“Because” is one of the most powerful words in the English language. In Robert Cialdini‘s classic book, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” he gives a great overview of the science behind persuading people. One of the most interesting experiments has to do with the effect of “because” on people. In a study, they had a …
Now that my campaign for Mayor of Phoenix is over, I’ve had a chance to read a few books and wanted to jot down my notes on the main themes for my future reference and for anyone who might be considering the book. The first one I read on vacation in Flagstaff, Cal Newport‘s “Deep …
It was the subtitle that got me to read Tim Harford’s book, “The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich are Rich, the Poor are Poor – and Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car!” Our family owns the oldest independent car dealership in Phoenix and has sold thousands of decent used cars over …
If 1 out of 100 people are potential buyers for your product, you still have a target market of approximately 3,227,000 people. The challenge is reaching them. Mass media would work, if you saturate all 322MM people with your message, some fraction of that 1 in 100 would respond, but you’d be broke from the …
Marketing to a small minority without a massive budget Read More
Threatening to leave an organization if you don’t get your demands met is an inherently risky strategy. The best case scenario is that your demands are met and you gain a reputation as the sort of person who delivers ultimatums. If you don’t get your demands met, you must follow through with your threat to …
It’s not often anymore that I have time for a full-length book, but I recently read Jon Meacham’s biography of Jefferson, “Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power.” It took a few weeks taking it on long flights and reading before bed, but it’s very worth the time. Meacham covers the entire arc of Jefferson’s life, …
There are so many people in the world who are not doing what they should. When I find myself focusing on the actions of others, I find it helpful to listen to Michael Jackson’s classic, “Man in the Mirror.” As a stoic, I recognize that only my actions are in my control. As a Libertarian, …
Back in July 2013, I wrote a post about how much one gets paid for breathing. The basic concept is to figure out how much money you make from entirely passive investments and divide it our to figure out what you get paid just for breathing, without having to do any work. At that point, …
How Much Do You Get Paid for Breathing? – An update Read More
Over 70 years ago, Roman “Slim” Sarwark moved from South Bend, Indiana to Phoenix, Arizona to convalesce after he lost a lung to tuberculosis. His doctors didn’t give him much chance to live for many more years. Slim started Sarwark Motor Sales in 1942, selling one or two cars at a time. His hard work …
Today is my last day as a Deputy State Public Defender. Over the last five years, I have fought beside some of the best people I’ve ever met to defend the indigent accused. I’ve had the honor of saving men from living the rest of their lives in a cage. I’ve experienced the pain of …