The other day I came across a talk given by Dharmesh Shah at the Business of Software 2008 conference entitled Insights From in and Around MIT.

In the talk, Dharmesh touches on just about every aspect and cycle that a young software startup will go through, all from personal, tangible experience; Idea inception, sales and marketing, Google adwords, VCs and funding, partnerships, data mining, being small vs going for the golden ticket, etc. But my favorite bullet point, “Your product sucks. Get over it.”.

Dharmesh highly advocates getting the business rolling, getting your product out there no matter what it is or how much it sucks because it is going to change. And the only way it can change to become software that people actually want is to present 1. something to them and then 2. listen.

Dharmesh is really good at keeping the process of building a software business simple, making it feel attainable and not complicating the things with anecdotal “proof”. This is one of my favorites talks I’ve watched in awhile. Enjoy.

Mark Cubin has a wonderful post explaining his decision to vote for Barack Obama, the President-elect – Proud To Be An American.

What Obama brings:

“Its simple. Having an elected black President will do more to energize this country than any economic or social policy ever could. In a single day of voting, our amazing country once again reinvigorated the dream that any child in this country, no matter what circumstances they are born into, can grow up to be anything they want, including President of the United States.

That dream, staying viable, being reinvigorated, will do more for this country than any economic policy or any legislation that could ever be passed.

I have said it before, the power of the American Spirit is what separates our country from every other. We have been able to overcome the stupidity that politicians do every year, and will do for ever more. The election of Barack Obama is a shot of adrenaline for those who felt they could never participate in the American Dream.

This is the very reason why so many young voters made it out to the polls, to cast their voice. They felt a part of this system of ours, something they have a say in, a direction they could choose.

While Cubin does not agree, or like, the Economic plan Obama has laid out, he argues that it is not nearly as important as what he truly brings to the table:

“As any successful CEO will tell you, leadership, vision and motivation has far more impact on results than any tax cut or increase. While I prefer lower taxes, I can tell you that no entrepreneur or CEO worth a damn in this country gives up or works less because of a change in tax policy. In this country you work harder to achieve your dreams and goals.

One should not run their life or business based on taxes. Would someone passionate about their business close down their doors simply because of tax increases? No. Would they re-evaluate things? Sure. But that is business as usual. You have to be nimble and agile.

It is time to ignore the lies and realize that we control our fate. No system or individual can stop us from doing as we please or dictating the direction we wish to proceed in.

I too agree that Obama’s Economic plan may be unsettling, but what Cubin notes is true – Obama is awe inspiring.