Lots of nice feedback on yesterday's random thoughts...
1. I'm still really cheap. I have a hard time paying over $200 for a hotel room, I always try to take the low-level car, and I refuse to buy Starbucks coffee based on price. I wonder sometimes if I'm doing this to try to "keep it real" or if it's a DNA thing. It really doesn't hit my frontal lobes so there is some unconscious process at work. I think I need another podcast session with Dr. Goulston.
2. Trouble sleeping is one of the most important early indicators as an entrepreneur that you're on to something big. If you're sleeping well at night then something is WRONG. Great ideas, big problems, and execution puzzles keep you tossing and turning. I've learned to embrace my insomnia, not fight it. If you can't sleep get the frack out of bed and work, write some emails, or do a blog post. Get it out of your system then try to sleep. However, don't think there is something wrong with you... there's something right with you!
3. While we did a great job getting 140 companies to present their startups FOR FREE I wonder if we could have done a better job getting the startups who can't afford $2k into the event. Of course, 40% of the folks coming are startups so I guess we did OK. Maybe next year we should have a huge open video room for $500 for two days without food or something.... thinking out loud here about how to pull off an even bigger, more inclusive event. Of course, the videos of this event will be out via creative commons shortly... so, you won't miss anything if you're not there except for the networking.
4. Oh yeah, it's sold out... thanks to the team of folks working to make this great and our partners (aka sponsors--but I hate that words... they're not sponsors, they're partners... they helped format the event, fill in the content, get us speakers, get us startups). Next year there will be no SPONSORS there will only be partners.
5. I really can't wait until I've dropped the last 10 pounds and I'm at 170. I'm dreaming of doing the marathon again.
6. Nick Denton and I are having drinks @ 5pm today... let the speculation begin!
7. We have amazing press folks coming to the event. I hope they all take the time to focus on the STARTUP companies. Please leave the media circus around Mike and me out of this event. It's NOT about us, it's not about Mahalo, it's not event about TechCrunch even thought the name is TechCrunch40. Nope, it's about the entrepreneurial spirit. It's about those 140 companies... my goal is to NOT have one story about myself or Mike at this event. All press resources should talk about the companies presenting. If you're a friend in the press please PLEASE PLEASE focus on the ideas and the startups. Find a start up you love in the demo pit and write about them... let's try and find some new up and coming startups. That's the goal here.
8. I think I need to hire a sales force for Mahalo. I wasn't going to do this but we're starting to get calls from folks who are loving what we're doing. Who's the best person you've ever met who can create a long-term partnership with the top 50 marketers in the world? If you know anyone who wants to do something epic and change the world have them ping me... I wanted to wait until year three to start selling ads, but I think there might be some partnerships we can do now, so why not at least start the discussions.
9. When our Alexa ranking was sinking after the press launch folks beat us up. When it spiked people beat us up. More evidence that a) people are pessimistic by nature, b) short term traffic and services like Alexa, although obsessed over by many, are not important, and c) the best thing you can do as a startup is focus on your product and customers.
10. I love coffee. I'm not going to give it up for tea, and I don't know that tea is so much better for you. Can someone please tell me if drinking coffee is going to kill me or not, because this anti-coffee sentiment is getting me down.
11. Why won't Steve Jobs make a microlaptop? I have a powerbook and i leave it behind for my tiny Vaio most trips now because of weight issues. I really like small laptops because they are easier to pull out of your backpack for short posts like this one.
12. I need a GPS system for road trips. Which one is the best? I got lost every day in the Valley, and I realize that I can't drive without a GPS (my 'Vette has it built in and I use it when I got to the office just to count down the exact miles and average speed).
13. I have 23 presentations to run through on Sat and Sunday. These sessions are electric... my favorite part of the conference production has been refining the presentations. Someone like the NYT or WSJ should come to the dry run and document it tomorrow.... it's really interesting.
14. Hotel just called and told me to get out.... more random thoughts later.
15. Should these random thoughts be on Twitter or Pownce one at a time?
16. I'm leaving comments open... for 48 hours.... please be nice. :-)
Random thoughts from a dirty $99 hotel room in Silicon Valley 30 minutes before checkout
Reader Comments
(Page 1 of 2)2. Quick comments:
#11 - make it a tablet, based on Touch. Give me the option of a small wireless keyboard as well. I'd buy one now.
#12 - I have a Tom Tom One XL and for the price, portability and performance, I don' think you can beat it. I've had a half dozen GPS units (some costing as much as $1400) and this is by far my favorite. When I am walking in a strange city I can just put it in a pocket and know I can find the hotel again!)
Rob
Posted at 3:29PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Rob La Gesse
3. Coffee is ok. This is from, "Eat, Drink and Be Healthy" The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating, by Dr. Walter Willett, hardback, pgs 132-133:
"
Here's something you may not have expected me to say: Coffee is a remarkably safe beverage. Its dubious health reputation, which stretches back hundreds of years, is more image than substance.
Over the years, dozens of studies have been done on the heath effects of coffee. A few early ones linked the bitter brew with breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and heart disease. Many of these had a major flaw. They didn't take into account a key habit -cigarette smoking- that once went hand in hand with coffee drinking. More carefully controlled studies eventually showed that it was the smoking, not the coffee drinking, that accounted for the health problems. In fact, some new research shows that coffee may actually be good for a few things that ail us.
We don't mean to imply that coffee is as innocuous as water. It isn't. The caffeine in coffee (and tea, many sodas, and chocholate) has a definite drugelike activity. The pep and mild euphoria that caffeine offers is probbaly why most people drink coffee and other caffeine-containing beverages. As with any drug, there are downsides to caffeine. Drinking too much coffee can give you the shakes, make you irritable, and keep you from sleeping. It's also addictive. Regular caffeine consumers tend to get nasty headaches if they miss their morning cup(s). Drinking espresso, French press, or other coffee that doesn't drip through a paper filter can increase your cholestrol a few points. And people who drink a lot of coffee may be more at risk for developing osteoporosis or breaking a bone. In moderation, though, coffee is low on the totem pole of health risks and even has a number of benefits. In addition to the gentle pick-me-up, these include the following:
Lower chance of developing kidney stones...
Lower chance of developing gallstones...
Fewer suicides....
"
This book is great, btw. Highly recomended if you like to read what's good and bad for us, based on science from multi-decade studies done on people. Eat your whole grains, and lots of veggies...
Posted at 3:31PM on Sep 14th 2007 by brian
4. Although its not out yet, the Dash Express looks to be a very interesting GPS device. http://dash.net
Posted at 3:44PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Tim Kersey
6. A conclusive study could come out tomorrow showing that coffee will make me grow a second head, but I still wouldn't give it up. I've cut back or given up quite enough in going from 240 to 172, thank you very much.
Posted at 4:34PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Fred Ochsenhirt
7. Must be amazing to be surrounded by new ideas and creative people. We can never have enough of them aound ourselves on a daily basis.
But having the VCs around to make sure the ideas are not wasted is even better =)
Good luck to you and Arrington on this amazing project
I m also waiting for a definitive answer on these coffee myths. I would have a coffee IV if it was possible...
But one thing I make sure is to drink a lot of water to make sure I dont get dehydrated. And lots of gum for obvious reasons
Posted at 4:38PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Simon R
8. I love the random thoughts format. Can't wait to celebrate you being down to 170 lbs. love and kisses, Jerry
Posted at 5:13PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Jerry Colonna
9. "[...] I wonder if we could have done a better job getting the startups who can't afford $2k into the event. [...]"
Jason, how about a StartupCamp? :-)
Posted at 6:32PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Dossy Shiobara
10. Jason,
Jeff (Tseng, friend of Jared's) told me to check out your blog entry today.
The reason why you're cheap (like me), could just a silly (but highly useful and effective way, at least for me) to remind yourself to be hungry, scrappy, and motivated.
I just sold my 2nd company, and I've found that the more I do this, the harder it becomes to stay scrappy, creative, and resourceful and most importantly, HUNGRY.
Its easy to fall into the trap I think of just throwing money at problems, or feeling comfortable when you don't have to worry about where the next meal is going to come from, or how we're going to meet payroll, or what stunts we have to pull to get something done.
I'm sure you know this as well as I do, being resourceful and creative about getting things done, quick, and cheap is a necessity as a startup not a luxury. And of course, some of the best ideas come out of being forced into thinking about how to get things done with no or near zero resources.
In summary, I think the whole staying in a dirty hotel room or whatever is a way to keep us grounded... and remind ourselves that (at least for me) to forget about what you have on hand, set your mind up for success by "keeping it real" and focusing on winning the game rather than lathering yourself in the rewards.
Its also a great way I find to remind (and convince yourself) that, you're not crazy, and that this is worth it, because you're doing it for "the love of the game" and for the challenge. Instead of chasing the infinite loop of collecting material gains.
Here's an interesting posting from James about how he does it:
http://james.hotornot.com/2007/02/on-having-balls-part-ii-staying-hungry.html
(he even quoted me ;).
- Albert
PS:
I'm typing this out of my cofounders living room, 2 steps away from the couch that I've been crashing on this past week. =)
Posted at 6:41PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Albert Lai
11. Jason,
btw, wrt to the comment eariler about startup camp... we've been thinking about throwing a startupcamp unconference in toronto for a while now.
i helped host/launch the first democamp, and we're now at democamp14 since hosting the very first one at our old office.
if you're at all interested in checking out the canadian scene... we'd love to have you up in toronto to co-host something.
Posted at 7:19PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Albert Lai
12. Life is short. Drink coffee.
Posted at 7:37PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Michael Martine
13. Jason,
For me, being cheap is in the DNA. I've been broke many times, and flush, too. But always cheap, no matter my circumstances. I don't think I'll ever shake it, or buy a $4 cup of coffee.
Posted at 8:19PM on Sep 14th 2007 by TechPRGuy
14. Like the random thoughts!
----------
2) I think it's a individual thing. I know some that can sleep like a baby no matter what the situation, good or bad. I tend to be like you, up at at em when it's good.
12) Coffee is good. As with a lot of things, would you rather live an extra week or two and deny yourself some simple pleasures or loose a few but have years of enjoyment.
15) Heavens NO.
15. #1: Being cheap is good no matter what anyone says.
#6: Unfortunately, drinks have a lot of calories and can make it more difficult to lose weight.
#10: Coffee is fine, but drink more than 2 pots a day and it can keep you awake. Chocolate covered esspresso beans are killer-- but will ruin your diet and keep you awake.
16. #7
Will there be videos of the presentations available? It seems like this would be a great way to help these companies spread their message even more widely (and help those of us who are going to be out of the country not feel too bad about missing the show).
Posted at 10:11PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Ted
17. Jason, on the cheap thing, apparently Carl Icahn was known to go to great lengths to avoid handing a tip to any doorman.
That's cheap, and yes, I think it's in your DNA. Like so many things, just learn to accept it and laugh at yourself about it.
Cheers
18. see you 3pm Jason
Will show you how to totally remove your huge phone bill and save even more money
Posted at 1:13AM on Sep 15th 2007 by pat phelan
19. As far as being cheap goes, it's fine if it's about yourself, but be generous with others. I always tip well (people depend on tips in this country) and I get a kick taking friends or co-workers out to dinner or drinks, especially if they can't really afford nights out and I can. I don't make a big show of it and am just as happy grabbing a quick beer and burger an an inexpensive place, but it's nice to treat, once in a while (and I've been the benefit of your largesse, so I know this doesn't fall on deaf ears!).
Also, as far as yourself goes, there's a limit. I agree that there are plenty of hotels in the $100-$150 range with beds as nice as fancy ones (Courtyard by Marriott has fantastic beds) but a night's sleep on a lousy bed, in a room with broken AC next to a construction site can ruin the entire next 24 hours and sometimes, it ain't worth it. I might not travel as much as you, but from someone who is on the road 4-5 months/year, a good bed in a quiet room is worth an extra few $$, especially if you're going to be working/living in it for a week-10 days at a time.
Posted at 3:02AM on Sep 15th 2007 by Mark Rabinowitz
20. Cheap hotel rooms, cheap coffee... but $10K on monitors
Well, saving on crap that you don't care about is a good way to have more for stuff that you care about :)
Posted at 3:27PM on Sep 15th 2007 by K.
1. Dude, I love reading your blog because you're full of interesting personality quirks - and they all come out.
Cheap hotel rooms, cheap coffee... but $10K on monitors http://www.calacanis.com/2007/05/19/large-monitor-productivity-whats-the-largest-display-i-can-b/ and "whatever it takes" for fiber http://www.calacanis.com/2007/05/22/begging-for-verizon-fios-i-want-it-joseph-ambeault-joe-sava/ ? My favorite has to be "Real entrepreneurs don't raise venture capital" http://www.calacanis.com/2005/02/09/real-entrepreneurs-dont-raise-venture-capital/ though. :)
Anyway, keep it up! Oh, and I prefer them here rather than on Twitter or something. Twitter's too much of a time-sink these days and Google Reader is more efficient.
Good luck with the show!
Posted at 3:28PM on Sep 14th 2007 by Don Macaskill