Disqus - Latest Comments for tdavidson

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:40 -0000

A simple, human reason: I don't like to smile in pictures (a little different from in-person).

I'm not really that serious, whatever the facial expression implies.

(and I hadn't thought of that irony!)

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:17:08 -0000

Just now? :)

The "for yourself and for others" is the key bit for me. It's not just about our actions and attitude impact us, but how they impact others: creating shared experiences that are greater than the sum of the parts. Interpersonal synergy, in a way.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:42:49 -0000

One more reason to love New Orleans :)

Re: How I Managed to Speak At A Conference When I’d Never Attended One Before

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:21:00 -0000

You forgot to mention how when we met it was basically "Hello! Now let's finish this presentation in an hour." :)

Obviously looking forward to the rest of the series...

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:03:46 -0000

Thank you. Obviously the experience couldn't have happened without you, but more than that, in writing about it, just trying to learn from your gift in creating and sharing stories that people can identify with, connect to and care about. Causes/events/experiences/awesomeness like Cause It's My Birthday are powerful ways to bring people together by using our lives as platforms and "accessible happy places" to make it easier for people to care, contribute and change.

And same here :)

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:47:34 -0000

Well, I don't want to make it a commentary on society and public discourse, it's really too small of a sample to use for broad generalizations. Let's just consider it a story to remember next time we encounter a similar (or, more likely, not-so-similar) situation in our daily lives. Pay attention. Say hello. And care.

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:43:15 -0000

Yep, by the time I reached SF I was looking pretty ragged. Maybe that's why nobody asked me about it :)

Personally I don't think this is something we've "lost", but something that is ingrained culturally. It would be interesting to try this in other cultures and contexts and see the response. Actually, some day perhaps I'll share stories of my random "cultural tests" in the UK, Japan and India..

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:29:56 -0000

Yes, but I'm still surprised nobody asked, not even a simple "did you have a good Halloween?"

Re: Making Myself Uncomfortable (A Zombie’s Journey)

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:55:52 -0000

As a performer yourself, I'm guessing you'd have no problems doing the same thing :)

Re: The Local Loci of Control.

tdavidson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:03:51 -0000

Believe it or not, I'm actually desperately trying to ramble less, even if the above doesn't demonstrate the conviction :)

But small can be a defense mechanism against big: the failure of "too big to fail" companies has exposed some of the problems with using size as a defense mechanism.

Actually, I would argue that networks, declining transaction costs of communication and organization et.al. offer a defense for small against big, in some markets, networks, and communities. How? Small can procure talent, resources, capital at a similar cost basis and leverage said resources with a similar efficiency and effectiveness as large, in some systems.

.. and one of my interests is figuring out which systems :)

Re: Making Yourself Uncomfortable

tdavidson — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:02:05 -0000

We all played a role; it took everyone to chip in to make it happen.

(And, yes, I washed it off in SFO. That story is coming up soon :)

Re: Hidden Endpoints

tdavidson — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:17:48 -0000

Algorithms and people each have their own black boxes; the power of the black boxes of our minds, the inability to outline the influences, contexts and break down our thought processes into flow charts, decision matrices and equations is why algorithms aren't enough on their own.

Re: Think big by starting small.

tdavidson — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:07:28 -0000

All companies, big and small, worry about the bottom line; they just
worry about it differently.

The real question: what kind of "worrying" do we need to incent right now?

Re: A Little Jaunt: The Expenses

tdavidson — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:40:23 -0000

Not only does "spending social capital" sound better than "couch-crashing", but it's also a much better way to explain the wide-ranging hospitality that people have shown me along the way.

Re: Unexpected Horizons, New York City

tdavidson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:11:42 -0000

The view is always brilliant :)

Re: My First Twitter Lists

tdavidson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:18:05 -0000

well, start with a lot of the people I follow; the ability to enjoy the seriousness and the frivolity is an attitude I hold in high esteem (especially if people can do it at the same time!)

Re: My First Twitter Lists

tdavidson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:16:18 -0000

oddly, I DM-spilled myself the next day :)

Re: One night on a train from Istanbul to Sofia

tdavidson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:33:46 -0000

When you leave Turkey, you have to get off the train and get an exit
stamp from Turkish immigration (the train stops, everyone gets off,
walks 20 feet, stands in a line, gets their stamp from immigration,
gets back on train, train leaves). Entering Bulgaria the immigration
authorities came on the train to ask for passports, etc.

Re: David Noël - David Noël

tdavidson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:11:30 -0000

It's part of my "biz dev by being awesome" strategy. Still in progress :)

Re: Venture capital is not broken. But it could use an alternative incentive structure.

tdavidson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:26:45 -0000

ok. but how do you set "today's valuation"?

perhaps instead of "Debt repayment: the holder of the convertible debt holds the option to be repaid portions of the debt whenever the company reports a cash flow positive month"

... it's simply holder of note holds option to be repaid... but may request to not be paid.

this would keep the value in the note.

Re: Venture capital is not broken. But it could use an alternative incentive structure.

tdavidson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:32:19 -0000

Sounds reasonable.

A new financing event doesn't make the equity "valuable" (i.e. doesn't distribute cash), it merely sets a price.

I'm curious why you would convert outside of a liquidity event; setting valuation can be a contentious negotiation for business partners.

Re: My First Twitter Lists

tdavidson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:13:12 -0000

That would be brilliant. Save that idea for when we get Lists...

Re: My First Twitter Lists

tdavidson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:23:46 -0000

I've got ideas for a bunch of other lists that should probably stay private...

Re: My First Twitter Lists

tdavidson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:06:40 -0000

Like the new avatar picture, btw...

Re: My First Twitter Lists

tdavidson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:01:20 -0000

I'm already dreading the self-promo list spam; planning on doing mine
a little differently.

That said, I am looking forward to seeing what great curators create...