Pencil Problems

Nick responds to Kent's idea.

I watched this video a long time ago on how to use game theory to buy a car (https://bigthink.com/videos/how-to-buy-a-car-using-game-theory-2). 5 years ago, I tried it, and it worked. Last year, I tried it again and it worked even better. I pitch Nick a way we could MVP and productize this car buying process for consumers.

In this Season 2 Premier, Kent and Nick talk about what is here, what was and what is to come.

We stole the summary style from Rick and Morty bruh, it's a good show if you give it a chance. We are coming back but only the shadow knows when... Probably next week... But maybe never.... But next week, most likely.

Description Nick's book will be published. Kent decides to stop packing boxes. And Pencil Problems will become a media conglomerate, all in 356 days. Things we talked about Arnold YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNDA-o9yJNw) Ryan Holiday - Getting advice from mentors (https://ryanholiday.net/finding-a-mentor/) Kitchen Confidential (https://www.amazon.ca/Kitchen-Confidential-Adventures-Culinary-Underbelly/dp/0060899220) Dan Ariely - Predictably Irrational (https://www.amazon.ca/Predictably-Irrational-Revised-Expanded-Decisions/dp/0061353248) Pencil Problems on Medium (https://medium.com/pencilproblems)

Nick's Book is Done and he's actually holding it during this episode. This calls for a celebration! But the celebration quickly moves into what is next for the book and where all of this can go in 2019 and beyond. Kent is still worried that Able Cells isn't a business and wants $50,000 or so to make it one. We set some basic 2019 goals and decide to take Christmas off... but you knew that :)

In this episode Kent talks about how LinkedIn is really good if you are looking for a job. Kent talks about being open to a bunch of different opportunities and an exercise for finding the right job for you. Meanwhile, Nick has a great idea for an app, and is suffering from imposter syndrome again when it comes to be being an authority in educational gaming for kids.

In this episode Kent and Nick talk about Kent's career change, building your public persona as a resume or a portfolio, marrying companies vs. dating them, the difference between being a wolf and a dog and so much more.

Nick and Kent talk about the new rap these days, The Coddling Of The American Mind and how we might be messing up a generation of kids, Nick talks about essays and how his book is nearly done. Kent talks Able Cells and SEO.

As part of a long overdue project update, we talk about: Screen time in our household, procrastination, and holding too much inventory.

Nick and Kent take a different approach on the gig economy and talk about how software, not just hardware is making it possible to crowdsource information in new and interesting ways. Nick argues that it's all about incentives, and Kent and his Dad re-invent power on drive home from the cottage.

Today Nick picks Kent's brain about his time at Tilt and life at a VC backed startup in the Valley. Tilt allowed users to pool funds for objectives in a simple, social, and frictionless way online. At it's zenith it was valued at almost a billion dollars and has since been acquired by Airbnb.

How To Start an E-commerce Store That Doesn't Dropship (https://medium.com/@kentf/how-to-start-an-e-commerce-store-that-doesnt-dropship-742adb1087f3)

If you make stuff I'm sure you've been approached about an idea for app or website or video or movie. We talk through our thought process and considerations when taking on other people's projects.

Nick gets his writing edited by Michelle Brown! They discuss how this could translate into a book. She goes over bigger on-going themes, framing devices, structure, language. It's a fun listen for anyone who has been following along with my blog or for anyone who writes! Blog: http://medium.com/fatherhood Michelle's book, Safe Words: https://www.amazon.ca/Safe-Words-Michelle-Brown/dp/1926794729

Kent and Nick talk about paying for software vs. ad based payment models. They discuss how much they would pay for services like Google, and Facebook and speculate on what the future of these payment models look like.

Nick is back from Apple's worldwide developer conference (WWDC) and answers Kent's questions about it. Before that Nick and Kent talk about their progress towards the goals, they set a few weeks ago for their side projects. Nick is doing well, Kent isn't.

We hit a dip in our projects! Kent's e-commerce store, Nick's book project, even the podcast. It's starting to feel like work and not like fun. We talk through it all and we hope you can relate!

Kent recently appeared as a guest on This Commerce Life, a podcast about all things retail, and gets to ask Phil and Kenny, two industry veterans a ton of questions about Able Cells. They cover inventory, managing suppliers, cash flow, margins, debt and financing and more. Listen to This Commerce Life here (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-commerce-life/id1322624545?mt=2).

Nick and Kent discuss the Google Assistant demo where an AI places a call and books a reservation. Is this software sentient? No. And how does this shape ambition when building side projects? Are certain industries dead? Plus some WWDC predictions.