Category Archives: Friends of Ben

I’ve exchanged 10 emails over the past two days with David Jilk, CEO of Xaffire. Our topic was Ayn Rand and objectivism, and it started from a detailed comment he left on my post.

At the end, he asked if I was going to update my post to note that I actually did believe in "objective reality" with restrictions. Unfortunately I’m not quite sure what I believe at the moment. It was a fun philosophical exchange that got me thinking in a new way (although admittedly once you start putting quotes around "is" I’m pretty lost!). I figured Dave would be knowledable, but I would have appreciated a heads up beforehand from my friends in Colorado that I was dealing with an extremely well written guy who would start quoting thinkers buried deep in the esoteric domain of philosophy!!

One thing that’s still rattling around in my head is the notion of selflessness – a very bizarre concept if you consider it in terms of our genetic mandate.

Every couple weeks I’ll have a big back and forth via email with someone based on a blog post and it almost always happens in private email. I buy into a lot of the hype around blogs, but I’ve never understood the supposed "conversation" that happens. In my view, trackbacks and comments are a clumsy way to faciliate an e-conversation. Blogs start conversations, but they’re not good enough yet to sustain them. Email is still better. And that’s a shame – because when more voices are heard, we all benefit.

No, this won’t be the tell-all you’ve all been waiting for (I haven’t had time for romance in high school, but maybe later), but I did make my date with Seth Levine. And it was well worth it. Seth is at Mobius VC and a blogger.

Our chat – which left me with more energy afterwards than I had going into it, always a sign that it was quality use of time – reinforced two things. 1) How great blogging is to connect people and build the foundation of a relationship. Small talk doesn’t exist between two people who meet for the first time but have been reading each other’s blogs. 2) How electronic interactions will never give you the total picture of someone.

Seth is a Friend of Ben who is compassionate, thoughtful, successful, and laid back (in an intense way). If you think these are important traits in business or life, you should read his blog like I do.

Network: Ben Casnocha > SF Chronicle Article W/ Me > Always-On Innovation Summit > BizWorld > Valerie Cunningham

Google: Valerie Cunningham

I have to keep reminding myself to keep up the Friends of Ben series…And yesterday I had a good reminder at the Churchill Club event Leadership Defined.

Valerie used to be at BizWorld – she was the one who originally roped me in there – and then she did some independent PR work as HighWire Consulting and now she’s teaming up with Tony Perkins and Marc Canter (among others, like my friend, neighbor, and uber-Valley networker/investor Carl Wescott) in launching the GoingOn Network.

Valerie was kind enough to sit in yesterday on a lunch discussion that I was advertised as being involved in (it turned out to be quite the odd arrangement) and offer moral support. She correctly remarked afterwards, "That turned into a ‘let’s grill Ben on what he did when he was 2 years old’ session!"

In any case, Valerie is one of the most high-energy people I’ve met. Always ready to laugh, her personality is large and friendly. She’s a good reminder that energy is infectious and that a single person can change the dynamics of a whole room or conversation in a positive way. I’m also grateful to Valerie for taking me the first time to Bucks of Woodside so I could see myself on the menu (after the AO panel) and meet Jamis.

If you want a more interactive intro to GoingOn, check out this video interview JD Lasica did with Valerie (which I know she’s really proud of).

Name: Colin Wiel

Network: University High School > Varsity Basketball > Max Shapiro > Keiretsu Forum > Carl Westcott > Colin Wiel

Google Search: Colin Wiel

I meet and talk with new people all the time, so how does one become a lucky star in my Friends of Ben series? There’s nothing I value more than someone who fires me up – who gives me the most important currency there is, energy – and thus leaves me re-charged after a meeting. Colin Wiel did that for me a few days ago. Colin is starting a San Francisco chapter of the angel investment group Keiretsu Forum and is a successful entrepreneur. His kid is also entering kindergarten at the same grammar school I attended for nine years.

After our spirited conversation Colin sent me a hilarious review of Friedman’s The World is Flat (see another critical review here). It’s funny, but it also focuses way too much on rhetoric and not the neoliberal vision Friedman argues for.

Back to the theme of this post: I believe people leave meetings in two different states. The first is one of general tiredness – ready to get back to your computer, back to your family, etc. You are emotionally drained. The second state is one of renewed energy – you can’t wait to think more about what went on in the meeting, you can’t wait to continue the conversation next time. In a world where meetings are perhaps the most hated thing on earth, a meeting that fires you up is a rarity. That usually happens because of the people involved. Surround yourself with good people, and you’ll have awesome meetings.