"

We're in a transition where roles are increasingly becoming a fusion of many different disciplines and skills. Journalism is no different. To continue on a path of silo-type roles and structures in organizations is ultimately going to be the death of a lot of jobs. We need to embrace the culture of multi-skill roles, and evolve the job title to adapt with what's happening. Much like newspapers must adapt to become news sources--changing how they view content and their role in society--content creation even in the digital age needs to adapt to the ways audiences consume and participate with your offering. 

And that's the TL;DR takeaway: ADAPT. Too often do I see brands, organizations, disciplines, skills, and people fail to adapt to what's happening around them. Our failure to adapt is what's weeding out so many THINGS in culture because we're to quick to respond with a "no", rather than a "let's try a different approach". 

[w5h-blog]

How I'm Informed with Jonathan Salem Baskin

We are all involved in different interests, careers, and aspirations. Keeping informed is an important part of evolving your perspective, but also staying up-to-date. I asked a number of people in different industries to share their reading habits, and how they keep-up with the constant flood of information that matters to them.

Jonathan Salem Baskin - Marketing Thought Leader

My daily reading habit is to briefly scan the news headlines I have configured on my Yahoo homepage, read and respond to comments on my essays at Advertising Age, Forbes, and Histories of Social Media, breeze by sites like Boing Boing or Drudge Report for chuckles, and then close my browser and refer to a little black Moleskine notebook, in which I capture ideas I want to research or simply ponder. The torrent of data flow is always waiting for me when I get back. 

Jonathan Salem Baskin writes, speaks about, and works on branding and marketing truths for clients; his BaskinBrand site is a good place to keep track of him.

[w5h-blog]

Bandcamp Finds: Stumbleine

I'm always searching for new music. Bandcamp has been an awesome destination to easily search and discover music in a variety of genres. Bandcamp Finds is my irregularly scheduled effort to highlight and applaud artists I've enjoyed. 

Ghosting by Stumbleine. 

Ghosting is a collection of early recordings by Bristol's Stumbleine. The music draws elements of shoegaze, R&B, and the ever evolving "chillwave" genre. I loved getting lost in the lush sounds--reverb drenched guitars raining down, groove oriented beats carrying the melodies, and really smart use of familiar pop samples.

[w5h-blog]

In the war against waning attention spans, teachers have enlisted the unlikeliest of allies: their students€™ once-distracting tablets and smartphones.

This was a long but refreshing read. It's far too typical of most people to make technology an antagonist in the "how technology is reshaping education" debate. It's also really easy to blame technology and kids for their lack of interest in what they're being taught. Schools aren't adapting fast enough to the way minds work, given the volume of information that is made available to students now. The same methods that worked 10 years ago need to be reassessed--minds move faster and require different formats or mediums to absorb information. 

[w5h-blog]

Simon Dumenco hits some great points. Ultimately, Rupert Murdoch is buying the publication for its relevance and ability to turn revenue in an industry that is essentially gasping its last breath. Newspapers are dead, but the news industry isn't--and VICE is an organization that is executing a new model with exciting content formats.

A lot of people think VICE is just an outlet for the youth or the hip--and its almost sensationalist style of journalism certainly rubs people the wrong way. Those folks fail to understand that despite its time in the industry, VICE is still an infant navigating its way through a ridiculously new and nimble territory. As long as Murdoch learned his lesson from the MySpace fiasco, I think there's a huge opportunity for VICE to expand and lead the charge for the new news industry. I mean, as far as sensationalism is concerned, I'm sure Rupert could teach the people at VICE a thing or two. 

[w5h-blog]

Insights From Eating Right and Exercising Regularly

What I’ve noticed when even slightly deviating from my regimen.

This post was originally published on Medium. 

I’m hungover right now, and this slight deviation from my routine of paying attention to what I eat while exercising regularly has unearthed some great insights about my body. I figured I would share them here for anyone who wants to read.

Deviating, even slightly, makes my body feel like mush. I’ve had a busier week after work than usual, so my workout routine has been thrown off. In just three days, I’ve noticed my body begin to feel slightly mushier—meaning, I can feel muscles weaken, my mood change, and my overall focus diminish. I haven’t been smart enough to slot in some exercise in the morning—and I think shifting my routine for a quick fix might actually throw me off. I could be wrong, though. Perhaps that’s just an excuse.

Aim to squeeze in even 15 minutes of exercise, if you can. This small rule has helped me so much, and I thank Joel Gascoigne for guiding me with his philosophy. I’ve learned there’s no need to go full-tilt on a workout and exhaust yourself to the point that you hate exercising—falling off your well intentioned habit. If I squeeze in a workout that is at best 15 minutes, intense, and a combination of routines, I’m not going to be bored or dreading the time needed to get it done. I also feel better knowing I hit the gym in a small but efficient nugget of time.There are a ton of great mobile apps that deliver or design workout routines from 12 minutes to an hour—Skimble is a favourite of mine.

Drink tons of water everyday. Do this. Always. Even better if you squeeze lemon into the water—it has oxidizing qualities. Everyone, everywhere will tell you that staying hydrated is important for your body. I’m going to the bathroom almost every 45 minutes, but I don’t care if it means my body can continue to regenerate itself throughout the day. Having a jug of water on my desk means I’m not drinking soda, and I like soda.Bringing this habit to my space in the office has encouraged other folks on my team to do the same.

Eating outside of my diet seriously crushes my body. I’ve changed my diet for a number of reasons: a desire to eat differently and consume healthier ingredients, knowing what goes into my food, and generally saving more money in the process. I enjoy cooking, and I’ve found that people fall off the wagon due to boredom because of a lack of variety in what they are eating—so I’m changing up my menu week-to-week. This means more greens, more fruit, and more lean proteins. The moment I step away from the natural ingredients I’m munching, my body immediately feels weaker, my mood changes, my bowels become a disaster zone, and I find my recovery time drags on. I want to say my stomach simply can’t take on fast or processed food like it use too—and this isn’t a preach session for organic, grain-fed, blah blah blah food—I’ve simply noticed what a single cheeseburger can do to my body. I love cheeseburgers, trust me. I had one today for lunch out of hungover laziness and both my stomach and butthole have paid dearly for it.

Having someone to support your routine is key. My girlfriend has been a great influence and supporter in helping me stick to a good routine. She’s got a great grasp on watching how her body reacts to changes and improvements in her day-to-day—which in turn has helped me focus my journey. Each week we plan out what we want to eat so shopping for groceries isn’t such a free-for-all. This support can motivate and remind you to get back on track because everyone needs a nudge from time-to-time. What I find really interesting is how much my diet has changed because of her—adverse effects to particular ingredients means I’m cooking differently: simpler and lighter.

If this is old news to you, I apologize (not really—we can all learn from different perspectives, yo). The best part is that you’ve probably got other insights or tips that could improve on what I’ve already said. If you do—please share. I’d love to read them.

[volumexii]

Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature. CD distortion, the jitteriness of digital video, the crap sound of 8-bit - all of these will be cherished and emulated as soon as they can be avoided. It’s the sound of failure: so much modern art is the sound of things going out of control, of a medium pushing to its limits and breaking apart. The distorted guitar sound is the sound of something too loud for the medium supposed to carry it. The blues singer with the cracked voice is the sound of an emotional cry too powerful for the throat that releases it. The excitement of grainy film, of bleached-out black and white, is the excitement of witnessing events too momentous for the medium assigned to record them.

— Brian Eno, A Year With Swollen Appendices (via volumexii)