There are many stories about this year's Presidential election. I would like to add my own.

On Election Day, I volunteered to drive people to the polls in Arapahoe County, Colorado. The Obama campaign had rented seven vans and we were dispatched from one of the field offices in Aurora. About mid-morning, I was sent to downtown Denver to pick up Rex. Armed with the address and assisted by my navigator Ron, we made our way into town. Without any trouble, thanks to Ron's GPS device, we found Rex's place at 1746 Emerson Street.

Several men sat outside on the porch. They looked pretty rough. I approached the building and called out to one of the men if Rex was around. At first no one responded. But after alerting the men that I was the driver from the Obama office, Rex jumped up off the couch and identified himself.

Rex looked haggard and moved very gingerly. I asked Rex, "How are you doing this fine morning?"

Rex responded, "Not very well."

I inquired, "What's wrong?"

"Last night I walked myself to the hospital not feeling very well. It turns out my appendix ruptured and I had an appendectomy. This morning I walked back to my room here at the house to get my mail-in ballot and now I need a ride to the polling place to turn in my ballot."

I was stunned by Rex's revelation. And I had no reason not to believe his story. It was apparent that he was in a lot of pain as Ron and I situated him in the back seat of the van. Rex could not even close the passenger door of the van. I jumped out and closed it for him.

Rex looked ragged. His clothes were filthy, He reeked of stale tobacco. All of his teeth were missing, except for one rotting tooth.

I thought to myself, "Rex probably has or had a serious drug problem. He shows all the classic signs of abusing crystal meth."

We drove Rex to his polling place at the First Unitarian Church on Lafayette Street. As we drove, I commented that this was going to be a big day for Barack Obama.

Rex said, "I won't tell you who I'm voting for because I don't want you to think that you're buying my vote with this free ride." I respected Rex for his privacy.

We found the church and helped Rex out of the van. Rex disappeared into the polling place.

As we waited for Rex to return, I asked Ron, "Do you think Rex lives in a half-way house or shelter?"

"It looks like it to me," Ron replied.

It turns out after researching the address that it is apparently a boarding house that attracts a lot of down and out people. The first hit on Google revealed that in May of 2008, a parolee named James Stewart, wanted for several robberies in the area, had been shot and killed in the house by his parole officer.

In short order, Rex returned to the van. As we helped him get settled into his seat, Rex asked, "Would it be too much to ask for you to drive me back to the hospital?"

"Which hospital?"

"St. Joseph's."

"No problem. I will be happy to do so."

On the way to the hospital, Rex declared, "I hope Obama wins. I voted for him."

I smiled. Rex had made my day.

We drove Rex to St. Joseph's. Rex got out of the van and slowly trudged back into the hospital. He didn't look very good.

It's amazing what people will do to exercise their right to vote.

And Rex, as down and out as he appeared to be, one day removed from major surgery, displayed unbelievable character and citizenship.

On Tuesday, I was so proud of my fellow Americans. But none so prouder than Rex.

I was humbled. If Barack could only know what Rex had done he would be too.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I want Lou Dobbs fired. He is a giant scrooge!

My wife Gillian called me today from downtown Denver, excited that Barack Obama was in town and had spoken to a large crowd (estimated at 100,000 people by Gillian). I searched in vain today for any news regarding the event, but failed.

Anxiously, I waited for the 6:00 PM news on CNN. For sure CNN would show the event. But not today! I really think Lou Dobbs is doing everything he can to influence the election and not accurately report the key events of the day. Instead, Lou pontificates and editorializes. How can his "news" hour be news? It's nothing more than Lou's page of opinion. And frankly, I'm sick of it!

At the top of the hour the following words were used to describe today's news on Lou Dobbs Sunday news show: staggering, fear, severe recession, soaring, hardest hit, war, terror, struggle, crash, in the tank, rebuilding trust, debacle, worthless, broken bones, voter fraud, and democracy at risk.

This is not news. This is nothing more than fear-mongering.

I took a break and went back to watching the football game. (My fantasy football quarterback, Roethlisberger and running back Jacobs were playing). I couldn't resist in my quest to see Barack in Denver, so at 6:16 PM, I surfed back to CNN. Again, nothing on Barack's historic visit in Denver. More of the same fear-mongering.

I am not kidding. Get the tape and listen for yourself. Here are the key words I heard from 6:15 to 6:23 on the alleged news show: concerns, disturbing, highly vulnerable to hackers, e-voting machines are fraudulent, hacked, democracy at risk, fight us, safeguard the votes, too late, major problems, bitter, voter registration fraud, 20 to 30 thousand blacks deterred from voting, blacks waited on average 1/2 hour longer, skeptical, poorly engineered systems, slow federal certication, not gonna work, e-voting concerns, problematic, worse than 2004, machines switching votes, problems, problems in Ohio, political manipulation, disputes, voter error, recession fears, tough talk, our borders are far from secure...

I am sick of it. The Lou Dobbs show just keeps piling it on with negative news. (if you can call it negative news).

When will Americans demand a better attitude from its mainstream newscasters?

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Tara Parrillo, Gillian's daughter, offered the following thoughts on Barack Obama's acceptance speech:

Tonight I sat and watched Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention with tears streaming down my face. They were tears of hope for what is possible. I never thought that I would be blessed enough to be even tangentially a part of such an historic and life-changing time in political history. I think what made me most emotional tonight is that I was thinking about my mom standing on the floor of the Democratic National Convention as a delegate from Texas watching Obama give his historical speech. I could not be more proud of someone as I am of my mom at this moment. I think back to a celebration over 30 years ago when my older brother and I stood cheering in the audience at Mount Vernon waiving our little American flags as my mom was sworn in as an American citizen. I know serving as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention has always been a dream of hers and, anyone who knows my mom, knows she dreams big. Mom, with so much hard work you are living one of your dreams. Savor this moment. You worked hard for it and deserve it. I am one of your biggest fans. I am so proud of you. I love you more than you will ever know!

Tara Parrillo
August 28, 2008

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A photo series of Texans for Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver:

The Texas Delegation at Invesco Field

We Want Change

Cowboy Delegate

It's On The Bus For This Cowgirl Delegate

A Couple Of Cowgirl Delegates

Fun And Laughter

Party Time For This Delegate

A Texas-Sized Earing

Flagman

On The 40-Yardline At Invesco Field

Dallas Delegates Erin Moore and Gillian Parrillo

Gillian With Her Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson And Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk

Gillian With Her Seat Buddies

The Lone Star State Flag

A Mama For Obama (And Her Daughter)

On The Floor At The Pepsi Center

Can You Find Barack In This Photo?

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Chris Bell, candidate for State Senate & former Texas Governor candidate with At Large Delegate Gillian Parrillo and National Credentials Committee Member Chella Cardona

CNN Democratic Political Analyst Paul Begala

Former Speaker of the House Jim Wright with his breakfast in hand

My Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Austin's State Senator Curt Watson

Rick Noriega, candidate for U.S. Senate

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's the link to Lt. Matthew Gallagher's post that caused the U.S. Army to silence his blog. It's a great read and I'm sure we'll be reading more of the Lt.'s musings when he returns to civilian life.

Here's a big

HOOAH

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I found two disturbing stories this week in the Washington Post.

First, staff writer Karen DeYoung reported in her article “Berlin Rally is Off-Limits for Embassy Workers” that the United States Government instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed in Berlin they could not attend Barack Obama’s public rally on Thursday. And then, foreign service reporter Ernesto Londono disclosed in his article “Silent Posting” the Government forced Lt. Matthew Gallagher to take down his ultra popular blog Kaboom because of an “unvetted” post about the Lieutenant’s dialog with his superior.

Both of these government actions fly in the face of our long-standing basic rights. What’s going on here? Does this smell? Has our Government lost its way?

I think so. Whatever happened to free speech? Why can’t Lt. Gallagher write about his tour of duty in Iraq? Whatever happened to the right to assemble? Why can’t American federal workers attend a political rally on their off-duty time?

It sounds like the Government doesn’t want them to. It sounds like the Government wants to control and censor reports from Iraq. It appears the Government is going to make it as difficult as possible for democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama to become our next President.

I contend my Government is a giant propaganda machine and they are really good at it. These actions prove me correct. Where’s George Orwell when you need him? Who was he being satirical of in “Animal Farm”? The obvious answer is Stalin. But really, it could have been George W. Bush too.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Keith Walendowski set out to mow his lawn the other day and the mower wouldn’t start. So what did he do? Like the average common man in Milwaukee, he shot the lawn mower with a short-barreled shotgun.

After filling the mower with buckshot, apparently a neighbor complained and now Mr. Walendowski is facing criminal charges that could land him in jail for more than six years.

Does this make sense? Should society be forced to carry the cost of prison for six years just for shooting a lawn mower on one’s property? It will cost over $250,000 to house, feed, and clothe Mr. Walendowski for his “crime”. How crazy is that?

Now I am in favor of stricter gun control, but throwing a guy in the slammer for six years for being a dumb ass and shooting a lawn mover for urban target practice just doesn’t make sense to me. Wouldn’t attending an anger management class and perhaps taking away his short-barreled shotgun make more sense?

Probably not – if this happened, then the National Rifle Association would step in and file a lawsuit alleging Mr. Wlendowski’s second amendment right to bear arms was violated. And then our costs to protect this idiot’s rights would sky rocket.

Doesn’t the Milwaukee district attorney and court system have better things to tend to?

… just more evidence of the dumbing down of America.

Well, enough ranting and raving. I think my Texas lawn needs mowing now. Honey, can you get my gun down from the shelf! I’m locking and loading just in case my lawn mower doesn’t work!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Last week my family was humbled by our experience at the Standing Rock Tribe's annual Sun Dance in Little Eagle, South Dakota. We had no idea the respect that my brother Varick enjoyed with the Lakota people. But boy did we ever find out!

First and foremost, Gillian and I were amazed at the loving way our family was treated by the tribal elders. We had traveled to the Sun Dance camp to disperse Varick's ashes as he had passed away last November.

Upon arrival, we were treated like royalty by Jesse Taken Alive and his family. Jesse, commonly referred to as Jay, spoke fondly of Varick and the role he had come to play at the Sun Dance. We learned that Varick first participated in the Sun Dance celebration in 1992. Over the next fifteen years, Varick had tended to the fire, ensuring the fire did not go out during each four-day ceremony. Jay explained to us that Varick had earned a special place in the hearts and souls of his people.

Many thanks go to Tom Eagle Staff who worked with my sister Michele to honor Varick in the Washing of the Tears Ceremony. My family sat in a semi-circle in the ring, in front of the Tree that had just been ceremoniously brought in and transformed from the enemy to a Lakota.

Cedric Goodhouse began the ceremony with a heartfelt speech about Varick. Virgil Taken Alive, Jay's brother, followed with an emotionally filled tribute, pausing midway for several seconds, as he choked back tears. Tom Eagle Staff and Jay closed out the speeches, leaving every member of my family in tears.

Jay proceeded to wash away our tears through his prayers, the sharing of the ground meal and water, and the passing of his prized feather over our bodies. Our mourning was over. It had been several months. The singers and drummers played a medley of beautiful music, singing each song in traditional Lakota verse. The tribe presented each member of my family with a lovely wool blanket and proceeded one by one to offer their condolences to my family. We received many, many hugs from Jay's people, most filing by with tears flowing down their faces.

After the ceremony, Tom Eagle Staff, who had spent several years tending to the fire with Varick, led the family to the fire pit where Varick's son Jesse lit the fire in memory of his Dad.

Later in the evening, right before sundown, the family, together with Cedric Goodhouse, Jr. and Iraqi veteran and wounded solider TJ Yellow (himself honored at the Tree Ceremony) trekked to the other side of the valley, climbed the hill where Varick would meditate by himself for a day after the Sun Dance ended.

It was here that we did what we had come to do. Overlooking the majestic valley and the former camp of Sitting Bull, and the present camp of the Sun Dance, with the sun setting in an amazing blaze of glory, and the full moon rising from the east, we let Varick go. It was a magical moment. And then Cedric, the twenty-two year old who Varick babysat sixteen years earlier while his mom and dad danced, asked me if it would be okay if he sang. He sang and it was beautiful.

The sun was setting. The moon was rising. Varick is home. Forever a Lakota brother.

Love,
Pierre

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In two weeks, several members of my family will travel to South Dakota to celebrate my brother's life. Varick's ashes will be dispersed at the Sitting Bull Camp on the Grand River during the Lakota's Sun Dance ceremony.

It wasn't until Varick's death did I know that Tommy Smith and John Carlos were two of my brother's heros. I never had a chance to share with Varick that Gillian and I met Tommy and John four years ago this week at the Track and Field Olympic Team Trials in Sacramento.

Varick, here's a salute to you from your heros!

We love you. Rest in peace

Pierre Cutler & Gillian Parrillo

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A feel good video.
And a shout out to Mike Posehn, a friend whose time elapse videos we often feature on this blog. Mike, I thought you would appreciate this but, as I found it on a liberal blog, I thought you might have missed it!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 2:03 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Over the past month, I saw a lot of press about how the U.S. government has Nelson Mandela on the list of terrorists not allowed to enter the United States. On April 9, BBC reported Congressman Howard Berman introduced a bill in Congress to remove Mandela from the list. And soon thereafter, Dr. Condoleezza Rice spoke out about the injustice. It's been a month and I'm still waiting for the announcement - Nelson Mandela is free to travel in and out of the U.S.

What is going on here? I am outraged at how we treat heros such as Nelson Mandela!

And why do we need to wait for the Congress to pass a law? Can't President Bush make a simple request to the State Department, removing Nelson Mandela's name from the travel ban list? Or better yet, if Dr. Rice is really embarrassed by this, why doesn't she just take action and fix the situation?

James Michener, author of "The World Is My Home" would be disgusted with this travel ban. And so should every citizen of the world!

I dream of a world without borders, just like Yusef Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens). In 2004, Islam was barred from entering the United States, after U.S. security officials said his name was on list of banned people.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Gillian & I went to Buenos Aires, Argentina last week. We had a fantastic time. Here are memorable street scenes that will no doubt tug on our hearts for a return visit - hopefully soon. Each of these scenes has a story that warrants future elaboration.

Puente de la Mujer (Woman's Bridge), designed by Santiago Calatrava, located in the Puerto Madero district of Buenos Aires

Mothers of Lost Children - a weekly protest for the past thirty years on Plaza de Mayo

The professional dog walker - Cruella style

The Cartonero, a government sanctioned recycle program

High-end Cartonero

Mixed media art - bronze statue with discarded plastic bag - an eye for humor

Latin lovers stroll through Jardin Japones (the Japanese Garden) in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires

The riot police gather for their next assignment in Plaza de Mayo

An Olympic torch protest outside Honorable Concejo Deliberante - and the riot police move in to protect the visiting Chinese dignitaries

A lovers' tango in the park at Plaza San Martin

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 8:18 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday, our working group got bogged down in coming to terms with making a decision about the work scope of one of our subcontractors. The discussion turned into a shouting match where two parties felt their idea was best. The discussion was ineffective. We tabled the discussion without making a decision.

Our inability to quickly come to a decision means another meeting, more discussion and more time.

Wow! I call these sessions group gropes. We hold a meeting, discuss, argue, and the leader fails to make a call, so we table, only to come back and do it again.

After the meeting I thought, "There must be a better way." So, I did a quick search and found a great website on leadership decision making. The website offers practical advice and tools on making decisions and is worth looking into. For example, in the section on "How To Make Good Decisions":

Decisions are an inevitable part of human activities. It requires the right attitude. Every problem, properly perceived, becomes an opportunity. In most situations the decision-maker must view the problems as opportunities rather than solving problems. For example, suppose you receive a serious complaint letter from a dissatisfied customer. You may turn this problem into an opportunity by finding out more about what is wrong with the product/service, learning from the customer's experience in order to improve the quality of your product/service. It all depends on the decision-maker's attitude. A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity.

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 5:52 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"When desire is mixed with faith backed by massive action, the probable becomes possible, every time. No exceptions."

This simple sentence is the roadmap to entrepreneurial success.

Tina offers valuable lifestyle advice on finding clarity, motivation, productivity, creativity and happiness, and lays out simple steps towards positive change.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OK folks, you've all heard the saying "Think Outside The Box".

Well here's new meaning to thinking outside the box. But before you peek, remember these golden rules:

1. Don't Assume.

2. Question Habits.

3. Be Creative.

4. Look For A Better Way.

5. Impossibilities Often Aren't.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Au contraire! Here are twenty contrarian thoughts worth pondering:

1. "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect" (Mark Twain).
2. "Reality is negotiable" (Tim Ferriss).
3. "Everything popular is wrong" (Oscar Wilde).
4. "Victory is sweetest when you’ve known defeat" (Malcom S. Forbes).
5. Who would Jesus bomb?
6. Less is more.
7. Why [do] Smart People Do Stupid Things With Money (Bert Whitehead)?
8. Why buy the biggest house you can afford?
9. In a democracy, how is it possible to win without getting the most votes?
10. If women make up 51% of the popluation, how come there are only 26 women CEOs in the 1,000 largest publicly traded companies in America?
11. Why does the stock market go down when investors are most bullish?
12. And why does the market go up when investors are most bearish?
13. Why does the myth “one has to assume higher risks to achieve higher returns” exist (Mohnish Pabrai)?
14. Simple Abundance (Sarah Ban Breathnach).
15. How come 85% of all mutual funds under perform the market?
16. Why do most people buy high and sell low?
17. Wouldn’t it be better to "put all your eggs in one basket and mind that basket very well" (Ben Franklin)?
18. ”Failure is success if we learn from it” (Malcom S. Forbes).
19. In baseball, if you fail to get on base (a hit is more accurate here) two out of every three at bats, you are a major league all-star.

Perhaps the greatest contrarian of our time is Warren Buffett whose value stock investing approch made him the third richest person in the world.

Going with the crowd produces mediocre results. Think. Think big. And number twenty - "The fishing is best where the fewest go" (Tim Ferriss)!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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The failure rate of angel-backed start-up companies is high. I once heard that 1 out of 17 companies succeeds. That is, investors get their money back on less than six percent of their investments.

Entrepreneurs, my message to you is if you fail, keep trying. Here are some amazing "failures" that will motivate you not to quit:

1. Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, 14-time NBA all-star, 5-time NBA MVP, 10-time NBA scoring champ, 2-time Olympic gold medal winner, winner of six NBA titles and six NBA finals MVP, and 3-time all-star MVP, was cut from his high school basketball team.
2. Boston Celtics' Hall-of-Famer Bob Cousy, one of the NBA's 50 greatest players, 13-time NBA all-star, and winner of six NBA championships, was cut from his high school basketball team.
3. Tom Landry, third winningest NFL coach of all time with a record of 270 wins, 178 losses, and 6 ties, winner of two Super Bowls, and NFL record holder of twenty consecutive winning seasons, never won a game in his first season as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys with a record of 0-11-1.
4. Chuck Noll former head coach of the Pittsburg Steelers, winner of four Super Bowls, and head coach record of 209-156-1, won just one game his first year, posting a losing season of 1-14.
5. Bill Walsh, former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, winner of three Super Bowls, and head coach record of 102-63-1, posted a record of 2-14 in his inaugural season.
6. Jimmy Johnson, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, winner of one Super Bowls, and head coach record of 89-68, won one game his first year, with a losing record of 1-15.

Click here for a list of heros who would not give up and ultimately achieved renown success.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 5:30 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

For my brother Varick F. Cutler, who passed away this week. May peace be with you.

Love,

Pierre

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In my post on August 5, More On the 4-Hour Workweek, I noted that my favorite magazine is Business 2.0.

Sadly, I read today in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that parent company Time, Inc. is pulling the plug on the magazine. Next month will be the last issue.

I am bummed. There is nothing like it in the magazine business. I kept up with the hot tech market by religiously reading Business 2.0. Ironically, the current issue featured the cover article on "The Next Disrupters".

Well, the trend for online advertising dollars appears to have disrupted Business 2.0. According to the WSJ, the magazine suffered a 34% decline in advertising revenue the first six month of this year.

Ouch!

Good-bye Business 2.0.

I wonder what will happen to my pre-paid subscription fee?

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

We last checked on the Magic Formula Index on July 14 and at the time it was up 27.8% (since December 12, 2006).

The market took its toll on the index since July 14. The Index is up 9.4%, giving back substantial gains over the past six weeks. The Magic Formula Index is still beating the Standard and Poor's 500 Index. The S&P 500 is up 4.4%, closing at 1473.99 on Friday (it closed at 1411.56 on December 12).

Joel Greenblatt's book The Little Book That Beats the Market is still magical!

And we are pleased to announce our next website project

Stay tuned for the launch date.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gillian and I launched our first website, Sacramento Executive, in December of 2005, with the mantra "Linking Executives To All That Is Great In Sacramento". We set out to be a role model in the community on networking. Since our inception, we have sponsored a networking event every quarter. They have been a lot of fun and proven to be fruitful.

Well, this past Wednesday was a banner day for reinforcing our lesson learned on the importance of networking. Two separate events occurred that demonstrate we are on the right path.

(continue reading)

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gillian & I have enjoyed our journey with Sacramento Executive. This week we hit a nice milestone - 100,000 pages have been accessed by our readers since we launched in December 2005. We are very satisfied by these results.

When we started, we knew nothing about creating and maintaining a website. We inched along by trial and error - from selecting the publishing software, to webhosting, to defining cascade style sheets, to learning basic html. When we didn't know how to do something, we researched it and found the answer. We've learned a lot and had fun doing it - so much fun, that we decided to expand and create four more new websites.

Earlier this week we launched two websites - www.SacWomen.com, where Gillian focuses on women entrepreneurs and executives; and www.Our4HourWorkweek.com, where we are chronicling our journey to achieve a 4-Hour Workweek.

Visit our new websites. See what we are up to. Feel free to submit relevant material - podcasts, articles, or comments. Or point us to material you might suggest we incorporate.

We plan to launch two more websites in the coming months - both will focus on financial management and creating wealth, topics of interest held by almost everyone.

We are also thinking about creating a sixth site - commerce & culture (we own the domain name).

My favorite idea is a wine wiki - but I have not been able to excite Gillian on the idea ... imagine combining our two favorite things! Wine and travel. I dream of having a website where members trade from their wine cellars, learn about great wines and wineries and then we put a trip together to visit the wineries. Argentina, Italy, France, Germany - any takers?

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Bodie, the new puppy of our friends, Mike and Cynthia Posehn, grows up fast in this YouTube video. Currently it is the 13th most watched video on the Internet, according to Vidmeter - just a couple of spots behind "Teen Girls on Drugs"!

This is for you, Bodie. Surely your cuteness will soon outrank the teen girls on drugs.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 12:32 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gillian & I are pleased to announce today the latest edition to our on-line publishing efforts - Our 4-Hour Workweek. Inspired by Timothy Ferriss and his New York Times #1 Best Seller book - “The 4-Hour Workweek”. We dedicate this site to documenting our journey to achieve a 4-hour workweek. We will start from the beginning - with our vision and goals. We will describe each step and share our successes and failures. Are you ready? Join us in the fun. Here we go!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Last week, I was back to training so as not to completely embarass myself in the leg of the triathalon in which I have foolishly agreed to compete in August. Armed with all of the technology that I am sure is going to make this easier, I set out on a 1 hour walk. As I progressed, I would check my iPod Nano periodically to see how far I had gone and at what pace I was moving. The Nike iPod connection is a cool measuring device in my running shoes that transmits to my Nano. It helps keep me motivated and maintains a record of all of my training sessions on my personalized Nike account. It is also possible to set attainment goals and challenge other runners around the world, along with other cool things.

The hour was over and I was very pleased that I had walked more than 4 miles. Imagine my surprise when through my headphones, I hear, "Congratulations, this is Lance Armstrong, you have just completed your longest workout yet". Wow, Lance Armstrong congratulating me. That was a nice, and very unexpected, touch!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 6:55 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Conventional thinking breeds mediocrity. I see it every day - in our corporate work force; in our political system, and in our investment system. I remember one of the daily quotes posted by my ninth grade homeroom teacher – just because 99 out of 100 people think an idea is good, doesn’t make it a good idea. How true these words have proven to be!

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income is $46,326 (2005 data). Corporate America is not paying the average person very much, unless you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, where the median pay in 2005 was $8.4 million.

Our political system has failed to deliver, over and over again. 46.7 million people subsist without healthcare insurance (2005 U.S. Census data). 50% of Hispanics and 45% of blacks (I think it is politically incorrect to refer to blacks as African Americans) do not graduate from high school. More college-aged black men are in prison than in college. And according to the Chinese government, in the past twenty years, California has built 20 new prisons while building just one new university.

And then there’s the rock – our investment system – the institution that is looking out for our future, after we retire. It’s a sham, whether it’s social security or Wall Street. Just ask the average 75-year old social security recipient if she is living comfortably in her golden years. I bet not. The median American household’s net worth is $46,506 (2000 U.S. Census data). Only 2% of retirees are financially secure. The rest (98%) scrape by, struggling to make ends meet.

Half of all American households survive on an income less than $46,326. 37 million people live in poverty (again, 2005 U.S. Census data). 25% of blacks and 22% of Hispanics live in poverty. 10.8% of whites live in poverty. (News flash: These poverty statistics are an outrage! Does the word bias or discrimination apply here?) For a family of four, our government defines poverty to be household income below $20,650 (a 2007 report from the Health and Human Services department). I don’t know about you, but try adequately feeding, clothing, housing, educating and providing healthcare for a family of four on $20,000. It simple can’t be done.

The conventional wisdom has been and continues to be - prepare high school students to go to college, yet most don't go to college; get a corporate job; work five or more days a week from 9 to 5, or longer in many cases; buy a house; commute to work, in many cases more than 30 minutes each way; work forty years; and, retire.

The results, well they speak for themselves. They stink. Therefore conventional wisdom needs radical change.

Look what conventional wisdom gets you. If you are lucky enough to have gone to college and nailed an above average job, you might have saved a few dollars and invested in a mutual fund. Over the years, the stock market on average has yielded an 11% return. But here’s the rub, 85% of all mutual funds under perform the market. So, even though you may be above average in income, your mutual fund is under performing in investment returns.

See, invariably, conventional ways of doing things do not produce great results!

Over the years, I frequently commented to my co-workers that I needed to change things. That is, find a job with a two-day workweek and a five-day weekend. Well, I haven’t been thinking big enough.

What about a 4-hour workweek? Surely you think that I jest. Well, call me crazy, but I think it’s possible. And it is not conventional. Therefore, almost no one will even attempt to create a 4-hour workweek.

But I am. I will. That is my new objective. But before you send me to the loony bin, try reading Timothy Ferriss’s book, “The 4-Hour Workweek”.

Just maybe, you might break away from the crowd and put yourself in a position to succeed.

And one other thing – Dallas will soon be in my rearview mirror. Tim has opened my eyes and asked me, “Why am I paying $3,500 a month on my mortgage to live in Dallas? Think of all the places in the world I could live and work for much less!” Well I am. And I will.

Gillian, pack your bags, we’re moving!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Seven months ago we began tracking the Magic Formula Index. Since December 13, the Index has been nothing but magical. Up an amazing 27.8%!

At that time we introduced Joel Greenblatt's book The Little Book That Beats the Market. In his book, Greenblatt shared his success with the Magic Formula. And it continues to succeed.

Recall that we started with a notional $100,000 investment in a basket of 25 stocks. The investment is now worth $127,755. The index is up 27.8% versus 10.0% for the Standard and Poor's 500 Index, which closed yesterday at 1552.5 (the S&P 500 Index closed on December 12 at 1411.56).

In our basket of stocks, 18 are up and 7 are down. The best performing stock is Western Refining Inc., up 139.8%. The worst performer is VAALCO Energy Inc., down 36.6%. Details of the index, assuming closing prices on December 12 and July 13:

• Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp. (ASPV), $19.70 vs. 20.18, up 2.4%
• Biovail Corp. (BVF), $21.00 vs. $26.25, up 25%
• Cavco Industries Inc. (CVCO), $34.41 vs. $36.69, up 6.6%
• EPIQ Systems Inc. (EPIQ), $15.76 vs. $17.92, up 13.7%
• Earthlink Inc. (ELNK), $6.42 vs. $7.98, up 24.3%
• Fording Canadian Coal Trust (FDG), $22.58 vs. $34.64, up 53.4%
• Freight Car America Inc. (RAIL), $53.39 vs. $52.73, down 1.2%
• Frontier Oil Corp. (FTO), $31.34 vs. $48.49, up 54.7%
• Harvest Natural Resources Inc. (HNR), $10.21 vs. $12.94, up 26.7%
• King Pharmaceuticals Inc. (KG), $16.56 vs. $21.08, up 27.3%
• Korn/Ferry International (KFY), $22.30 vs. $25.90 up 16.1%
• Mannatech Inc. (MTEX), $13.46 vs. $12.14, down 9.8%
• New Frontier Media Inc.(NOOF), $9.31 vs. $8.55, down 8.1%
• OmniVision Technologies Inc. (OVTI), $14.59 vs. $19.01, up 30.3%
• PW Eagle (PWEI), $34.96 vs. $33.91, down 3.0%
• Palm Inc. (PALM), $14.01 vs. $16.37, up 16.9%
• Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (PNCL), $10.34 vs. $19.49, up 88.49%
• PortalPlayer Inc. (PLAY), $13.40 vs. $13.48, up 0.6%
• True Religion Apparel Inc. (TRLG), $15.41 vs. $22.49, up 45.9%
• United Online Inc. (UNTD), $13.38 vs. $16.97, up 26.8%
• Vaalco Energy Inc. (EGY), $7.97 vs.$5.05, down 36.6%
• Valassis Communications Inc. (VCI), $16.44 vs. $16.19, down 1.5%
• Verigy Ltd. (VRGY), $18.06 vs. $28.26, up 56.5%
• ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM), $14.99 vs. $14.71, down 1.9%
• Western Refining Inc. (WNR), $27.17 vs. $65.16, up 139.8%
• And cash on hand of $1,742.92 from paid dividends

So far, so good. The Magic Formula is working its magic. We will check back in on the details next month. In the meantime, remember to visit our site daily to track the Magic Formula Index summary.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Watch this video that shows the difference between Italy and the rest of Europe.
This is why I think I should have been delivered there by the stork - lots more creativity for behavior.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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As a manager you need to be spending your time on four things - managing your superiors, managing your subordinates, and managing your peers (the fourth thing is the punch line at the end of this post).

We frequently hear the notion that you are only as strong as your team. There's another dimension that we don't hear much about - that it is, managing your peers.

I believe how you manage your peers is more important than how you manage your subordinates. Your peers can have more impact on career progress than subordinates. Think about it. Your boss makes the promotion decision. The boss's decision is based on many factors - performance, values, leadership, potential, and the actions of your peers. Your peers have access to your boss, more so than your subordinates. The candidates for promotion are your peers and they can take you down in several ways - they work harder or smarter than you do, they achieve more than you do, or they may be more political than you. This later attribute is a killer - playing office politics.

The game of office politics comes in many forms - hanging out with the boss after hours, volunteering for the jobs no one else wants, and sometimes flat out sabotage. It is the latter event that often hurts the most - watch out for the backstabbers - they can be oh so subtle. It happens right before your eyes, without you even noticing it.

Now how should you handle your peers? Spend time with them. Work with them. Build a spirit of cooperation. I see it too many times - we tend to focus solely on our own fiefdom. Think across the enterprise. Eliminate the stovepipes. Collaborate. Your boss wants collaboration. If you learn to work with your peers, your boss will notice and appreciate the outcome.

And one other thing - collaborate outside the enterprise. This one action may be the discriminator - your peers often are so busy focused on the internals that they overlook the externals. It happens all the time. There are far more great ideas outside the company than inside. Seek out these external ideas. Cultivate them and figure out how to bring them into the company. When you collaborate both across the enterprise and outside the enterprise, you will succeed and more than likely get that next promotion.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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On Monday I am in Austin visiting a friend. We are wandering through an 'antique' store, although frankly it's pretty much all junk. And then I spy in the corner a mannequin - a half mannequin - waist up, a short neck, no head and no arms, pink plastic. Probably from the 1940's and used as a bra model in a department store. But someone has put her on a chrome stand which allows her height to be adjusted and the best part, they have illuminated her. The price tag says $75 - works great.

I try to hold my enthusiasm in check. But I know she is going home with me. I show her to my friend. My friend, much to my surprise, approves and suggests that I can put jewelry and scarves on her. That does it. I buy her.

I call my other friend on the way home. She suggests we can make clothes for her. I love my friends. They don't ask me if I have lost my mind, they enhance my creativity! Now I am considering wings, an outrageous bra the next time that Victoria's Secret has a bra sale.

My daughter, who has many years to get used to my weird behavior responds via email: "Yes Mom. It is lovely and I am sure you will make it cool and hip and fit in really well with your modern décor. It is very Soho loft." I can see her rolling her eyes, a loving roll though! My Mom is at it again!

My physical therapist, upon hearing of my new acquisition, tells me there is a beaded halter top in the second hand shop on the ground floor which she is sure would look lovely on my new mannequin. Of course, that is the kind of response you would expect from someone who has a life size skeleton in her office dresed in full cowboy garb, boots and all.

I put the mannequin, who needs a name, in the corner of the living room knowing that Pierre will return and definitely question my sanity. His daughter, whom I have alerted to my procurement via email, agrees. She tells me to take a picture before he burns it! But, to my complete surprise, he comes home yesterday and declares her to be interesting.

I get a call from Pierre this morning asking if I found my birthday present yet. He suggests I look around. And this is what I find:

Maybe I will call her Pearl.

I love my husband. After 8 years, he has learned to go with my insanity. Today he added to it!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Thanks to Bob Shallit of the Sacramento Bee who highlights the recruiting process for the upcoming class of SEA - and highlights 3 women of a 'certain age' who are highlighting the Academy too.

Business cycle: Gillian Parrillo doesn't consider herself a serious athlete. Couch potato is more like it.

But the former Sacramentan and current Dallas resident has joined two other local "women of a certain age" to participate in a triathlon -- involving cycling, running and swimming -- here this summer.

It's all about supporting graduates of the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy.

Parrillo is on the board of the group, as are her triathlon mates Michelle Hallsten and Brenda Diesel.

They're being trained by SEA grad Joy Hernsen, who runs a Bay Area company that gets non-athletes prepared for physical challenges.

Parrillo says Hallsten, a partner at Sacramento's Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman law firm, has high aspirations for the event. "Michelle is focused on us winning (our age group)," Parrillo says. Gillian has a different goal: "I'm focused on living to see the finish line."

* * *

Classy proposition: Speaking of SEA, the organization is currently recruiting its next class.

Participants are mostly -- but not necessarily -- local college students. All spend every Saturday morning for nine months learning entrepreneurial basics from local business leaders.

Over the past 22 years, the group has graduated 500 people. Many, like Hernsen, have gone on to found successful companies.

Interested? Check it out at www.sealink.org.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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This coming Friday I have to go to the United Arab Emirates, a day after I turn fifty years old. Why? Because I didn't plan well when I was twenty-two years old and failed to take proper investment action. As a result, twenty-eight years later, I am paying dearly.

Ever since I can remember, I have been a big fan of Warren Buffett. On April 27, in my post "Avoiding The Trip to Iowa", I noted that over the past twenty-five years Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway had an annual return on investment of 23.5%. Imagine, if at the age of twenty-two, I had invested $2,000 annually in Berkshire Hathaway and realized that kind of return, what I would be worth today! $3,866,777.

And if I did, I would not be traveling to Dubai on Friday to see a client, rather Gillian and I would be in southern France, enjoying our anniversary and birthdays.

Well, I still am a big fan of Warren Buffett and it is not too late to follow his lead. Here are the publicly traded companies in his portfolio:

United Health Group (UNH), Ingersoll Rand (IR), HR Block (HRB), Comcast (CMCSK), Nike (NKE), Petro China (PTR), Anheuser Busch (BUD), United Parcel Service (UPS) Suntrust Bank (STI), Tyco (TYC), American Standard (ADS), POSCO (PKX), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Wellpoint (WLP), General Electric (GE), Conoco Phillips (COP), Union Pacific (UNP), Walmart (WMT), US Bancorp (USB), M&T Bank (MTB), Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNI), USG Corp. (USG), Coca Cola (KO), American Express (AXP), Wells Fargo (WFC), Proctor & Gambel (PG), Moody's Corp. (MCO), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Westco Financial (WSC), and Washington Post (WPO).

By the way, Warren just doubled up on Johnson & Johnson and moved into railroad stocks.

Rebekah, don't sell your JNJ!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Now that Americans' eyes have finally been opened to the threat of global warming and the important impact that deforestation has on the whole delicate ecological balance, can we please stop producing millions of copies of Yellow Pages that no one uses anymore? I vote that we get to opt in. If we can't live without a copy, then we get to sign up to have our own personal copy delivered. Frankly, I haven't opened a yellow pages in a couple of years. I let my fingers do the walking in cyberspace where I can find businesses close to me, maps to get there, check out the companies' websites and read independent reviews about them. And surely savvy businesses have already flown the coop, after questionning their media spend on such an antiquated piece.

I think I will start the 'No More Yellow Pages' registry, similar to the 'Do Not Call' registry. Let's start getting serious about saving the trees.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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On Thursday night I completed a 5K - my first for sure. Some might find this not to be big news, but to anyone who knows me, it will come as quite a shock! I didn't come last overall, I didn't come last in my age group and, in fact, if I had waited 3 more weeks for a new age group, I would have gotten fourth place!

I had in mind to walk it, but Pierre, at my side, kept motivating me to run some, and then, after the first mile, running more didn't seem so hard. The next day I had a epidural shot in my spine, but that was already scheduled for my bad hip - really! Although I must say I would highly recommend the timing as it certainly helped with any aching as a result of the 5K!

My friend in Sacramento, with whom I will be competing in a triathalon in August, keeps telling me we are going to win. I have continued to tell her I am just planning on living to cross the finish line. When I sent her a note to tell her I had made it across the finish line - and not in last position, she replied, "See, I told you we were going to win."

So, stay tuned. I am planning on doing another in mid-June. And then I will be in another age group and maybe I will win a prize. In the 80-99 age group for women, there were only two contenders - automatic prize.

I have always lived my life backwards, marriage, kids, divorce, career, remarriage - and now maybe it's time to be fit!

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Two Mondays ago, on travel to Iowa (I go there a lot - why you ask? See the answer at the bottom of this post), USA Today featured a full page on the best performing stocks over the last twenty five years. I was stunned by the variety of the companies and the returns. (the data was based on Ned Davis Research analysis of stocks from September 15, 1982 through April 5, 2007).

Had you been wise enough to invest $10,000 in any one of the following stocks in 1982, here's what you'd be worth today (percentages are annual return on investment):

1. Franklin Resources (mutual fund manager) $6,432,000, 29.5%;
2. Danaher (industrial tools) $4,801,300, 28.0%;
3. Eaton Vance (mutual fund manager) $3,854,400, 26.9%;
4. UnitedHealth (medical insurance) $3,777,200, 26.8%;
5. Cisco (network equipment) $3,373,200, 26.2%;
6. International Game Technology (casino equipment) $3,353,600, 26.2%;
7. Biomet (medical devices) $3,063,100, 25.7%;
8. Microsoft (software) $2,936,600, 25.5%;
9. Best Buy (consumer electronics) $2,880,300, 25.4%;
10. Oracle (software) $2,863,500, 25.4%;
11. Stryker (medical artificial joints) $2,548,300, 24.8%;
12. Countrywide (mortgages) $2,426,000, 24.6%;
13. Expeditors International (freight) $2,396,000, 24.5%;
14. Home Depot (retail home improvement) $2,394,500, 24.5%;
15. Dell (computers) $2,314,800, 24.3%;
16. Robert Half (staffing) $2,127,000, 23.9%;
17. Credo Petroleum (gas driller) $2,028,000, 23.7%
18. Adobe Systems (software) $2,008,900, 23.6%;
19. Precision Castparts (jet engine castings) $1,953,700, 23.5%;
20. Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett companies) $1,952,400, 23.5%;
21. Smithfield Foods (pork food products) $1,951,400, 23.5%;
22. Paxar (apparel) $1,902,300, 23.4%;
23. Time Warner (media and entertainment) $1,825,800, 23.2%;
24. Paychex (business services) $1,802,000, 23.1%;
25. Harley-Davidson (motorcycles) $1,790,800, 23.1%

How can you pick the next Microsoft or Cisco? Start by examining the industries that are anticipated to grow like the profile of a hockey stick - that is large addressable markets, preferably in the early stage of maturity. And then look for companies with great management teams who emphasize customer focus, quality product or service, and stong financial controls (cash is king - just believe in Warren Buffett's model). Here are a dozen (a baker's dozen) industries to look for the next big thing: energy, entertainment, education, healthcare, medical devices, internet, consumer electronics, water, environment, finance, bio technology, security, and food.

I particularly expect great opportunities lie ahead in proteins and genetics. The next two decades will be to proteins and genetics what the last two decades were to computers and software.

I also expect vast wealth will be made in alternative energies, but not until the second half of the next twenty five years.

My third favorite area is finance - money always makes money.

Get ready for an incredible ride!

Oh, and why do I go to Iowa so frequently? It's simple - I did not discipline myself 25 years ago and invest. And so I must work. That ugly four-letter word.

Take control. Invest. Do it now. Pay yourself first. Never miss a payday. And when you're 50, you won't have to go to Iowa like me.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

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Courtesy of Reuters

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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The age old debate. How many marketing people do you need per engineer? This is an interesting article published in Intech Magazine for the Instrument Society of America and brought to my attention by Mark Zetter of Amplify:

Marketing is not the dark side
By Dick Morley

I am an angel. I invest in certain companies.

So far, I have helped start more than 100 companies.

Angels are a little different from venture capitalists because an angel uses his wife's money and is only good for about $100K. Venture capitalists use other people's money and invest millions.

As an angel, I try to invest in companies whose president is marketing oriented. That doesn't mean the person has to have a marketing degree. However, his or her concern must be with the outside world, with what the road is, and with where the road is taking the company.

We try never to invest in a company whose ratio is less than 1:1. That is to say, there is a true marketing person for every technical engineer. By this, I mean a marketing person, not just a sales person.

So far, using this yardstick, we've been fairly successful. About 20% of the companies in which we invest have been successful.

Up to now, our investment reasons for the ratio are anecdotal, but Ralph Grabowski, a good friend, took the reasoning to another level. By analyzing companies, he found one could not win unless the ratio is greater than 1-to-1-more marketing people than engineers.

Grabowski did his ratio study while associated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). MIT has more startups than you can shake a stick at, and many of them fail. Grabowski ana-lyzed approximately 100 startup companies, rating them from flaming failures to soaring successes.

True technology companies usually fail with a resounding thud.

Failure means "not com-mercially successful." There are some companies in the middle. We angels and venture capitalists call them the "living dead."

They start up, get to a small size, and stay there. They are failures or nonentities.

We could also define these nonentities as lifestyle companies, law firms, medical offices, or store front establishments. It does not mean they are bad; it is just they are not worth an equity investment because there is no equity growth.

The y-axis on our graph is the ratio of marketing to engineering staff. If for every two engineers on staff, you have two marketing people, the ratio is 1:1. Grabowski defines marketing as not sales, but a true directional strategic effort to establish a path. His analysis includes about 80 companies. His data suggests there is no probability curve of success related to the marketing/engineering ratio. There is no probability involved at all; it is downright definite.

You definitely will not be a success if you are operating with a less than 1:1 M/E ratio.
This does not necessarily mean that you will be successful if you maintain a ratio of 1:1 or better, but we can sure predict that if the marketing staff is not sufficient, you will fail.
The data presented on the actual curve found in the Grabowski reference indicates that a better ratio might be 2:1 or 3:1.

What to do? Process engineers do not, by themselves, affect the direction of the company. We can, however, look at the fundamental budget and staffing of projects. Most companies, according to Grabowski, have diffuse engineering projects that do not contribute to growth as defined by the facts of market analysis.

If we provide the facts, decisions are obvious. Facts are hard to get; decisions are easy. These facts need to go to the desk of the CEO and Board of Directors.

We can make anything, but we cannot sell anything. Allocation and focus are necessary to our company. Logic and emotion have no place in the market direction. Facts are everything. If we do not follow the facts, we will be out of work.

Marketing is not the dark side; we are.

Deal with it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dick Morley (morley@barn.org) is principal of R. Morley, Inc., a global consulting firm specializing in manufacturing & process controls.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Two years ago several Chico-based angel investors pooled their money and invested it in the Sacramento-based DFJ Frontier Venture Capital fund. Last week, they were laughing all the way to the bank when DFJ Frontier portfolio company MaxPreps was acquired by CBS Corporation.

Let's hope that the angel investors reinvest their original funds plus the profit and help some other local entrepreneurs seed fund a company. That's what angel investing is all about...although frankly this was one of the quicker payoffs.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Pierre and I were at the airport last night waiting for a friend to arrive. We got there early and stood watching the TSA people at work. One by one travelers stripped off their shoes, belts, jackets, watches. Bags were opened and searched. People stood spreadeagled while they were wanded. Small bottles of water, larger bottles of shampoo and, in one case, a jar of barbeque sauce are removed from various travelers and thrown into a nearby trash can. Just another day at the security gate. And then Pierre said, "Something makes no sense here." I resisted responding that none of it makes any sense! But he continued, "If all that liquid is potentially hazardous, why is it getting thrown into a trash can right here?" Good point, Pierre. I agree - none of it makes any sense.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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On a very personal note, Ignatius LaCombe may you rest in peace.

Aunt Dorothy - you and Uncle Ig have always been great role models. My heart goes out to you and your family.

Ignatius LaCombe - class of 1942, Cornell University, father of seven, and husband of six decades.

Pierre Cutler

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From Bob Shallit's SacBee Column on March 3, 2007

Serving youth: Former Sacramento exec Pierre Cutler saw our item on the group of UC Davis students who recently visited with billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

Cutler, who now lives in Dallas with wife Gillian Parrillo, wasn't the least bit surprised that Buffett made time for the MBA students.

It reminded him of when he took his son, Nathan, then 12 years old, to a Coca-Cola Co. shareholders' meeting a decade ago.

After the meeting, Buffett, who was a Coke director, and Coke's then-CEO Roberto Goizueta sought out Nathan, the only kid in the room.

Buffett asked the youngster how many shares he owned. Nineteen, he replied. As Cutler tells it, Buffett replied, "I wish I had owned 19 shares of Coke when I was your age." Goizueta added, "Son, let me give you a piece of advice -- don't sell."

Nathan was so impressed that he asked his dad if they could stop off at the bank on the way home -- so he could withdraw cash to buy more Coke stock.

The meeting evidently had a huge impact on Nathan, who graduated from UCD last spring. He's working now in Portland, Ore. -- as a stockbroker.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

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Gillian was thrilled when she found out that the Police were coming to town in June. She loves Sting. She got me to agree to go the concert. All week she looked forward to Saturday morning when the tickets were to go on sale.

When she wants something she sets her mind to it and usually prevails. I expected buying tickets online would be a piece of cake. She lives and dies by her calendar on Microsoft Outlook and made an entry to remind her when the tickets were to go on sale. She told me we had to be home at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday morning. No problem I said.

During the week we received an unexpected call from friends who were in town. They stayed for a few days. On Saturday morning we decided to cook breakfast instead of going out to eat. After all, we had to buy the tickets that morning!

On Saturday morning I trekked to the store and bought a dozen eggs for omelets. Gillian anxiously awaited for the 10:00 bell. There we were in the kitchen, gathered around while I cooked. The music was on throughout the house. We were having a good time. I sauteed the vegetables for the omelets and broke three eggs in a cup and set them aside. When the vegetables were done, I set them aside, planning to use the same pan for the eggs.

Suddenly, the CD got stuck and Gillian went upstairs to the network closet to tend to the problem. While she was gone, I poured the eggs in to the pan. The pan was too hot and the eggs fried before I could scramble them. Shoot! Then the kitchen buzzer went off. With eggs ruined and the buzzer going off, I absentmindly shut off the buzzer without thinking about it. Three minutes later, Gillian came back.

I told her the buzzer had gone off and asked her if she knew why. She immediately freaked and said that it had been set to remind us to buy the Police tickets. It's a good thing we had company, else I might have suffered the same fate of John Bobbit.

Gillian frantically tried to buy the tickets on line, but to no avail. She couldn't get thru to the server and in ten minutes all 22,000 tickets were sold. Now she was really mad at me. And I had just ruined my first three eggs. While I recovered and made three good omelets, Gillian moved to plan B. Attempt to buy tickets from an online broker.

It was amazing. Five minutes after selling out, tickets were already on eBay and going for a giant premium. With luck, Gillian found two tickets for $423.12. Face value $50 each. Ugh! What a cost I paid for our breakfast!

But those eggs sure tasted good!

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Pierre Cutler at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After our weekend of techno wizadry, this made me laugh.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive

Posted by Gillian Parrillo at 2:50 AM | Permalink | Can you digg it? | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)