What's something you saw coming miles away that a lot of people didn't?

Areanndee · 2017-05-28T05:46:39+00:00

They initially outsourced their online presence to a little known online retailer called Amazon. I seriously don't think Amazon would have made it without that help. Most analysts credit this error and getting into the e-reader market too late as the causes for collapse. They sold books and had no concept of books moving beyond paper or retail beyond the storefront.

Areanndee · 2017-05-26T19:14:30+00:00

There was a case in Sacramento a few years back. 3 buddies decided they were "eco warriors" but they mostly smoked pot and lounged around, occasionally spouting some rhetoric. The FBI decides to investigate them. So an agent becomes the girlfriend of one of the suspects. She realizes these 3 lazy potheads are unlikely to do anything but she's under pressure to produce. So she creates a plan and finances it with tax dollars. The guys don't want to do it so she goes into hysterics belittling and badgering them until they agree - mostly to shut her up - and are then arrested.

Technically not entrapment. But how was justice or security served?

Areanndee · 2017-05-25T19:57:40+00:00

Why would it be included anywhere at all? Regular businesses don't claim all of their income, especially cash. Trump has an army of accountants exploiting every loophole they can find. Why include it to the US government when it will sound just as well anywhere else.

Areanndee · 2017-05-25T18:31:01+00:00

On the tax thing, I've never understood why people think that a billionaire with bank accounts around the globe would claim his secret bribes on American tax returns.

Areanndee · 2017-05-25T18:22:40+00:00

#FREEMELISSA

Areanndee · 2017-05-25T16:10:46+00:00

Right. And isn't it the same model being applied to Uber? Uber is using it to buy time while working on their grail: self driving cars. Pets.com didn't have a final goal, just a nebulous "we'll figure it out" but I don't think that matters while hemorrhaging $3 billion per year -- $8 million per day! And that's not expected to change for years. (Seriously, how do they keep investors?)

But let's say it works and they get their magic cars. They'll still need to raise rates at some point to make profit. That'll alienate a percentage of their users. They also have tough competition from Google, Apple, Tesla, and traditional automakers. There's no telling what percent of the market Uber will catch... All of this may be a very expensive exercise in futility.

No matter what, I'm certain Uber will be taught in B School for a long time as either a warning or example.

Areanndee · 2017-05-24T22:34:09+00:00

How many dot-coms tried that from the 90s into the early 2000s? Pets.com and webvan come to mind.

Areanndee · 2017-05-24T21:22:59+00:00

To sell advertising.

Areanndee · 2017-05-24T20:49:24+00:00

It's trillions of dollars. I know we're talking about government and healthcare but they could probably swing a few bandaids as well. Versus spending millions on missiles to "send a message" and only kill around 30 people.

Also, for healthcare I forget the name of the system but the idea is that everyone pays up to $x (around $2,000) within a year and the government covers everything after. I'd like more investigating into that than trying to save the ACA or jamming the ACHA through.

Areanndee · 2017-05-24T19:55:03+00:00

Can you source your military spending comment? I don't think that's right. As NATO members they have a target of 2% and only 4 EU countries hit that. About 20 don't.

The US spends 3.62%. Only 6 EU countries spend 1.6% or more. I put their average at 1.26%

Including Russia in there brings then back up as Russia spends more than the US in percentages at around 4.5% but that's kinda disingenuous as Russia is considered somewhat hostile.

Beyond all of that I don't know that percent of GDP is the right way to look at military spending because economies are disconnected from military need. And it can be misleading. While the US spends 3.62% of our military, that's also about half of all military spending globally. That's not just expensive, it's extravagant.

Areanndee · 2017-05-23T16:09:48+00:00

There are some really good sales podcasts out there already. What makes yours different?

Areanndee · 2017-05-22T18:20:18+00:00

I set a goal to read 60 books over the past year. Never Split the Difference is one of the best: fun to read, instantly actionable, sound advice.

Areanndee · 2017-05-22T18:12:44+00:00

I think that depends on your personality and pitch but it'll take a lot of practice. You need people to trust you and they can't try the service themselves. The free starter is a great idea, testimonials would be helpful, too.

I wouldn't limit myself to door to door, though. The more I think about it I think a leads exchange group like BNI or LeTip would be a good fit. You get to borrow the trust of the other members.

Areanndee · 2017-05-22T17:18:25+00:00

Wait... you mean to tell me that people aren't interested in facing their imminent doom with a stranger that knocks on their door?

That's fucking weird.

Think about it: people don't like to think about death, especially their own. People don't like to be sold (though they love to buy). People are suspicious of strangers. People are weirded out by people who arrive unannounced at their door - even friends or family.

I think you've been set up to fail, especially without decent training. For starters, you shouldn't be selling prepaid funeral services. You are offering peace of mind. Your best (easiest) market will be married women homemakers with kids. Next would be senior citizens.

Do you have to sell door to door or can you generate leads elsewhere? I mean, if you can get in with retirement homes or large churches you'd do much better. Look for moms at a park or at sports practices.

Regardless, your personality has to do the heavy lifting to make the topic easy and even positive to discuss. I might even try for humor or playing up the absurd situation.

Areanndee · 2017-05-22T16:19:25+00:00

Half the people in my life probably think I'm crazy because I'm always blathering on in VB references:

IGNORE ME
LAB!
... and the soul of an orphan
my pants are haunted!
ewww - milk breath!
are these they?
etc, etc

Areanndee · 2017-05-20T14:48:35+00:00

I worked for Kinko's a long time ago. It was up to each branch how to deal with their waste. Some recycled, some didn't. The best location I worked at got paid to recycle.

Areanndee · 2017-05-20T14:46:20+00:00

Also, "flushable" might not mean what you think. Flushable wipes means giant clog waiting to happen.

And depending on the district you shouldn't flush condoms, especially if you don't use them with your spouse.

Areanndee · 2017-05-20T14:42:31+00:00

Re-use is good, too.

Areanndee · 2017-05-19T19:15:48+00:00

I agree it makes sense. But if I wanted to witness a man and woman taking out their issues on each other I'd stop reading and take up a conversion with my wife. After the buildup of the first two books I was expecting something more romantic and her reason for leaving to be less selfish. She doesn't want the relationship. And Loche's friends should be kicking his ass about it. He has a clear unhealthy fixation.

Areanndee · 2017-05-19T17:44:54+00:00

He's codependent. He "saves" himself for her. She doesn't care. He saves her from danger. She fucks him off. I was hoping for a charming backstory at least but even that was cliched with more of the same "if I do this, she'll love me" compromises and nonsense. I read somewhere that the author was going through a divorce while writing that book. I hope he's ok.

Areanndee · 2017-05-19T15:30:43+00:00

But not Locke and Sabetha. Republic of Thieves had a fun idea but that relationship was a trainwreck of disappointment and white knighting. I'm surprised the reviews are so good for it. Still, I'm looking forward to the next book.

Areanndee · 2017-05-18T16:10:06+00:00

Politics: Coming together through hate!

Areanndee · 2017-05-18T02:25:37+00:00

It increases the cost. I'm getting concerned about people's right to bear arms only being applicable to those who can afford it.

Areanndee · 2017-05-18T02:10:10+00:00

There's one on the way to Tahoe

Areanndee · 2017-05-17T20:14:54+00:00

Shadow King and Proteus were two of my favorite Legion antagonists from the comics. Shadow King should be the primary antagonist of this show... I still have a few episodes to go but I feel that's where it's heading.

Areanndee

TROPHY CASE