Back 40 Ventures

If everyone is using agents to listen to podcasts, read articles and, and scan social media for relevant information, doesn’t the advertising model just collapse? Content creators will stop creating or the useful info will be locked behind paywalls and the free content will all be AI generated slop.

Watching your own daughter play high school soccer is more intense as a Dad than any World Cup Game 😂

An email sent in anger and misunderstanding can destroy a relationship and your reputation in seconds. -Always call first!

The best way I’ve heard this described is “respectfully relentless”

I am amazed at how many people carry two phones. Apple probably didn’t factor that into their TAM calculation when they introduced the iPhone!

The young woman in front of me at the coffee shop this morning ordered a coffee and a muffin and then the cashier flipped the screen over showing tip options. 15% 18% 20% She hit “other” and then 0 like a boss. Probably didn’t even complain about tipping culture on X.

We took the kids snorkeling and shelling this morning. 4 hours and left my phone behind. Got an important email while I was gone that my Out of Office message handled. Called the customer just now and he said he to have a nice vacation, that my team took care of him!

Vacation rental has an outdoor pool table. I’m currently hustling my children for their allowance money!

I always thought you weren’t allowed to use your hands in soccer. Clearly I was wrong. These guys push and grab each other on every play!

I keep hearing how bad the economy is, but someone is spending almost $32 billion a quarter on door dash orders. $4 Billion of which is DoorDash’s share.

After all these years in sales, I know I'm closing in on a big opportunity when I get a little bit nervous before a presentation. I've learned to love that feeling. It means I'm pushing myself!

I just completely disagree with this take. Doing things yourself to save money is fine to a point, but at some point in life paying others to do what you don't enjoy, so you can spend more time on the things you do enjoy is worth it. As an added benefit you are helping someone who needs that work. Its just cope to think cutting your own grass or is somehow morally superior.

My advice to recent graduates trying to find a job. People are still hiring, but the jobs available aren’t hitting job boards. A lot of them are with small to midsize companies who typically recruit more experienced people and don’t know how to connect with quality candidates who are recent graduates. You are going to have to learn to network even if you think that’s a dirty word. Start with anybody you know in your target industry. Emails, phone calls, LinkedIn, just let them know you are looking. A basic website with your resume, a personal bio, and links to any projects you’ve done. Print business cards with your info and attend trade events. Most will let you in for free if you are a recent graduate. Talk to everyone and make sure they know you are looking for work. Hand out that card like a politician giving out candy at a parade! Follow up! Anyone who shows any interest should be getting follow up calls and messages from you weekly. If you get directed to a company website with job postings, it’s ok to apply but ask the person who directed you there who the hiring manager is and follow up directly with them after applying. Just taking initiative will set you apart from 99% of your competition.

Think about your existing customers. How many “touches” - emails, phone calls, LinkedIn messages, marketing pieces - did you have with them before they bought? And you’re giving up after two phone calls to a new prospect?

I’ve always lived to read. I remember as a kid trying to guess the meaning of words by context if I didn’t have a dictionary handy. Now I can just google the unknown words on my phone and I appreciate that immensely. I just read the word “Lissajous” in a book I’m reading. A quick Google revealed it’s a mathematical term for a certain kind of curve. I have a math minor and had never heard that term in 49 years. I can still learn something new everyday!

Tonight’s cigar - a gift from one of my former sales guys for covering for him while he went off and got married. Been chillin in my humidor for a bit. Great smoke!

I have bad news for you. The A player your looking for isn't going to be applying to your job posting. You have to go out and find them.

Beach walk today. We are staying a mile and a half south of the Rodanthe Pier. Home of some of those houses that went viral washing into the ocean. The last photo is one of the abandoned ones. I think the call it the black pearl.