David Lidsky's Blog, page 2597
October 31, 2016
Postmates CEO: Our Dream Is A Delivery Fee Of Zero
As the delivery startup completes a $140 million funding round, CEO Bastian Lehmann says subscriptions are the key to lowering fees.
As the delivery startup completes a $140 million funding round, CEO Bastian Lehmann says subscriptions are the key to lowering fees.
Postmates has been facing two big problems lately: raising money as the flow of venture capital funding to startups slows, and bringing down its prices to a point that appeals to the 99%.
Microsoft Hits Pause On Its Mobile Device Strategy
At a product launch focused on Windows as a creation tool, Microsoft didn't reveal much about the future of its mobile hardware efforts.
At a product launch focused on Windows as a creation tool, Microsoft didn't reveal much about the future of its mobile hardware efforts.
Last week's Microsoft's announcements, which were expected to include new hardware, fulfilled their promise in quality if not quantity. The Surface Studio desktop PC, years in the making, sets a new bar with its combination of design and engineering aimed at professionals. But it, along with a beefed-up version of the Surface Book and a promise of new VR headsets from Microsoft partners, were part of an event that focused far more on Windows per se than new devices.
Inside Los Angeles' Virtual Reality Haunted House
Here's how you turn a massive co-working space into a haunted mansion.
Here's how you turn a massive co-working space into a haunted mansion.
In the days before Halloween, a sprawling, 26,000-square-foot Los Angeles coworking space called Ctrl Collective took on an unexpected twist: It became a virtual reality haunted house dance party.
Is Your Office Layout Causing Gender Bias?
Most office layouts are set up to favor men's work styles.
Most office layouts are set up to favor men's work styles.
When it comes to climbing the corporate ladder, women get less access to career-advancing opportunities, they're less likely to see fellow women in senior management, and they're less confident that they'll reach the top ranks, according to the Women in the Workplace 2016 study, conducted by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company.
This One Simple Technique Will Stoke Your Creativity Every Day
Mindfulness isn't only a meditation technique, it's a way to observe the minutiae of daily life to unlock creativity.
Mindfulness isn't only a meditation technique, it's a way to observe the minutiae of daily life to unlock creativity.
One key to innovation is creativity—and organizations spend a great deal of time looking at how to promote and foster it both in and out of the office.
3 Ways To Use A Frightening Deadline To Shake Writer's Block Fast
Are those creative juices taking their sweet time? Here's how to get them flowing a little faster.
Are those creative juices taking their sweet time? Here's how to get them flowing a little faster.
You stare at a blank screen and nothing comes to you. You write a sentence and cross it out. You replace it with another sentence—a not-very-good one. Then you get up and pace around. Maybe you just need a coffee. "I'm going to run out and grab a coffee," you decide. As you pull on your coat and stuff your phone into its side-pocket you sneak a glimpse at the time. Ugh, already!?
How To Handle These 5 Awkward Money Conversations With Coworkers
You don't need to help buy a gift every time someone in your office gets married or has a baby.
You don't need to help buy a gift every time someone in your office gets married or has a baby.
My office is dog-friendly, and luckily I have a friendly dog. While I'd love to bring Odie into the office, there's no easy way to get him there without driving my car into Manhattan and paying for parking (I generally take the subway). I joked with a coworker that if everyone in the office gave me 50¢, I could bring Odie in without it costing me a penny.
The Ride-Share Startup That's Competing With Uber And Lyft By Charging $1
A new Boston-based company called Fasten wants to prove there's more than one way to reinvent ride services in the digital age.
A new Boston-based company called Fasten wants to prove there's more than one way to reinvent ride services in the digital age.
Uber and Lyft have recruited thousands of drivers in hundreds of cities to use their personal cars to drive strangers around for money. The service provided is between the driver and the rider, but Uber, currently valued at over $60 billion, takes a percentage from each ride a driver completes with the company's app. Now, a new company called Fasten is trying to change this standard in the ride-sharing world.
What To Do When Your Client Pressures You To Slash Your Rates
Draft that long, frantic email, then hit "delete." Write these four sentences instead.
Draft that long, frantic email, then hit "delete." Write these four sentences instead.
Elliot's biggest client, Monstrous, was rapidly expanding into the U.K. and Europe. Elliot had noticed accounting issues with them lately. Nothing huge, just some sloppiness—they'd misplaced a couple of invoices, and once they'd paid a single invoice twice. So he was glad to hear they were hiring a chief financial officer. He'd enjoyed the work and company culture and wanted Monstrous to succeed. It was clear they needed a seasoned financial executive to do so.
The Reluctant CEO: David Sacks On Zenefits's Rough Ride And The Road Ahead
David Sacks didn't seek the CEO role at Zenefits, but he feels obligated (and hopeful) that he can fix the company.
David Sacks didn't seek the CEO role at Zenefits, but he feels obligated (and hopeful) that he can fix the company.
When I got to the Zenefits office last Monday, things were buzzing. It was the day before the company's big relaunch: People were walking in and out, moving big objects, all in preparation for a highly coordinated event. All this, just shy of nine months into a turnaround effort led by the new CEO David Sacks, who took the reins of the battered unicorn once valued at $4.5 billion before everything went to hell.
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