Are you saying companies hang a "mission accomplished" sign on the door and just close down? Is that the George W. Bush economic doctrine?

In any case: if you really want Amazon to shut down, the cost is the current market capitalization, plus a healthy surcharge to convince enough shareholders to sell. In practical terms, there may be large shareholders looking unfavourable on your plans such as Bezos.

Bezos is an outlier case, since every hedge fund is Watching if he buys or sells Amazon stock.

There are successful publically traded companies that do Not care anymore. Seagate comes to mind. I remember a Pronouncement from the CEO a few years ago, in which He said that our customers use our product to store Porn. In other words, please don't invest in our Company anymore.

The stereotypical image of the CEO is that they are Backslappers and they play golf.

Not so in Silicon Valley I suppose.

The main factor I see for CEOs in a startup is Time horizon. If you want to be around for thirty Years, have fun, and incidentally build a useful Product - you will do things differently.

The Steve Jobs/ Sun Tzu type of anecdote is the best. If you spend 50 percent of your time on strategy or Thinking, it is for the best.

A final point is that keeping a good attitude is Important, not just for you but also for your team. This is often underestimated.

I'm glad I read this story because I find it surreal, And I read a lot. Obviously Jeff Koons and perhaps Even Damien Hirst have assistants. This apprentice Model was also there in the Renaissance, and if Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel all by himself, Then that was probably his own choice.

David Hockney is painting on an iPad these days, and I suppose printing it out on a commercial inkjet. So what is an original then. Just limiting the number of copies printed.

Tuition is very expensive in the U.S.. People take loans because they are banking on the future. They think that Even with debt they will come out ahead.

I'm new on this site, but I assume that most people on this site are computer programmers or are tech savvy enough to get a job that pays a decent wage.

I'm Canadian, but you should also look at the bright side Of US education. There is no Canadian Caltech. If you step out and start a business in America, it is Considered entrepreneurial and a good thing.

It's good for programmers to be competent. But what About those who are competent but still cut corners. I'm all for training unless it becomes a requirement Which you absolutely need to get a job.

300 books in 4 years is pretty good. My reading speed is 60 pages an hour with comprehension, though I can Zoom through with less.

Nothing like a NASA astronaut though.

An extensively researched talk. I hope people like Boredom and ennui. What are you going to do when Most labour is done by robots, and you sit at home Collecting a monthly cheque from the government.

I know this is provocative, but many occupations Are simply busywork.

I do think robot armies can be hacked, so try not to Centralize everything.

Hiking, reading, writing, walking, talking, singing, loving, painting, cooking, eating, competing... Everything that people say "I wish I did more..." on their deathbeds.

After reading the article, massive databases just Seem like a stupid idea. It's like you're waiting For a tyrant to come along and misuse them.

However, there is a strong dose of paranoia in the article. To be fair, every state has enemies, and surveillance is done for that reason as well.

Internet connected cameras, yes, very stupid idea.

Is the argument that people do not know what is best, or That it doesn't matter?

People are an incredibly broad range, from the Homeless gentleman lying on a heating vent, to the hedge fund billionaire who does not waste a quarter, Because he knows what it will be worth compounded For thirty years. Granted I have used outliers to make my argument.