Rejecting Rationalizations for Racism

By Tim Berry

I rarely post about politics or current affairs on this blog but today I can’t resist. Yesterday I read a column in the Wall Street Journal highlighting how a group of religious fanatics, all ethnically Arabs, threatens our country. And last month Arizona enacted a law that openly discriminates against Hispanics. Rationalizations run rampant. It... Read More »

Why I Hate Those Huge Market Numbers

By Tim Berry

It happens way too often: entrepreneurs proud of some huge completely unattainable market numbers. They show us billions of dollars. They think that’s a good thing, like it’s important. I hate it. As an investor, as a business plan contest judge, or as a teacher, I don’t really care how many billions of dollars are... Read More »

Immigrants, Job Creation, Good and Bad Politics

By Tim Berry

It’s about time. In the midst of cloudy partisan politics and shouting on both sides, with small business often in the middle like the foil for the arguments, here’s a federal government move that makes sense. TechCrunch has a good summary, called The Startup Visa: Create Jobs, Get A Green Card. As we used to... Read More »

Note to MBAs: Drop the comma MBA, Please!

By Tim Berry

I just got another email from somebody whose email signature is “So-and-so, MBA.” Which reminds me of the business cards, and letters, and promotional material I see where people brandish those three letters after their name. I don’t think that “MBA” thing behind your name works out for you. Have you heard the joke about... Read More »

Bad Apples Get Loud in the Crowd

By Tim Berry

What a shame. The wisdom of crowds is a good idea. User reviews is another good idea. You click and then read. There's the reassurance found in good reviews. How many times have you been influenced by reviewers' stars for... Read More »

This ‘No Business Plans Post’ is Wrong on So Many Levels

By Tim Berry

I read Paul Kedrosky regularly and like most of what I read, but this Twitter business plan post is just so wrong, on so many different levels: "Seeing that Twitter closed a funding round, and spotting the associated incredulity about... Read More »