Daniel Lubetzky

I am a big fan of Starbucks’s Create Jobs for USA campaign and it is incredibly admirable to see business leaders take a stand for the state of our country.   For every purchase of the $5 Indivisible wristband, Starbucks will donate $35 to Opportunity Finance Network, an organization that doles out grants to Community Development Financial Institutions.  These organizations in turn forward money to small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofits and other community focused institutions, in hopes of- you guessed it- creating jobs.

We have never been more proud to be one of Starbucks and Howard Schultz’s partners.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

With the lack of leadership in Washington, it is comforting to know there is creativity and bold leadership coming from business entrepreneurs who want to contribute towards improving society.  Take a look at this article about Howard Schultz’s efforts to generate jobs for America.  This is a harbinger for the increasing role that enlightened capitalists will play in the future to address social challenges we face.  As business pervades more and more in our daily lives, market forces and good corporate brands will be able to play increasing leadership roles – even as politicians get co-opted by special interests and petty extremist politics.

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This Wired article reveals some of the content in the much awaited bio, Steve Jobs. 

For example:

Steve Wanted to go ‘Thermonuclear’ on Android
Jobs was livid when HTC introduced an Android phone that shared a number of iPhone features in early 2010. An excerpt from the book: “I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong,” Jobs said. “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.” He told Google’s Eric Schmidt, “I don’t want your money. If you offer me $5 billion, I won’t want it. I’ve got plenty of money. I want you to stop using our ideas in Android, that’s all I want.’’ [AP]

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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Last night I attended a dinner that Miles hosted with a group of very interesting people.  Along the way he shared his rules for choosing partners, which I think are worth sharing:

1. Only partner with someone with whom you would want to have breakfast, lunch or dinner with a second time.
2. Only partner with someone you like, admire, and respect.
3. Only partner with someone you trust enough to make the executor of your estate.
4. Only partner with someone with whom you would want to spend a long weekend on a small boat, in a small cabin, or on a small ranch.
5. Only partner with someone who shares the same passion, dedication, and willingness to sacrifice to accomplish the common mission.
6. Only partner with someone who has the human compassion gene. Compassionate leaders motivate and inspire their employees to reach beyond their own self imposed limitations.

The news of Steve Jobs’ passing really hit me, in an unusually strong way.  I don’t know if it is because he was only 56 years old, or that he was such a business icon, or that he transformed the way people live and created so much financial value and so much enjoyment for so many. Or maybe it was that in a strange way many of us felt like he was part of our extended family, as his persona and accomplishments have certainly captured our imagination and attention.  He was a courageous fighter, against pancreatic cancer, for innovation, for positive change, for excellence, and for beauty.

Here is a link to his Commencement speech at Stanford.

God bless him and his family.

This New York Times article makes the important point that having the most capable, productive and creative employees are a key component to success in any business.  It is important that all team members give 120% and that mediocrity never be tolerated.  Thanks to our leadership team, we have the good fortune to be able to work with many great team members who work around the clock with focus and diligence.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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A recent article in the New York Times, readjusts the typical focus on Steve Jobs and the evaluation of his career that we have been seeing over the past days since his resignation.  This article deems Jobs a role model, for his unique talent as an innovator.  Jobs’s fresh thinking, and creative way of looking at things were key components to his success and a source of inspiration for all leaders and companies across various sectors.

Spotted by Daniel Lubetzky, by Adeena Schlussel

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By Adeena Schlussel

Check out this great video from the Smart CMO series, featuring Daniel and his poignant insights on marketing and packaging your brand!

You know that a field must be hot when even fraudulent scammers start adopting its tone and position themselves as such. You used to get scams offering you millions of dollars from a despot in Nigeria or a corrupt official looking for a partner in crime.

Now check out the email I got: they want to donate their life-savings for my charitable/humanitarian good work!

You were recently recommended to me by a Journalist (Chris Hondros) who gave me your email address. Before the Journalist was killed, he told me about you and your humanitarian wiliness when I was sharing my thoughts with him about donating my entire wealth to a kind hearted person for humanitarian work.

My name is Mrs Eman Abdul-aziz, I am a widow living in Libya. I seem to have become very heart-broken after my entire family was killed by armed forces loyal to Gadhafi.

I have intentions to donate my entire savings to you for charity use. Please acknowledge my email for more details about me and my donation. my email is : mrsemanabdul-aziz11@nba2k.cn

Sincerely,

Mrs Eman Abdul-aziz

I realized social entrepreneurship was hot when corporate marketing departments tried to position their campaigns as "corporate social responsibility." But nothing can attest to the trend of people wanting to make a difference like the compliment that these scammers pay us!

One of the reasons that Teach for America is so successful is that the organization harnesses young passion.  Venture for America (a program that we learned about from a great previous intern, Liz) hinges on a similar concept, only VFA places fresh college grads in start up environments in struggling parts of the country.   The idea is that the start-ups get inexpensive talent and passion, while the grads get hands on experience that will benefit their careers for the years to come. Venture for America seems like a great idea and it will be interesting to see its impact.

By Adeena Schlussel