Reflections at 49

Reflections at 49

I am grateful. So many things in this world have changed, and great change was needed. We faced a pandemic that disproportionately targeted the weak and the sick among us, and humanity around the world rose to the occasion to help the most vulnerable among us. I could not have imagined a more beautiful intention manifested …

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Reflections at 48

Reflections at 48

I am quarantined, like much of humanity, and I am happy to be alive. I hear a lot more birds and a lot more ambulances. One third of humanity is sheltering in place to stop the spread of a pandemic. What is going on? I feel that the universe is telling us to stop. For …

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Reflections at 47

Reflections at 47

I am returning from a two week vacation where I followed my heart with no set destination nor any plan. Everything was perfect, and the synchronicity was heart warming. Stunning locations were encountered randomly. Amazing hotel rooms were stayed in that normally book months in advance. Beautiful people appeared on path to assist at every turn. …

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Reflections at 46

Reflections at 46

May we live in interesting times, and we do. As I turn 46, I feel that human beings have reached a fork in the road, and this tension to find the right path exists within my own life. To the one side, we have built a broken model on how to live, and this model is …

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The Existential Crisis of Silicon Valley

The Existential Crisis of Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is going through an existential crisis that the recent troubles with Facebook exemplify. On the one hand, there have been important technical developments that allow companies to scale revenues and grow at a historically fast pace. On the other hand, companies are struggling to find meaning and purpose that have a positive effect …

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Anything is Possible

Anything is Possible

17 years ago at the age of 28, Elon Musk and I were driving one evening on the Long Island Expressway, and a discussion started about space. We had both sold companies, and we were exploring different ideas about what to do with our lives. Making an impact in space seemed impossible for two people with no …

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Reflections at 45…

Reflections at 45…

It’s my 45th birthday on 4/3, so I want to look back on my life. I try to live consciously. I was born in 1972 and grew up in NYC. Starting at age 14, I spent the summers living on a commune in Arizona, Arcosanti, working to build a city of the future. I did construction, …

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Five Steps To Build A Startup Ecosystem In Your City

Five Steps To Build A Startup Ecosystem In Your City

According to a Kauffman Foundation report, in the US, ”new businesses account for nearly all net new job creation and almost 20 percent of gross job creation.” It’s no wonder there is so much hype about emerging startup ecosystems, and so much new focus on supporting startups from governments. But what often gets lost in …

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A Business Is Not Worth Building Unless You Are Ready To ‘Go All-In’

A Business Is Not Worth Building Unless You Are Ready To ‘Go All-In’

More businesses are being started today than ever before, and while this is great for humanity and the economy as a whole, there is one major drawback for an individual entrepreneur looking to build an impactful company. On an almost daily basis, the bar for standing out and winning is constantly being set higher and …

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Create A Clear Vision For Your Business, And Then Stick To It

Create A Clear Vision For Your Business, And Then Stick To It

(This article originally appeared on Forbes.) The Lean Startup movement has changed the global startup landscape over the last few years, providing a simple methodology for resource-constrained companies to quickly learn from their customers, iterate their product development, and ultimately create products that people want. As a result, Lean Startup principles are a key component …

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