http://www.conquistador.org/newsletter?newsletterEntityId=251 In Blog de Cortes, Hernan shares his stream of consciousness. Topics include business, entrepreneurship, business etiquette and protocol, business execution, family and dynasty, business history and biography, influence and communication, innovation and creativity, business law, leadership and management, marketing and sales, negotiation, business philosophy and wisdom, science and technology, personal and organizational success, social trends, personal and organizational warfare, and personal wealth. en Copyright (c) Sep 4, 2010 Sociedad de los Conquistadores Human Strings http://www.conquistador.org/rss?newsletterEntityId=251 1440 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1090 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0700 In a Wall Street Journal commentary "What's Wrong With Billionaires?" Arthur Brooks explained that "happiness and perceived success are intimately linked: If you feel very successful, you are twice as likely to be very happy than if you don't feel very successful -- even after accounting for differences in income, as well as education, age, race, sex, religiosity, and other characteristics." But does success cause happiness? Or is it the other way around? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1090 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1444 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700 In many important ways, my introduction to business as an intellectual activity came through Tom Peters' vignettes on Jim Leherer's "Nighly Business Hour". No stodgy suit and tie for him, he was like a born-again preacher telling businesses to repent! His main theme, continued in books such as Thriving on Chaos, was that businesses had to continually reinvent themselves in order to survive and grow. But was he right? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1444 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1443 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0800 In today's issue of the Wall Street Journal, "What Are the Odds of a Depression?", professor Robert Barro provides an estimate based on his research: 20%. Investor's Business Daily has concluded that "Capital [has gone] on Strike". And the New York Times, in "When Consumers Cut Back: An Object Lesson From Japan", denouced the thrifty, those who produce more than they consume, as "dead weight". Some politicians have even gone so far at so suggest call it a criminal act that justifies wealth confiscation. Meanwhile, Europe, which only two months ago was gloating that its democratic socialism would shield it from economic turmoil, is beginning to sound the alarm. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1443 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1442 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Imanual Kant was one of the most influential philosophers of the 18th century. But he is perhaps best known for his worst idea: that doing good, behaving morally, requires performing a selfless duty. Nowhere is the absurdity of this bad idea is better illustrated than in the debate over altruism. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1442 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1441 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 Almost from its beginnings as a distinct, identifiable systematicly studied discipline in fourth century BC Greece, rhetoric, the study and mastery of persuasive discourse, has been the subject of intense criticism. The Greek Sophists, who perfected the art in the emerging democracy of Athens, were generally regarded as a dangerous element of society. Plutarch dismissed them as men with "political shrewdness and practical sagacity" while Plato, in particular, regarded them as "masters of the art of making clever speeches." More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1441 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1440 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 The Cortes household has always been reasonably well-stocked but we had never, until recently, taken the formal step of preparing for a disaster. Emergency preparedness (aka survivalism) was just something on our to-do list. Mrs. Cortes decided it was time to stop talking and start doing and so, after doing a little research, we put together three kits, one for each car and one for home. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1440 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1432 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 One of the oldest debates in entrepreneurial circles is the question of whether a given attribute is a feature or a benefit. Those of an engineering background tend to nominate features as benefits while those with a business background tend to seek more abstract attributes as benefits. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1432 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1431 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 According to the Wall Street Journal, in "Fed Weighs Idea of Buying Treasurys as Focus Shifts", the US Federal Reserve is about to start printing money to fund the US deficit. Because that is, essentially, what buying treasuries entails. Call it Zimbabwanomics. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1431 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1430 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 I just finished a great book, Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin (book synopsis). Colvin provides an excellent analysis of the age old debate about the role of talent and hard work in excellence. Not only does he answer the question, to my satisfaction at least, he provides some very valuable guidance based on his answer. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1430 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1420 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0800 The US, and most of the world, is now officially in economic recession. The question on everyone's mind is how deep and long will it be? Most economists are predicting a down first half and then a bounce in the second half that may, or may not, make up for the first half. But that may be too optimistic. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1420 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1411 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 A friend, who hangs his shingle as a patent attorney, was dismayed, disgusted actually, by the recent business model patent ruling, which raised the bar for claimants and has been interpreted by some as a ruling in favor of entrepreneurs and trolls. He argued that the ruling was deeply flawed but the truth is that patent law itself is fundamentally flawed. And when you base arguments on a flawed foundation you can't help but make flawed arguments. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1411 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1410 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700 It looks increasingly as if a recession is, indeed, coming our way at last. This time the epicenter will be the financial sector but, as with all recessions, there will be a credit crunch that will tax those who have grown dependent on cheap and easy capital. What can you do to prepare, survive, and thrive? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1410 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1401 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Economics is a branch of social science that is primarily concerned with wealth and poverty. Adam Smith is generally regarded as the first economist, the first to frame the problems and apply scientific thinking their solution. Unfortunately, modern economics reflects the weaknesses as well as the strengths of his initial approach to the subject. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1401 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1400 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 One of the most deceptively appealing concepts is that of simplicity. I have encountered no end of "experts" who cite the example of the Apple iPod in arguing for simple models and interfaces. The thinking seems to be that as simplicity is a virtue then less is more. The problem is that this idea, while not outright wrong, is dangerously simplistic and thus an example of the problem itself. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1400 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1390 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Thinking about free will, consciousness, and indeterminism brings to mind the Cortes Conjecture. The best way to explain the Cortes Conjecture is in contrast to the scientific method. The scientific method is built around procedures for establishing and confirming theories (to be more precise, for disconfirming candidate theories). Roughly speaking, the scientific method leads to a reliable understanding of reality. More generally, there is a knot of related methodologies including objectivity skepticism, reason, and deduction, and beliefs such as cause and effect that, taken together, form a particular philosophical view which is generally referred to as hard materialism. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1390 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1380 Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Mrs. Cortes and I recently spent a day away from home and one of our topics of discussion was, as always, our children. We were both appreciating how modest they were in their expectations. What, she asked me, accounted for that? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1380 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1373 Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 Are we in a recession? This had been the most anticipated recession in history, it's been predicted for at least five years. And as expansions go, this one is more than a bit gray in the beard. And it's generally agreed that the last couple quarters have been weak, at best, with loose credit and a weak dollar presaging stagflation. Some have even predicted another depression. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1373 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1371 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 In today's Wall Street Journal is an article , "Trigger Happy", by Arthur C. Brooks which uses Barak Obama's recent ill-chosen words about bitter people clinging to guns and religion as a launch point into the psychology of gun owners. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1371 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1372 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 A new study, "Economic Growth and Subjective Well-Being: Reassessing the Easterlin Paradox" by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers has made waves by demonstrating some basic common sense. It turns out that money can buy happiness. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1372 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1370 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 What is design? How important is it to the process of product development? In Sketching User Experience: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design, Bill Buxton says, "Design is choice. The role of design is to find the best design." More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1370 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1360 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 I finally got around to reading Seth Godin's The Dip. In general, it doesn't say anything I haven't heard or read before. But it does address an important and misunderstood subject, quitting, and it does so fairly well for a small, 80 page book. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1360 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1351 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 While working on my first startup, I met with a high flying salesman for a (then) very large computer company. We were trying to persuade him to sell our software with his hardware, that is to say, to sell our software to his hardware customers. He was willing to listen but he wanted to know what the "story" was. I scratched my head and wondered, why do we need to tell a story, can't we just tell the truth? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1351 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1350 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 John Jantsch distinguishes branding from marketing in "The definition of branding". According to Jantsch, "marketing is getting someone who has a need to know, like and trust you." But "branding is the art of becoming knowable, likable and trustable." This is a very useful distinction and one that is a logical extension of the difference between marketing and sales. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1350 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1342 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Roger Scruton disects Ayn Rand in "Altruism and Selfishness" in The American Spectator. Now I do not consider myself an Objectivist, merely and admirer of Rand, so I will leave it to others to defend her ideas. But I recommend Rand's works and I have written approvingly of selfishness and so I will take this opportunity to clarify my own remarks in the contexct of Scruton's argument. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1342 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1341 Sat, 03 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0700 What Is Creativity? Theories abound. The Greeks believed it was the whispering of Muses. Modern explanations range from the divine to genius to the secret workings of the unconscious. In Creativity: Understanding Innovation in Problem Solving, Science, Invention, and the Arts, Robert W. Weisberg debunks several common theories and argues that creativity is ordinary, constant, and natural. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1341 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1340 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 One of the most predictive distinctions in modern opinion about morality, politics, and society, is one's position on the importance of income and wealth inequality. The debate over the issue has largely become atrophied and formulaic with the respective sides simply squaring off against one another in the political sphere. But sometimes new knowledge can overturn old debates and such is the case for Professor Brooks recent work first in his book Who Really Cares but particularly in today's Wall Street Journal column, "Happiness and Inequality". More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1340 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1334 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 In "Inevitable Conflict" I looked at variance of opinion as the source of conflict and at several strategies for dealing with conflict with peers. Things get more interesting, though, when you are in a position of authority or are exercising leadership over those in conflict. In those situations, the strategies for dealing with inevitable conflict are entirely different. Indeed, it is largely the very existence of conflict creates opportunities for leadership. http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1334 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1333 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Idealism is generally regarded as the province of youth. With age and experience you tend toward realism. You begin to notice how the world actually works, as opposed to how you wish it would work, and to discern what is really important to you, as opposed to what is important to people you respect and admire. Some call that wisdom. Others lament the loss of innocence. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1333 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1332 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 I recall a business professor who frequently delivered sidebar lectures on the sins of competing on price. This seemed to be a major pet peeve for him and I was left with the impression that his goal in life was to encourage a supplier cartel. I had a hard time taking him seriously on this point because there were so many obvious counter examples and my own background in economics argued for the benefits of lower prices both to the producer and the buyer and the economy as a whole (though not necessarily to the competitors). Now I understand better. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1332 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1331 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Uncertainty is a dominant feature of life. It is not just what we know that we don't know but often what we don't know that we don't know and what we know that just ain't so. The risks associated with gambling, for example, can be precisely calculated and factored into rational decision making. But how can one make rational choices when the odds and even the various possibilities are unknown? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1331 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1330 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 The Cortes family saw "Stardust" this weekend. Wow! I have not been so pleasantly surprised by a movie in a long time. This is a family movie that does not condescend and is therefore enjoyable no matter your age. Other than the obligatory happy ending, it was one surprise after another. About the movie, I'll say nothing more than that you should take the whole family to see it at your next opportunity. What this movie reminded me, though, was of the power of cinema not merely to provide a short escape from life but to lift us up and set us on our way again with more than we brought into the theatre. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1330 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1320 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Mrs. Cortes has been reading David S. Landes' The Wealth and Poverty of Nations: Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor and from time to time has brought up subjects for discussion relating to history and economics. We've discussed some of these issues before after reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared M. Diamond and Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise to Western Power by Victor Hanson but for the most part, economics is a new subject to her. Hearing her thoughts reminds me why I took an interest in economics in school and why I still think it is an important subject of study. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1320 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1310 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 "Other People's Money" (1991), starring Danny DeVito, Penelope Ann Miller, and Gregory Peck, is easily one of the best business movies from Hollywood. It features several great speeches but there is one scene in particular that captures a very important idea. In the scene Larry "the liquidator" Garfield (Danny DeVito) is explaining the game: "You make as much as you can for as long as you can." As a capitalist, he is simply following the rules of the game of free enterprise. But when Kate Sullivan (Penelope Ann Miller) warns that "One day we'll smarten up and pass some laws and put you out of business," Larry replies smartly: "They can pass all the laws they want. All they can do is change the rules. They can never stop the game." More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1310 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1300 Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Piety is a dutiful spirit, an earnest wish, concern, devotion, or respect for doing good or otherwise fulfilling religious or moral obligations. In short, intentions. Conspicuously absent from the concept of piety are actual results. The piety myth, as Dr Jay Richards described in a recent lecture, "Myths Christians Believe about Wealth and Poverty" (related by Ray Nothstine in a post of the same name) is the preoccupation with intent to the exclusion of consequences. While this issue is important for social, moral, and political reasons, it is also significant on personal and practical grounds. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1300 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1290 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Innovation is a hot business topic today, and rightfully so. Innovation is becoming increasingly important to competitive advantage and economic progress, though it has always played a role in each. But it wasn't long ago that productivity and quality were the rage of the business and economic communities. As one who resisted ISO 9000 and Six Sigma, each time I encountered them, in favor of innovation, long before the current fad, I feel it is my duty to bring some balance to the conversation. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1290 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1280 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 News item: "Most US adults in the dark about world politics". According to the latest Harris poll, "Two-thirds of US adults admit to being in the dark about political issues outside the United States, and only a third are well-versed in US politics." Shocking! Or is it? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1280 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1270 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 In "Conflict Resolution" we discussed a particular form of conflict resolution in a narrow context. But in business and in life we face a variety of conflicts many of which cannot be so resolved. Additionally, not all situations fit onto simple compete/cooperate categories or even along such a scale. What we need is a more general theory of conflicts and their resolution. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1270 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1260 Sun, 19 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 In an article titled "Branding 101" in Open Source Innovation, author Marty Neumeier, a marketing consultant, explores the concept of charismatic branding. Examples of charismatic brands include Apple, Disney, Levi's, and Virgin. Charismatic brands exhibit an alighment of strategy and creativity that result in a perception of uniqueness irrespective of the actual merits of the product, service, or organization. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1260 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1251 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Anatol Rapoport outlines a method for resolving conflicts in Fights, Games, and Debates. Conflicts arise in a variety of situations and resolving conflicts is a critical skill. For example, there is an inherent conflict between a salesman and a customer often around the issue of trust. Similarly, founders often disagree on critical business decisions in part due to scarce information and in part due to varying objectives. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1251 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1250 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 I am often asked to explain the Conquistadorian tagline: "Knowledge. Wealth. Power." The desire for knowledge is, of course, fairly widely respected if inadequately pursued. And the desire for wealth is mostly accepted albeit with varying limits. But the open desire for power tends to be regarded with suspicion. Which is completely ridiculous. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1250 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1240 Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 According to an old Conquistadorian parable: "The engineer asks 'how does it work?' The scientist asks 'why does it work?' The accountant asks 'how much does it cost?' The liberal arts major asks 'Would you like fries with that?'" While I've divided my time among science, engineering, and business I have also maintained a parallel interest in the humanities including philosophy and history. And with my own kids approaching college I am very interested in the choice of major. So yesterday's Wall Street Journal article by former education beauracrats Chester Finn and Diane Ravitch titled "Not By Geeks Alone" caught my attention. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1240 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1230 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Chris' movie review of "Little Miss Sunshine" hits the mark with his observation that "each of the main characters discovers that their most cherished dream is an unattainable illusion." Meanwhile, Jordan Ballor quotes Richard Baxter in "Baxter, How to Do Good to Many, Part 1" that "as all motion and action is first upon the nearest object, so must ours" meaning, as the airline stewardess says, "for those of you traveling with children, secure yourself first, then assist the child." More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1230 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1220 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die (summary) is easily one of the most important marketing books this year. Authors Chip and Dan Heath (brothers) provide a simple but effective summary of the key elements not only of marketing messaging but of the business concept itself. They list the key elements of a marketing message by the acronym SUCCES but their most important insight is the hurdle of the Curse of Knowledge. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1220 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1213 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Easily one of the most undervalued concepts of all time is the path dependent outcome. In the simplest sense, the analysis of a path dependent outcome takes time into account. But behind this simplicity lies a hard truth about human nature and preconceptions about truth and fairness. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1213 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1214 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 You'll recall that I previously gave a thumbs down to Nassim Taleb's The Black Swan (TBS). I've since decided to reverse myself and recommend this book. My reasons are, I think, quite interesting. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1214 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1212 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 During the Battle of Britain in Second World War George Orwell famously noted, "As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me." More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1212 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1211 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Louis Uchitelle writes in "The Richest of the Rich, Proud of a New Gilded Age" in today's New York Times, that a new class of tycoons has emerged in the last 25 years comparable in stature and philosophy to the barons of the late 19th century and early 20th century. This has occurred partly as a result of liberalization of the economy since the 1970s and partly in spite of the remaining hurdles to wealth accumulation. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1211 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1210 Sat, 14 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 The main objective of sales for most businesses is revenue generation, a company's life blood. But there are many other benefits of sales activities and for a startup, revenue generation might not even be the most important goal. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1210 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1200 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Glen Gow notes in "Technology Buying Processes - Who found Whom?", citing from the "Marketing Sherpa Business Technology Marketing Benchmark Guide", that both technology vendors and their customers believed that 80% of the time they found the other. What appears at first to be a mathematical contradiction is, in fact, merely a paradox and an important clue to B2B marketing. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1200 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1190 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Though philosophers throughout history have attempted to reify concepts, it is very useful to always remember that symmetries are in the mind of the beholder. While it may be a convenience to imagine that nature is lawful, in reality it is not. Symmetries can be powerful and useful. But they can also impede progress. But one thing that is always superior to a symmetry is a better symmetry. Rejection Hypocricy, inconsistency, aribitrriness leads to Innovation http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1190 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1180 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Ian Stewart's Why Beauty is Truth: A History of Symmetry tells the history of Group Theory, a field of mathematics that is concerned with symmetry and its applications to various other fields of mathematics and science. As it turns out, beauty is largely a function of symmetry and Group Theory provides a precise, mathematical definition of symmetry in a sense making art into a science with important implications for product design and business modeling. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1180 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1172 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 I love epiphanies and I had one today. An epiphany is the experience of genius. In this case, I've been struggling for some time to define precisely what I mean by the term "Conquistador". My own interests revolve around founding, executive, and investing roles in early stage high tech startups. But I've always known that was too narrow a view. Now I think I have the answer. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1172 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1171 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 I had occasion over the weekend to visit a local bookshop with the family, as we so often do, and I ran across The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. At first I skimmed through it thinking it might be worth a purchase, perhaps even to add it to my list of recommended readings. But, alas, in this book Taleb sounds like a bitter and frustrated man. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1171 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1170 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 I have to admit that I've long been suspicious of advertising in general and online advertising in particular. So when Ebay recently dropped its Google advertising with hardly any impact on traffic to their site, I was hardly surprised. This raises some interesting questions not only about Google's market cap but also about the wider Web 2.0 industry which rests largely on an advertising model. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1170 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1160 Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Is Paris Hilton a victim of wealth? Of unconditional love? I think we can now officially declare her to be the poster child for how not to raise a child in a wealthy family. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1160 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1152 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Traditionally, startup exits have been either IPO or M&A with a larger firm in a similar business. But private equity funds are increasingly providing a third alternative. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1152 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1151 Sat, 02 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Do happy employees contribute to business success? This is the question that Murad Ali explores in "The Happy/Productive : More of a myth than a reality?" in The New Business World. Murad notes that there are measurable positive correlations between job satisfaction and individual performance. This shouldn't be surprising but the issue remains a complex one. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1151 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1150 Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 In "Discussing Basic Values" Michael Wade, after noticing that managers and executives who attend ethics workshops struggle to deal with ethical challenges, poses the question: "How do we handle nonethical values such as popularity, success, and wealth?" But why should we presume that success is unethical or nonethical? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1150 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1147 Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Ben Casnocha's "How I Think About Books" and Seth Godin's "Do business books work?" as well as various recent posts on recommended business books, caused me to stop and think about my own reading habits and recommendations. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1147 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1146 Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 The May 2007 issue of Harvard Business Review contains an article titled "The Value Captor's Process: Getting the Most out of Your New Business Ventures" by Rita Gunther McGrath and Thomas Keil that discusses the advantages of treating new ventures like scientific experiments. There are lessons for intrapreneurs and executives, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists all. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1146 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1145 Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Veganism kills, as Nina Planck relates in her New York Times editorial "Death by Veganism". It's a lesson that even omnivores can learn from. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1145 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1144 Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 CEO Dad, written by Tom Stern and illustrated by Jorge Pacheco, has been nominated to be the official comic strip of Sociedad de los Conquistadores. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1144 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1143 Sat, 12 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Professor Bryan Caplan writes today in the Wall Street Journal in "Special-Interest Secret" about the surprisingly strong influence of special interest economic policy. Sometimes economists can be so dumb. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1143 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1140 Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 It is difficult, if not impossible, to overstate the importance of family. Your family is your most important life's project. Your children and the dynasty that you sire will be your greatest legacy. If one business venture goes bust, you can always start another. But starting a new family after you've failed one is rather more difficult; few people get a second chance there. But, as Brian Kim wrote in "Top 5 Things That Should Be Taught In Every School", "if you look at this generation of students, you'll find that most are 'shell shocked' once they graduate because they had little or no preparation for what was to come." What is a responsible parent to do? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1140 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1130 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Cortes' Wager holds that choosing free will is not merely a good bet, it is one where you cannot lose. If free will is but an illusion and fate rules our lives, then no acutal choice is made. But if free will is genuine then the choice is the correct one. The implications of this choice go far beyond philosophical exhibitionism. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1130 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1120 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 In "Term Sheet Hacks: Get a Great Deal" in Venture Hacks, Nivi and Naval argue that "VCs know more than you do." What they mean is that VCs know more about the investment process than you do, having been through it countless times with other ventures. But you know something they don't. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1120 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1110 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Nothing spoils the mood of investors like the fear of being in a bubble. I can recall the last time when we were all convinced, as early at 2000, that it was a bubble but we kept on anyway. The billion plus acquisition of YouTube by Google and other recent deals spur the inevitable question: are we in another tech bubble or not? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1110 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1102 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Bruce Feirstein said, "the distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success." This humorous aphorism is truer than most people appreciate. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1102 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1100 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 It seems like only yesterday I was noticing the potential resurgence of the technology IPO. But I suppose every rose has its thorns and two articles today, "Pain From Free Trade Spurs Second Thoughts" in the Wall Street Journal and "Is Innovation Bad For Americans--Especially Engineers and Graphic Designers?" in BusinessWeek, are most prickly. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1100 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1091 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Ever since the dot-com crash there has been a dearth of technology initial public offerings (IPOs). This may be about to change. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1091 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1071 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 There is a new sheriff in town. The Funded. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1071 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1081 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0700 While we're on the subject of R-rated movies with lessons in courage, consider the Passion of the Christ. I know a number of prople who refuse to watch the movie (most of them women) because they do not want to see the violence (and it is a most violent movie, a religious snuff film as they say). In some quarters it is considered a righteous choice to avoid discomforting experiences. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1081 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1080 Sat, 10 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 I took Mrs. Cortes to see 300 yesterday. While it was not an emotional tear jerker like The Last of the Mohicans, Gladiator, or Matrix, and while it took considerable artistic license with the story, it was nevertheless a better movie than the critics are allowing. What is interesting, though, for our purposes, are the larger questions that the movie raises. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1080 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1061 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 Starting a new business is a tremendous challenge and a steep and often unforgiving learning curve. But there are many who can assist you along the way. One of the best ways to obtain the assistance of others is to form a board of advisors. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1061 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1060 Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 We've added a blog roll to the SdlC website. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1060 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1050 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 A recent study by the Josephson Institute of Ethics claimed that sports are not building character but creating cheaters. The implication is, of course, that "something must be done!" More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1050 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1040 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0800 The most important question of human existence is this: what are your actual choices and what are the consequences of those choices? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1040 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1010 Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 One of the most valuable steps you can take in preparation for any endeavor or venture is to become absolutely clear on your objectives. By doing this you can make better decisions faster and with less lingering doubt and second guessing. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=1010 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=592 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Capitalism is an economic, political, and ethical system that provides maximum economic growth, and extreme individual economic opportunity. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=592 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=890 Fri, 11 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Cosmopolitinism is world citizenship. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=890 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=871 Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 What are fundamental principles of the philosophy of war? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=871 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=860 Thu, 18 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 In Revolutionary Wealth Alvin and Heidi Toffler explore the future of capitalism after property. The premise is simple: capitalism as we understand it today is based in large part on the concept of property born of tangible things (e.g. land, factories, houses, cars). More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=860 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=790 Sun, 16 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Human beings naturally pursue desire and happiness. This claim is virtually a tautology. If people were not pursuing their desires and happiness what would they be doing instead? More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=790 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=830 Tue, 10 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800 What is morality? That is fundamental philosophical question, one that man has struggled with since before history. One way to understanding morality it to look at language as a metaphor. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=830 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=804 Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 When it comes to ethics and morality we are all hypocrites. Moral hypocrisy is inevitable, part of the human condition, as natural as breathing. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=804 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=800 Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Pragmatism is a uniquely American philosophy born, formally at least, in the early 1870s. But from its inception, the adherents of pragmatism described it as "a new name for some old ways of thinking" and claimed a heritage stretching back to the fifth century BC. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=800 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=591 Sun, 09 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Philosophy (including ethics, morality, and religion) is inherent to the human condition. But when two philosophers start with different premises, they arrive at different, perhaps conflicting conclusions, even when they make no logical errors in their reasoning process. Our philosophical premises are at once logically indefensible and crucially consequential. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=591 http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=590 Sun, 02 Oct 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Life is a sacred gift from God. A Conquistador does not love life in the abstract general sense but in the particular parochial sense. A Conquistador loves his life. More... http://www.conquistador.org/newsletterissue?newsletterIssueEntityId=590