Thinking out loud.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that’s what they decided to do.

The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. “Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.”Drinks for the ten now cost just$80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men, the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his ‘fair share?’ They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up
being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man’s bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four
continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

“I only got a dollar out of the $20,”declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,” but he got $10!”

“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too.

It’s unfair that he got ten times more than I!”

“That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”

“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison. “We didn’t get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!”

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

This is a belated post… and all I can say is DAMN! Starting a business, in fact, is a hell of a lot of work. BUT, I am sooooo happy and excited about how things are going at this VERY early stage and about the market and the opportunities that are out there. This country totally is a wonderful place to be for a relatively young guy who is in a position where he can take risk and see what happens.

So, first of all, if you are short on blogs to read lately… once again, may I suggest the Trimtab Blog. I really like two of my recent posts to be quite honest:

• Addressing the question of our value
• A tech company’s problem

So now that I got another plug in to spread the word on my new blog (my important blog to be honest), onto the business at hand… POLITICS (just bear with me, politics season is in full swing and there really isn’t that much else in the news), haha.

I proudly went to the Republican caucus a week ago today as the Ron Paul precinct captain for my precinct. There are approximately 550 registered republicans in my precinct, 33 of which showed up to caucus (a fantastic turnout I was told… it was my first one in this precinct but I was told that 4-6 people is typical). Of those, approximately 4 or 5 had any idea what was going on at the caucus. The long and short of it is that everyone came to “vote” for their republican candidate of choice. But there is no vote meaning most thought the straw poll they took walking in the door counted for something.

Delegates to the county assembly (and, in turn, the state convention and ultimately national convention) are the only thing matter in the ACTUAL nomination process. So when the nomination of delegates was asked for, I promptly volunteered and was voted in unanimously! A victory in MY precinct for the Ron Paul R[evol]ution. As I sat there and debated over the moral issue I was facing as a delegate for my precinct (the moral issue of whether I would vote for Ron Paul at the county assembly or for Romney based on principle as that was who the majority of the district I would represent supported), we came to the end of the meeting and everyone began to realize they had cast no presidential candidate “vote”.

A long line of questions and discussion led to the group generally “figuring out” that I had been voted in as one of our two “spokesmen” for selecting a presidential candidate, which led to a discussion on who I supported, which led to me giving my 2 minute speech on my position, and ultimately a re-vote (which I agreed to as I felt it was unfair everyone voted not knowing what was going on) where both of the original unanimous “winners” got voted out for Romney supporters.

Short story... I am very happy to say that after my Ron Paul speech (even though I lost) I got four votes, despite being the only Ron Paul supporter in my precinct. BUT, I am disappointed to say I did not deliver a delegate for Ron Paul in my district. Hopefully, those two Romney delegates will switch to my team now that he is out!

Bottom line… almost 2500 people in my precinct, 1800 registered voters, 550 republicans (and another 600 independents), 33 caucus attendees, and ONE Ron Paul supporter who damn near delivered at least half of his precinct’s “representation” for Ron Paul.

Bottom, bottom line… I am happy. I put forth only a very small amount effort while at the same time quitting my job, starting a business, and everything else that was going on and almost delivered a positive results on behalf of some 550-1100 people. There are 55,000,000 registered republicans in America and therefore all it would have taken to get the nomination would have been, in theory, some (50% of 55,000,000/550=100,000) 50,000 people strategically located throughout the country no matter how the popular vote went! If you give a shit, you clearly can make a difference, since so few ACTUALLY do (at least do enough to SHOW UP).

“Ron Paul Revolution; Taking back our Constitution.”

That was the chant that kept repeating during the Ron Paul rally on Friday. And I was there for it. Dr. Paul made a campaign stop here in Denver Friday… and it turns I am not alone. For everyone out there who keeps saying he’s a fringe candidate and is not gaining traction, let me quote this Denver Post article:

The crowd for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul was so large it surprised his own organizers. They were forced to hurriedly open partitions to double the size of the ballroom space minutes before Paul’s scheduled appearance in the Four Seasons Ballroom.

The rally, here in little old Denver, drew over 3000 screaming people… below is a short video of the crowd. You all know how important this is to me by now. Tuesday is caucus day here in Colorado. I am excited to be there Tuesday night as a precinct leader for Ron Paul. I hope all of you will go… even IF you won’t support Ron. But if you still aren’t just please remember that if your key issue is…

• Ending the war… a vote for any other candidate is betraying yourself. Only one guarantees to end the war immediately
• Preventing gun control… a vote for any other candidate is betraying yourself. Only one guarantees to REDUCE the amount of gun legislation
• Ballancing the budget… a vote for any other candidate is betraying yourself. Only one candidate has a clear record of balancing the budget and reducing spending
• Taxes… a vote for any other candidate is betraying yourself. Only one not only supports the tax cuts but wants to get rid of the IRS! (and has a real plan for doing it)
• Personal liberty… a vote for any other candidate is betraying yourself. Only one of the candidates outwardly denounces the Patriot Act and the national ID card

Here is a repeat of the…
Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:

• He has never voted to raise taxes.
• He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
• He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
• He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
• He has never taken a government-paid junket.
• He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
• He voted against the Patriot Act.
• He voted against regulating the Internet.
• He voted against the Iraq war.
• He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
• He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.

Happy SUPER TUESDAY everyone!

It is on this day, the thirtieth day of January (actually usually about the 24th day of January through the first day of February) that we celebrate the birth of one of the greatest individual people I have had the honor of knowing in my 26 years of Earthly existence. It is this person who was… smart enough to show me that anything can be learned if you want to bad enough, strong enough to show me the way through a difficult family situation, artistic enough to show me that I should learn how to design rather than just build, forgiving enough to make me feel loved even though I abandoned her in times of need, and caring enough to show me that life isn’t about getting yours but actually giving yours.

She is the person I want to be… a perfect combination of left-brained analytical intelligence and right-brained artistic genius. Someone so capable of get anything they want but with so little concern for anything that does not result in the greater good of the world. It is so funny that the few people I have ever really met in my life that I think are this amazing have either your same first or middle name.

Happy birthday today to my baby sister… hopefully I can grow up to be just like you. I am soooo sorry I can’t be there in Nebraska to help put on a birthweek for you, hopefully Lindy is around to help make up for it. I can’t wait ’til we start saving the world together one day… don’t ever let anything stand in the way of that. I know what you can do, you know what you can do, and everyone else knows what you can do. Whenever a distraction arises, it will be hard to do, but really consider whether it will enable you or disable you and most importantly what would your grandma say. She is looking down today so very proud of the woman you have become.

Love you kid.

May I recommend a great book. I heard the author of a book called the “No Asshole Rule” a while back on the Harvard Business Review podcast I listen too each week. Turns out “No Asshole Rule” is a great book, very applicable to Corporate America’s “Office Space” environment, I highly recommend it for anyone who lives their day to day life in that environment.

But something reminded me of that book the other day… and I hate to say it, I think I fully agree!. To quote Bill Maher from his book “New Rules”:

New Rule… The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the ass hole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a “decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n’-Low and one NutraSweet,” ooh, you’re a huge asshole.

Funny, yes… but seriously, consider for yourself if you are really that damn concerned and controlling about your morning coffee, how do you treat your peers and, ESPECIALLY the people who work for you in the office everyday. So yes, Bill Maher is funny, and yes, I think there really is a good chance that if you are a “Starbucks Asshole” both the baristas and your co-workers are talking behind your back about how absolutely unpleasant you are.

By the way… sorry for the lack of blogs lately but if you get bored and want some Dan’isms on business and technology you can always also check out www.trimtab.com/blog

I heard on the news today that today is in fact “Blue Monday” and I thought that was interesting given my day today. Blue Monday is apparently the third or fourth Monday of January every year. It is Monday, a crappy day anyway since you have to go back to work right… but by the this point in January the stress is fully mounting from holiday season debt (that first payment is due!) and most of you’re New Years resolutions have failed by this point too.

What this all amounts to is the highest suicide rate of ANY day of the year, year after year. Super sad huh? Well today, Blue Monday, is my first official day of self employment which I think is perfect! The day that is typically the country’s most terrible day is the day that I begin living yet another dream. I can’t believe how lucky I am everyday, but I am especially feeling it today!!

And on that self employment note… my website is up and we are about ready to rock and roll. Check it out if you get a minute, www.trimtab.com is the address. This is a first draft really but there is all kinds of information on there about what we’re about, what we’re doing, etc. Any feedback is greatly appreciated of course…

HAPPY BLUE MONDAY EVERYONE

So I am in the middle of a crazy few weeks. This week is my last week at E&Y so as of Friday I will be on my own. It is starting to actually set in that I am not coming back in next week and that is a really wierd feeling. I have been working with these people for almost four years now (I know its no 30 years like the baby boomers seem to often go with one company but outlasted all of my friends in their first post-college jobs), and it will be hard to let that go.

But you know what was the wierdest thing? Quitting. In 26 years, this was the first time I had ever “quit” a job. What a strange experience it was. I didn’t even know how to do it until I talked to my boss and told me I had to write a notification to HR. Then, you go on and on about how great your job was and how much you will miss it; which is true… but if that is the case why is it you are leaving?

Anyway, a mjor first for me (and all goes well it will be the only time I ever do that!). I am finishing up the website (or at least the first draft/version of it) for my new business tonight! I’ll post a link tomorrow after its done. This is the first time in a long time I have been so nervous and felt this kind of uncertainty… AND I SECRETLY LOVE IT!

What is it with kids these days… it seems kids in there 20s think they know everything. We know all the answers to political problems, we know all the answers to business problems, social problems, etc. Well, I am a kid and I recently decided I have the answers to a couple of important problems and am going to take action on them. These problems include:

1. Baby-boomer small business owners “don’t get it” when it comes to technology. This is not their fault, no one has really talked to them about the role of technology in business in their language yet.
2. Big corporations move too slowly… they think standardization and homogenization is the key to consistent quality across a global empire. Yet when they converge a navy small, agile, and fast moving ships; they create an aircraft carrier that is impossible to turn in the face new attacks.
3. In climbing a corporate ladder, you take direction and execute on it as fast possible to make yourself look good. Process is repeated over and over and over in hopes of making another $10,000 or even another $100,000. With this focus, there is no way to innovate, build something amazing, and make $10,000,000.
4. Companies still don’t embrace Blue Ocean Strategy (SIDENOTE: I highly recommend reading the book Blue Ocean Strategy). They still think that competing with other firms for business is an established market or industry is the way to win. Rarely is there a realization that through an innovation process you can CREATE a new market, thereby making competition irrelevant.

Well, being 26 and knowing everything, I have made the decision to solve these problems. As anticipated by this point probably, HERE IS MY BIG NEWS… I am ending my days at E&Y and starting a business. A business that is small, quick, and agile that will create new market space (a Blue Ocean) and will change the small business technology industry if all goes as planned. I actually don’t think I know everything. In fact, my philosophy is that I really know very little but am an excellent learner. And I plan to take what I know, learn very fast, and build something great.

I can’t wait tell everyone about the details of my plan; I am so excited and so nervous. The great part is that never have I felt more alive than I do now. My last day at my current job will be the 18th of this month and then we are off. Much, much more to come but wanted to let everyone it’s official for now. So, it’s official, and I cannot wait to do this!

I love Abert Einstein, one of my heros in fact. Saw this fantastic post on lifetweak.org today. I really like it.

Albert Einstein was an amazing physicist. He figured out so many universal principles and equations that he was way ahead of his fellow scientists at any point of time. But he is also remembered for another thing; a quality which made people call him a genius: his words. Prof. Einstein was a philosopher who clearly understood the laws of success and explained them like the way he did with his equations. Here is a list of 10 things out of the numerously wonderful things he had said; 10 golden lessons that you can put to use in your everyday life.

1. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

Most people don’t try new things because of their fear of failure. Failing is not something to be afraid of. It is often the losers who learn more about winning than the winners. Our mistakes always give us opportunities to learn and grow.

2. Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.

30 years from now, you won’t possibly remember what chapters you had in your science book; you’d only remember what you learn on your way. Life lessons stay with you forever. Real education starts from within.

3. I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

When you reflect on how far we humans have come from the prehistoric caves to mind-blowing technological advancements, you would feel the power of imagination. What we have now was built from the imagination of our forefathers. What we will have in future will be built from our imagination.

4. The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.

Creativity and uniqueness often depends on how well you hide your sources. You can get inspired and influenced by other great people; but when you are on stage with the whole world watching, you must become a unique, individual force that learnt different values from different people.

5. The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive. Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.

If you think of all the top people in the world, they would have added something of value to the world. You must give in order to take. When your purpose is contributing or adding value to the world, you will be elevated to a higher level of living.

6. There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.

When nothing is a miracle, you gain the power of doing anything you want and you have no limits. And when everything is a miracle, you stop by to appreciate even the smallest of beautiful things in the world. Thinking both ways will give you a productive and happy life.

7. When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.

Dreaming about all the great things that you can achieve is the key to a life filled with positivity. Let your imagination run amuck and create the world that you would wish to be in.

8. In order to be an immaculate member of a flock of sheep, one must above all be a sheep oneself.

If you want to become a very successful entrepreneur, you must start a business right away. Wishing to become one, but fearing the consequences will not help. The same applies to everything – in order to win a game, one must above all play the game.

9. You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

Learn the rules of your game and start playing it best. Keep competing like your life depended on it. And after a while you will have no one else but you to compete against. At that point, better your best.

10. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

Intelligent people ask. Keep questioning yourself and others to find solutions. This will help gain knowledge and analyze your growth in all walks of life.

Hey all,

So I did a terrible job of Merry Christmas and Happy New Year blogging this year I know. So there are reasons (and fairly big news coming soon I think!) but wanted to let everyone know Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we’re thinking about you.

This especially applies to the San Antonio crew and everyone else we didn’t get to see over the holidays. Love you guys and thinking about you! Can’t wait to catch up!!

So, sorry for the poor quality, generic Happy Holidays blog but Happy Holidays and see you soon! Lots of big news soon I promise.

Dan