joshuago’s Bookmarks

21 JUN 2010
[The Atlantic] The Quiet Coup

Of course, the U.S. is unique. And just as we have the world’s most advanced economy, military, and technology, we also have its most advanced oligarchy.

21 JUN 2010
[Eric Ries] What is a startup?

A startup is a human institution designed to deliver a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty.

15 JUN 2010
[Paul Graham] Taste for Makers

If you want to discover great new things, then instead of turning a blind eye to the places where conventional wisdom and truth don't quite meet, you should pay particular attention to them.

12 JUN 2010
[David Brooks] Prune and Grow

In times like these, deficit spending to pump up the economy doesn’t make consumers feel more confident; it makes them feel more insecure because they see a political system out of control.

11 JUN 2010
[The Atlantic] The Politically Incorrect Guide to Ending Poverty

Paul Romer is trying to help the poorest countries grow rich—by convincing them to establish foreign-run “charter cities” within their borders. Romer’s idea is unconventional, even neo-colonial—the best analogy is Britain’s historic lease of Hong Kong.

11 JUN 2010
[Harvard Business Review] How to Challenge Your Industry Dogma

What does it mean to be a revolutionary? To challenge an existing dogma, instead of complying with it: to reject its tenets, highlight its flaws and improve each of its shortcomings.

10 JUN 2010
[Dan Shapiro] Your company culture is a meaningless platitude

The great corporate cultures are a simple mix: a few polarizing decisions or excesses, with a handful of quirks mixed in. Preferably quirks that reinforce the rest of the culture.

10 JUN 2010
[WSJ] The $555,000 Student-Loan Burden

As tuitions rise, many people are borrowing heavily to pay their bills. Some no doubt view it as "good debt," because an education can lead to a higher salary. But in practice, student loans are one of the most toxic debts, requiring extreme consumer caution and responsibility.

10 JUN 2010
[Steve Blank] You’re Not a Real Entrepreneur

Who is an entrepreneur really? It turns out that there are four distinct types of entrepreneurial organizations; small businesses, scalable startups, large companies and social entrepreneurs. They all engage in entrepreneurship.

10 JUN 2010
[Chris Ashworth] My 2 Bucks on Pricing

They looked at my prices, and they knew: if this guy doesn’t raise his prices, he’s not going to be around long. They saw this problem clearly, and they saw it long before I did. So they told me.