Archive for July, 2010
Be a Little Bit Swash-Buckling
Jul 25th
“In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.”
- Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com
If you are looking for inspiration and confirmation about your choice to strike out on your own, watch Jeff Bezos’ Princeton address “What matters more than your talents”. He talks about his decision, 16 years ago, to quit his job at a financial firm in NYC to start Amazon.com.
Cause.
Just last week I quit a job that I liked at a company that I admired to run a one-man Android application development shop. Like Jeff, after talking with my boss I needed to take some time to “think about it”; I was being offered a promotion during the same meeting that I was letting my boss know I was planning to leave. Something like that requires serious re-consideration.
If you are like me and have second-guessed your choice because of what someone else has said to you, you are not alone! Even Jeff Bezos, mastermind of Amazon.com, net worth of $12.3 billion (billion with a ‘b’) in 2010, was advised by his boss to not make the choice to leave and start Amazon.com. Be inspired by Jeff’s comments about his choice: “I didn’t think I’d regret trying and failing; and I suspected I would always be haunted by a decision to not try at all…. I took the less-safe path to follow my passion; and I am proud of that choice.”
Effect.
When you make life choices, you have to be daring; “a little bit swash-buckling”, as Jeff puts it. There will always be people who will try to make you second-guess your choices; who will give their opinion about how you are deciding to run your life (even though you did not ask); and who give their own reasons why they would definitely not do what you are choosing to do.
This is a natural effect of choice. When you choose a new adventure (striking out on your own) and someone else is left with the old and familiar, both parties have a need to rationalize their situations. You, obviously, have your reasons, or else you would not be taking this large risk. They, however, need to re-justify their situation and why they are not choosing to make choices like you are. Sometimes, their rationalization involves belittling your choice; sometimes it involves explaining your choice away; inevitably, there will be someone who will (in as many words) tell you that you are making a bad choice.
Take heart.
Jeff presents the following dichotomies which I am calling “You vs. The World”. In my opinion, you must choose to belong in one of the two columns; abdicating choice is a choice in and of itself. Choosing to be in the “You” column means you choose to take the road less traveled.
| The World | You |
|---|---|
| Let inertia be your guide | Follow your passions |
| Follow dogma | Be original |
| Choose a life of ease | Choose a life of service and adventure |
| Wilt under criticism | Follow your convictions |
| Bluff it out when you’re wrong | Apologize |
| Guard your heart against rejection | Act when you fall in love |
| Play it safe | Be a little bit swash-buckling |
| Give up when it’s tough | Be relentless |
| Be a cynic | Be a builder |
| Be clever at the expense of others | Be kind |
Remember these dichotomies and remember that you and only you have the power to decide what life you will live.
“In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story.”
- Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com
AppRoulette
Jul 19th
Discover the best apps in the Android Marketplace that do not make it on any Top 10 list.
Just like real roulette, you may see a few losers before you win big.
Later versions will give recommendations based on apps you like.
Take a chance on a new app, with AppRoulette!
You can download AppRoulette in the Android Marketplace by tapping here from your Android phone, searching for “app roulette” from within the Android Marketplace, or using your Barcode Scanner to read the QRCode to the left.
AppRoulette helps you find content within the Android Marketplace that simply does not make it onto the “Top 10″ or “Best Of” lists that some people publish. The applications that AppRoulette helps you find are still valuable, they are just buried deep within the Android Market!
Using AppRoulette, play a few rounds until you find an application that you find valuable. When you install the newly-found application, you have a Winner!
AppRoulette tracks both your valuable “Winner” applications (those you have installed) and the applications that you did not find valuable: “Losers”.
Use the icon in the notification bar to quickly play another round while you are inside the Android Market — no need to go back inside the AppRoulette application!
Configure your preferences and choose whether to include paid apps, free apps, or both. Also choose which categories interest you, and un-check those categories that you do not wish to have recommended to you.
AppRoulette is both a tool, and an app to pass the time. Have a 5 minute break? Play a few rounds and see if you win any great new apps.
Share applications — both “Winners” and “Losers” — with your friends. Sometimes, these apps are just too good to keep to yourself!
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you for your interest in AppRoulette!
GoldMine
Jul 9th
Discover great applications in the Android Marketplace that you never knew existed!
Better than a “Top 10 Best Android Apps” app: this is a tool to help you find the best apps for *you*.
GoldMine helps you dig deep and find valuable apps currently buried deep within the Android Marketplace.
Dig for Apps with GoldMine!
You can download GoldMine in the Android Marketplace by tapping here from your Android phone, searching for “gold mine” from within the Android Marketplace, or using your Barcode Scanner to read the QRCode to the left.
GoldMine helps you find content within the Android Marketplace that simply does not make it onto the “Top 10″ or “Best Of” lists. These applications are still valuable, they are just burried!
Using GoldMine, dig through applications quickly until you find an application that you find valuable. When you install the newly-found application, you have struck gold!
GoldMine tracks both your valuable “gold” applications (those you have installed) and the applications that you did not find valuable: “pyrite” = “fools gold”.
Use the icon in the notification bar to quickly dig for another app — no need to go back inside the GoldMine application!
Configure your preferences and choose whether to include paid apps, free apps, or both. Also choose which categories interest you, and un-check those categories that you do not wish to dig through.
GoldMine is both a tool, and an app to pass the time. Have a 5 minute break? Dig through apps and see what’s hot and what’s not.
Share applications — both “gold” and “pyrite” — with your friends. Sometimes, these apps are just too good to keep to yourself!
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you for your interest in GoldMine!