Monthly Archives: April 2014

Paying college athletes isn’t the answer

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The-Big-HouseI had a chance to visit The Big House in Ann Arbor recently. I was visiting colleges with my son, Brad, and couldn’t resist checking it out since it was my first time in the area. To say I was blown away is an understatement. It’s a mammoth structure that is nice, really nice. It’s puts most professional stadiums I’ve been in to shame. As Brad and I walked around the outside of the facility, I couldn’t help but think about all of the noise about college athletics and whether or not the athletes should be paid. After seeing the sight of the Big House, it hit me. Universities have lost touch with their core mission.
 
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Why aren’t we using mobile to solve credit card fraud?

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Whenever I want to access my Dropbox account using their website, I have to use two-factor authentication to login. Two-factor authentication means that in addition to using my username and password, I have to enter a code that comes from my mobile phone. The code is either sent to me via text, or I can use a token generating application such as Google Authenticator. I also use two-factor authentication to access a number of other online accounts – some sensitive, some not. Anyway, it got me thinking, why aren’t we using two-factor authentication to solve credit card fraud?
 
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Book review: Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

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Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin SloanWith a name like Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, I didn’t know what to expect when I added the book to my 2014 reading list. It ended up there because it was highly recommended by Brad Feld, and I’ve had good luck with his past recommendations – favorites Avogadro Corp. and Wool are two that immediately come to mind. The book finally popped to the top of my stack this month, and it was time to dive into author Robin Sloan’s first book.

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Why Google wins

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There has been a massive shift in the balance of power in the technology industry. In a space that was dominated by the likes of Microsoft, Dell and HP, the emergence of mobile as a computing platform has allowed Apple, Google, Samsung and Facebook to challenge the incumbents’ leadership position. While Apple has claimed the top spot for now, Google has been gaining ground, and there are some key reasons why I feel Google wins in the marketplace and will soon challenge Apple for the title of most valuable tech company.

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Book review: Outside In – The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business

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Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business by Harley Manning and Kerry BodineWhen we think of the companies that we adore and are most loyal to, it’s those that treat us, the customer, with empathy, compassion, and respect. They strive to provide us with the best possible experience anytime we come in contact with them. Harley Manning and Kerry Bodine’s book, Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business, examines leaders in customer experience across industries and points out the common traits that they exhibit both externally and internally. I felt it would be worth reading to see if I could pick up any insights and practices that I could implement in my small business.

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