Well…kinda. I got some traffic today from Google Finance and wondered why. After a bit of investigative work, I came across this screen shot with my post on Mr. Madoff and his nefarious activities featured as part of the blog coverage of the S&P 500 (which I mention in the post). No idea why or if this one will appear there as well but thought I'd share…
Maybe. Or as this article from the WSJ (thanks for sending along Michael) lays it out it:
When I started blogging almost two years ago it was for two core reasons:
Since then I have learned a lot, been confused a fair amount, and connected with some really cool people in addition to expanding my understanding of both the technologies I use and the subject matter I write about.
This article is a good read to begin to understand the changing landscape of marketing and how new technologies allow established concepts to be expanded upon and new practices to emerge.
I am still trying to get my head around the news about Bernard Madoff and his $50 Billion (yes, Billion with a B) fraud. This is being way better reported in the financial pubs but seems as if many people wondered how this guy could consistently engineer such great returns. That, of course, didn't stop the money from flowing in which was necessary because that money was being paid out as returns. How unimaginative. If you are going to cause this kind of wealth destruction you'd hope it would be done in a more innovative way. But I digress…
The losses are adding up as those who lost come forward (or are forced forward). There are some doozies with Banco Santander at $3.6 billion, HSBC at $1 billion and no shortage of others with big losses including some very wealthy folks. Here's a list from the NY Times.
Markets are brutal and unforgiving and no one can consistently outperform them (even if you are not running a scam). Just ask Bill Miller of Legg Mason about his track record of beating the S&P 500 now. This guy consistently beat the S&P 500 index until recently and he is down, way down. Stick to index funds (not leveraged ones), own individual stocks for a hobby, and enjoy the ride. You will do no better or worse than the market this way and save yourself both some emotional strain as well as "management" fees.
At least not today. Contrary to the web site, the annual Kirkland 12Ks (~7.5 miles) of Christmas run has been canceled. Not a surprise given the fact that it snowed last night and the streets are pretty slick. Riley (my dog) and I just sauntered down to the Marina and got the news.
While I am bummed not to be running, I can't imagine what would have happened if all those runners hit the slick streets around here this morning. The person I spoke with down there didn't have any details on a reschedule so looks like we have to wait until next year.
Via The Big Picture from Dilbert.
If you run a company, start a company, or are an executive at a company, this should be on the radar screen – who can send to the 'all@yourcompany.com' alias.
Email is great at broadcasting news and updates around the office – both good and bad. It is also a nice way for anyone to send anything to everyone. Put some simple controls in place that allow only members of the executive team, HR, and Marketing (for internal communications) to use this alias.
I watched this in real life at a previous start up both before and during several RIFs (reductions in force). What really got my attention was when an especially animated employee decided to cc the 'all' alias in a completely over the top argument he was having via email. Individual responses telling him to stop were then broadcast back to all in his reply – good times were had by all. After this incident, these controls were promptly implemented.
You will save yourself some pain and embarrassment especially given the season of layoffs that we are wading through. Nothing like a snarky farewell email to the entire company to blow the lid off the best laid RIF and accompanying communications plan.
Your friends, well, they still have to pay. New capability lets you send a text message directly from the Gmail app but…
Pretty cool actually as more forms of communication are consolidated in a single application (email, IM, etc.). I've enabled it in my Gmail and look forward to taking it for spin.
Yours truly got some coverage with an article in destinationCRM out today. Here's the link to the article "Want SaaS? Get Integration First."
New album by the boys from Tennessee – Only By the Night
Then sign up for the NWEN Advisors program. Cool new program designed to help those needing advice connect with those that can provide it. I just signed up to help out.
Venture Vice 
