2005 12
I Belong to OpenBC… and Maybe you Should as Well
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OpenBC is a super succesful web site that links business people around the world. It is relatively new and growing fast. I joined a month ago, encouraged by my friend Ola Ahlvarsson from Sweden, and did not think much of it. Surprisingly, two days after joining, an executive from a large multinational contacted me with a project that they wanted to do teaming up with an entrepreneur. Even more suprisingly, I found the project so interesting that we now have a letter of intent signed and hopefully I will soon be able to announce that we are launching it.
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2005 12
Tired of losing: Outsource your Rival, American Law Firms
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I lived in the States for 18 years. During that time I completed my schooling at NYU and Columbia University and my first 10 years as an entrepreneur. Overall I loved living in NYC, this city has some of the best universities and most remarkable entrepreneurial opportunities in the world. Everything is there. Unfortunately everthing includes a serious impediment to business: expensive American law firms. Americans called Europe beaurocratic and that is true. But at least European beaurocracy is mostly free. American beaurocracy comes in the shape of law firms and it´s outrageously costly. Lawyers in America are as priviledges as members of the Communist Party of China: they are people who walk around charging $400 an hour to talk to each other while they make rules for all the rest of us to live by.
But wait, there´s hope for this abuse and it´s in India. Some American entrepreneurs have realized that the “knowledge” that American lawyers have can easily be replicated in India and there are now people in India who are receiving an American Legal Education. Imagine the education institutions now focus on turning out amazing software engineers coming up with a new training, American Law and graduating lawyers who can do most of the legal work that needs to be done supported by a few coordinators in America who yes, could bill $400 an hour but for very very few hours. And after that, how would you like to have Indian lawyers trained in American law working for you over the net at $10 an hour? Well, it´s coming. Soon one of the most important useless drains of cash for American businesses will stop… in India.
2005 27
Letter: Admiration
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Dear Martin,
I am writing to you to let you know that I am really impressed with your success. You are an inspiration to me. I am the type of person that cannot sleep at night wondering all of the things I could do. I always come up with tons of business ideas and solutions but somehow they all remain in just ideas. I currently live in Miami where I work as a credit analyst for an international bank. Prior to that I lived in Boston for seven years where I got my bachelors degree in Finance and International Business at Northeastern University. I guess I am seeking for advice in regards to my career. I am a very ambitious person who cannot stand mediocrity. I just wish one day I could get my career on the right direction. The path of success and achievement where I can feel proud of my accomplishments.
By the way, I have to tell you that I personally think the recent offer you made to South Winds was genius. I just admire the way you move. You are everywhere without even being there. Thank you for listening,
Diego H. Lodeiro
Credit Analyst
Banco Internacional de Costa Rica S.A.
I just came back from a tour of Israel and soon to be Palestine. During this tour I met with a significant number of top Palestinian and Israeli political leaders. I met with Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, political leaders from Likud, Labor, Shaz, Mafdal, Shinui and others. I also met with the Minister of the Economy of Palestine, leaders from Fatah and Hamas, as well as other young political leaders and activists in Palestine.
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Sometimes things are wrong in the world and we think we know how to fix them. For example, we know that we’re polluting the atmosphere and we know that if hybrid cars became mandatory around the world, pollutant levels would drastically fall. We know the problem, we know the solution. But what about situations when we know something is wrong in the world and the solution we’d like to propose would make things even worse? This is the case with US military spending.
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2005 11
The Basques Seen from the Outside
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The Spanish papers dedicate about 3 pages everyday to the Basque Country debate, and some days, even more. The Spanish people are obsessed by the situation in the Basque Country, in part because of terrorism. However, just the other day I found out that every year in Spain more people die in car accidents than have died in the entire history of ETA, yet, I don’t see as much ink spilled to cover that story.
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2005 11
School? Or Education for the Routine of Adult Life?
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I’ve got 3 children in an English school in Madrid. I see what they’re studying, and while it’s a little better than what I studied at Nicolás Avellaneda in Buenos Aires, it’s not good enough. Sometimes when I help them with their homework, I think that education, just like food or medicine, should come with an expiration date.
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2005 5
Air Battles
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I was thinking about the animal world the other day and there are many different ways that animals attack each other.
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2005 29
What to do if Al Qaeda drops an Atomic Bomb in Manhattan
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The attacks of 9/11 reminded us of humans’ seemingly inexhaustible imagination and capacity to kill innocent lives. What was unthinkable one day, became reality the next. Today, in the back of everyone’s mind lies the irrepressible fear that one day, terrorists will orchestrate an attack that would make 9/11 look like a Saturday night brawl. What would happen if Al Qaeda dropped a nuclear warhead on Chicago or New York City and kill a million people? How would the US retaliate?
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2005 27
Personal Assistant
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I am looking for a Personal Assistant. Ideally a bright, bilingual college graduate taking a two year break between college and graduate school interested in spending time in Spain. This formula has worked for me in the past. Please send me your CV at .