What -- if anything -- is "Hippie" about Silicon Valley? Last week, I wrote about "The Hippie Values which Made Yahoo the Coolest Company in the World." As background, I used to consider myself a bit of a "hippie" myself. I was born in 1963, so I was too young to take part in the original Hippie movement in the U.S. in the 1960s. (My parents ... [Continue Reading]
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The Hippie Values which Made Yahoo the Coolest Company in the World
"They're really a couple of anti-establishment hippies," said John Place, the general counsel of Yahoo. My colleague and I were sharing beers on a sunny, warm afternoon in Santa Clara, in the heart of Silicon Valley. He was referring to Yahoo co-founders Dave Filo and Jerry Yang. It was 1997, and I had just become employee number 258 worldwide, ... [Continue Reading]
Hey Britain! Why Don’t You Join the U.S.?
Dear UK, I'd like to humbly and respectfully submit the following Modest Proposal: Why don't you join the United States of America, and become our fifty-first state? I know, I know -- about 52% of you are no doubt celebrating your newly-referendumed independence from the European Union. And the rest of the world financial markets are in ... [Continue Reading]
LeBron James, Records, and Silicon Valley
“Records were meant to be broken,” said LeBron James. ABC Sports reporter Doris Burke was interviewing him on Thursday, June 16, right after James’s Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the National Basketball Association Finals. They still had Game 7 to play, in the best of 7 series. The Cavaliers were big ... [Continue Reading]
When is the Exact Day You Are Going to Die?
“Please imagine your death. When is the exact day, month, and year? What is your cause of death? What are your last thoughts, emotions and sensations? Who will be with you?” This is often the first question that I ask in my popular “Happiness Workshop: Find Your Pleasure, Purpose and Peace.” (Find out more information here.). It’s not a ... [Continue Reading]
You Want a Job in Silicon Valley? Look Beyond the Obvious.
Many people reach out to me, asking for my coaching advice on how to find a job in Silicon Valley. This includes technologists and designers, as well as business people. I ask “Well, where would you like to work?” Often, they say “Google. Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn.” “Those are all great companies”, I reply. “But you need to think beyond the ... [Continue Reading]
How to Be an Entrepreneur and Still Have a Life
I’ve worked in Silicon Valley startups and fast growing companies since 1997. Here are some tips to balance your personal life with career, especially if you’re building a new business. 1). Get focused. I worked at an ecommerce startup which was ultimately acquired for a valuation of $1.2 billion. On my first day of work, I asked the CEO if he ... [Continue Reading]
How To Expand Your Professional Network While Still In School
Most college students are clueless about professional networking. In my last blog post “Starting College? How to Avoid the ‘I’ll Be Happy Only When…’ Syndrome”, I shared some tips related to Learning and Lifestyle, as I looked back on when I started college 32 years ago. Many readers commented that the ideas were helpful, whether you’re in college ... [Continue Reading]
Starting College? How to Avoid the “I’ll Be Happy Only When…” Syndrome
Are you starting college? Or do you know somebody who is? I recently helped my girlfriend’s daughter relocate from San Francisco to New York City, to begin her freshman year of higher education. A lot has changed since I moved from Omaha to Iowa City to start college 32 years ago, but the following six tips were valid then, and they're valid now. ... [Continue Reading]
Live **As If ** You Had Cancer
On July 1, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced that he would soon be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for throat cancer. He wrote “the prognosis from my doctors is excellent, the cancer was caught quickly, and my condition is curable.” A reader wrote me and asked if, given my own experiences, I would be willing to share some thoughts on ... [Continue Reading]
