Sending email through Gmail SMTP server - C# and Powershell examples

I know I haven't posted much code on this blog, but this snippet I found valuable. While I can certainly host my SMTP server, it would be so much easier if I could just Google's (since I am using Google Apps for my site's email). Below is the code you can use to send email's via Google's SMTP server. enjoy... C#   string GmailUserName="myusername@gmail.com"; string GmailPassword="mypassword"; string SendTo="sendto@gmail.com"; string EmailSubject="Test Subject"; s... [More]

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The Difference between a Good and Bad Place to Work.

I enjoy reading the insights I can find from Ben Horowitz (he was founder/CEO of Opsware and nowadays is founder/partner at Andreessen-Horowitz which manages near $3B). I recently read one of his blog posts where he provided a member of his team with his view of the difference between a good place to work and a bad place to work: “In good organizations, people can focus on their work and have confidence that if they get their work done, good things will happe... [More]

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When to Build vs. Buy

I had been lucky enough to get to work on a diverse variety of business models and approaches to solving problems over the past 20 years. For most of the major initiatives these companies face, the stakeholders must usually choose between the following: Do it yourself Get some help This is often referred to as a Build vs. Buy scenario. Building is when a company decides to use existing resources (or bring on new resources) to create some thing or acquire the capability it needs. Bu... [More]

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The Moneyball Effect

In 2004, Michael Lewis wrote this book called "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game" detailing the focus of the Oakland A's (baseball team) on analytical, evidence-based, sabermetric approach to assembling a competitive baseball team, despite a disadvantaged revenue situation. The central premise of Moneyball is that the collected wisdom of baseball insiders (including players, managers, coaches, scouts, and the front office) over the past century is subjective and often flawed. Statist... [More]

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Bayesian Theory and the Theory of Life

One of the reasons I love working in Manhattan is all the cool opportunities to learn and the networks of interesting people. Every Monday I receive an email from tech investor Charlie O’Donnell  with classes a list of classes and meetups for entrepreneurs going on around New York City. Last week I found out and signed up for a high level class on Bayesian Theory and probability (called Bayesian Theory and the Theory of Life) that met during lunch time a few block... [More]

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Reunion from the Internet Boom - 12 years later

In June 1999, I moved to New York City and took a job as a Site Manager working Agency.com. The job was to manage a team of front end coders responsible for taking a Photoshop design and turning it into a web site. Agency.com had some amazing design folks and really strong client management/strategy, so they had big time clients and did quite well. It was the stereotypical Internet Boom company from that time period: It was located in a great location - 665 Broadway (right around the Village... [More]

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My Willingness To Fail Gives Me The Ability To Succeed

I was watching the LiveStream from the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, and I heard  co-founder of Sun Microsystems and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla say the title of this post: My Willingness to Fail is what allows me to Succeed Khosla was referring to the high risk, high reward investments as part of his multibillion dollar fund. In his world, one really good exit can offset a hundred less successful ones - and he has been pretty successful in finding ambitious tech companies that have ... [More]

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Is the Right Selling Price an Optimized Price?

I think every person running a business needs to regularly ask themself the following question: Given our operating constraints, what is the best mix of products and/or services for us to produce and sell in the period, and at what prices, to generate the highest expected revenue? Whether you are selling penny candy or you are a retainer lawyer with a huge hourly fee, the basic concepts are the same. You need understand your constraints (cost structure, liabilities, resources), your market, an... [More]

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Are You Swimming in a Red or Blue Ocean?

I am quite fascinated how people/companies are able to innovate, make the most of their opportunities, and disrupt the established norms. It amazes me how some companies can tackle a small nuance differently than their competitors and win market share. I remember reading an interesting quote that stuck with me: play a different game on the same field as the competition. Last year a colleague introduced me to the concept of a Blue Ocean after hearing about it in as part of his MBA program ... [More]

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There’s a big difference between routine and commitment

I am a very big fan of the New England Patriots. In the early 1990's, they were terrible (going 1-15 twice in 3 years). Then Bill Parcells was hired as the coach and turned around the fortunes of the team. In 1995, he let go of the team's best running back Marion Butts and used a third round draft pick on Curtis Martin from Pittsburgh. Martin immediately became his starter, went on to have 3 really great years in New England (including a Super Bowl run in 1997), and then followed Parcells to pla... [More]

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