Monthly Archives: October 2009

A Rush of Productivity

Posted on by

My book project - ”The Business of Happiness” – has been turned into the publisher. A first indication from their editors is that they are “happy” with it and I am very happy with my partnership with John Buckley who worked with me on the book. We hope to get it into market in early 2010. I never knew how hard writing a book would be. It is a great relief to get the book sent to the publisher.

A new film that I am helping to produce has been sent to the Sundance Film Festival. We all have our fingers crossed that it will be accepted. I am very proud to be associated with another “Filmanthropy” project such as this. Rick Allen, CEO of SnagFilms, has been working with me and the first time film directors on it. It is a very moving documentary about an inspirational character who overcomes great odds to win at the game of life!

Some of the companies that I am associated with as founder, majority owner or as an investor, Chairman or serving on their board have been having some break out activities of late. A few names spring to mind - Groupon; SnagFilms; Revolution Money; The Washington Capitals. Customer satisfaction is very high with these companies. Business is booming of late. Growth is off the chart with all of these organizations. All four of these firms are in the business of happiness.

We are blessed. It has been a wild and exciting last six months of work!

Google Helps You Live Longer

Posted on by

Now that is a great consumer claim!

Read this article. As an evangelist for the benefits of the Web for a long time, I always thought the Internet could make you happy and smarter and add to your productivity and longevity. We are social animals. Solitary confinement is considered torture.

If crossword puzzles are good for your mind then so is the Internet.

I was made happy reading this article.

We Are Everywhere

Posted on by

So I am in Chicago for a set of board meetings. My meetings end at 6:00 pm central time last night. I dash to the ESPN Zone in downtown Chicago. I meet with a manager and convince him to put on the Caps vs. Thrashers game. I eat a burger. I get to watch a sloppy and ugly game with a beautiful ending in that we gain two standing points in the division on the road.

While I am watching the game, a business executive comes into the bar area and he is really into the game. He is cheering for the Caps. In between periods, I go over and introduce myself. His name is Jonathan Duke. He is from Sterling, VA. He is on a business trip and he wants to see “his favorite team” play.

How cool is that? We chat, take a photo together and watch the end of the game.

Go Caps! Rock the Red – everywhere.

A Backie Star

Posted on by

We were not a very good team. That was by design. We had a poor record. We got to pick high in the draft for a few seasons. We drafted Alex Ovechkin and we drafted Nicklas Backstrom.

Nicklas is a pillar of our rebuild. He is a wonderful two way player and a great person with enormous upside and sublime skills. He plays defense well. He is all about the team. In an odd way, his single biggest issue is that he isn’t selfish enough. He has a great shot and I believe he can be a consistent 25 goal scorer.

Nicklas is a winner as well. He comes from a very strong family environment. He is very respectful of his coaches and his teammates. He is a fast learner and he is a strong and effective leader. He is durable. In fact, he has never missed a game due to injury.

He loves our community for its cosmopolitan flair. He is best friends with many of his teammates. He embraces our fans and he gets goose bumps when you are Rocking the Red.

I am very fond of Nicklas and his family. We are fortunate to have been able to draft him; help develop his skills; and to see him blossom into a star player. It will be a joy to watch him play on our team for a long, long time. This is a total feel good story.