Dan Martell Vox

I've Moved -> www.DanMartell.com

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:23:34 -0800

After a couple years of blogging here, I've decide to grow up and move out - got my own place www.danmartell.com ... here's where you can find me:

If I'm not there, I can usually be found in San Francisco - meeting with other super smart & passionate Entrepreneurs and figuring out how to change the world.... see you soon.

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To Kill It, You Need Patience and Passion.

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:37:22 -0700

Watch these 2 videos (in order!):

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Success Factors of a Silicon Valley CEO

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:40:50 -0700

Measuring Tape - CEO Success

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a successful Silicon Valley CEO? We'll, recently at the TechCrunch50 conference, I was fortunate to hear from some of the best in the industry share their thoughts. Here are just a few ideas that were discussed.

Peter Thiel suggested that the best predictor to a startup success, is low CEO pay. He says:

The lower the CEO salary, the more likely it is to succeed.
The CEO’s salary sets a cap for everyone else. If it is set at a high level, you end up burning a whole lot more money. It aligns his interest with the equity holders. But [beyond that], it goes to whether the mission of the company is to build something new or just collect paychecks.
In practice we have found that if you only ask one question, ask that.

Now, that's only if you could ask one question - so in that context, it does make sense... and I would agree.

Using a different filter from Chris Sacca (Venture Investor, Private Equity Principal, Advisor), he suggested a list of life events that might act as a good filter.

Traveled abroad
Play sports (athletic)
Worked a shitty job.
Can show vulnerability

And lastly, and probably my favorite, was Yossi Vardi's (Tech Entrepreneur, Investor) thoughts.

Be top talent
Nice person
Focused!
Nimble
Be in the right space
Good listener

If I were to make my own list, I would probably include most of the ideas above - but I would definitely add passion, and the ability to attract top talent. Having a great team is definitely the key in all of this, and if the person can't attract, and play nice with others, it's usually a good indication of failure. (unless he's smart enough to put someone between him and the others, but that's another discussion altogether).

What would you add? Anything you disagree with?

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Look Up, Not Down! TechCrunch50 Reviewed

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:41:36 -0700

Mark Cuban at TC50

All in all, it was a very exciting and exhausting three days. Jason and Mike put on a very grass roots event. All the companies presented extremely well, and there was only one technical glitch that I can remember. The real value for me was meeting the CEO's of the presenting, and Demo Pit companies; talking with Angels/VC's about emerging sectors; getting to know some of the characters in the Web 2.0 space; and making new friends in the San Francisco area.

Highlights:

Joking around with Yossi Vardi about "other" Silicon Valleys around the world. What a nice guy.
Hanging with Lauren and the puppet
Meeting the whole Seesmic.com team.
Chatting with Austin (Akoha) and learning more of his vision.

Top 3 Companies:
GoodGuide, Akoha, Atmosphir

Most Over Hyped
Blah Girls

Best Presentation
TonchiDot - "Look Up, Not Down" .... IMAGINE

I'm not going to lie, I'm still confused about Yammer winning the whole thing. I'm a fan of the team, and understand it make sense, however, I personally believe their were other companies more deserving from an innovation and market potential point of view.

What do you think? Did Yammer deserve top spot?

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Why I Moved to San Francisco?

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:41:40 -0700

San Francisco Skyline from Mission

That's a great question. The truth be told, it's quite simple. I try to live my life by a simple question:

Are my goals worthy of my life?

Using that as a compass, I'm always trying to push myself to next level. That was the main motivation for moving to SF.

That being said, It wasn't an easy decision. Life was great in Moncton, NB. I had just bought a new boat, cottage and a house. Contrast that, with what I have now - a suit case, and a mountain bike. Why the move?

Well... it all comes back to the question above. I'm 28 yrs old, and I want to ensure I set goals that are worthy of my life. This isn't a dress rehearsal, we only get one shot. So here I am.

So what's my plan? ... let's save that for another day.

Have you ever made a decision, that on the surface, seemed highly irrational - but once you revealed your intentions, it made all the sense in the world?

Related
Telegraph Journal by David Shipley - Building a Bridge to Silicon Valley
The Perfect Balance by Chris Nadeau - Why Set Bigger Goals

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Topology At It's Best

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:06:34 -0700

Much in the same way Ford borrowed from the Meat Packers in Chicago, here's another great example of "business topology" applied within the airline industry:

[Souce: Signal vs. Noise]
Alaska Airlines saves millions by rethinking check-in flow

Next-hustleandflow2LG

Hustle & Flow [Fast Company] takes a look at Alaskan Airlines’ effort to design a better way to get customers through airport check-in.
The airline studied theme parks, hospitals, and retailers to see how they handled similar situations. Then, the team built mock-ups in a warehouse using cardboard boxes for podiums, kiosks, and belts in order to find ways to increase efficiency.
The resulting makeover at the Seattle airport is likely to save almost $8 million a year (and means they won’t have to spend $500 million building a new terminal).

What other industries have you looked at lately for inspiration & solutions?

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Choosing The Right Path

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:44:51 -0700

I love how life's most challenging questions, are usually answered with the simplest response.

Question:
How do you know the path is the right path to take?

Answer:
When you don't feel prepared to take it.

Simple.

A few years ago, I found myself at the top of Blackcomb Mountain (Whistler, BC), staring down a chute that I definitely didn't feel prepared for. Right or wrong, I gave it everything I had. Good news, I made it out alive. Bad news, I had to buy new bindings. :P

Whistler, BC

Broken Binding

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Twitter: It's Time You Join

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Sun, 18 May 2008 03:53:12 -0700

Twitter in Plain English

Benefits of using Twitter

Keep connecting with weak ties.
Reduce phone calls asking "What's new?"
Meet like minded people
Be the first to know

Tips on How To Use It

Install Twhirl on your computer
http://www.twhirl.org/

Tips:

If you put @[username] the person will see your message (aka Tweet) ex: Going running with @danmartell, @afoster
Short URLS, Links = Great!!! www.moourl.com <- Paste long links to add to your Tweets.

References

Get Into Twitter or Get Out of Public Relations
http://www.pr-squared.com/2008/04/get_into_twitter_or_get_outta.html

Digital PR? No Twitter account is like no fax number in the 80’s
http://tweetpr.com/?p=16

Why Twitter Matters
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2008/tc20080514_269697.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily

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Vision Board: House in Costa Rica

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:11:41 -0700

House in Costa Rica

I've had this on my Vision Board for a few months now, however, the other day, it seemed to be getting one step closer ... thought I'd share.

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Entrepreneurship is the Man in the Arena

nobody@vox.com(Dan Martell) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:25:13 -0700

Mike Arrington (Founder of Techcrunch) recently spoke at Start-Up School. One of the points he made was in reference to Teddy Roosevelt speech, which he argues (and I agree) that start-ups are in the arena.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Reference
All Videos / Speakers

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