Dear Daughter (XVIII) Italy, luck and packaging

Looks like Paris is cooling off - Norway too - so I had no choice but to escape to the sun-kissed shores of France and Italy for a week. Two nights in Nice (which was, well, nice) and four in Alassio. Alassio is one of my all-time favorite spots, and as I write this, I'm enjoying the view from here. It's absolutely amazing to stay in a mini-mansion right on the beach for just 1,100 NOK a night. I've been working 12–14 hours a day, but with such stunning scenery, it feels more like a vacation.

Since starting my first company, I've often taken time to go to exciting places to work in peace without disturbances (yes, sometimes that meant escaping you and your siblings—no hard feelings). I was inspired by Thinkweek, a concept popularized by Bill Gates—the Microsoft guy who occasionally disappears into a cabin to think deep thoughts. One of his big ideas was that Microsoft should "go all in" on the internet. I know that sounds like a no-brainer now, but back then, it was revolutionary. Maybe you should consider a Thinkweek here in Alassio in April: 10 great books, 50 awesome podcasts. If I get to pick the books, I'll even pay for the trip.

I know I've dragged you to more art museums than you can count, but when in Paris, you simply have to dive into the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay. Visit them with a guide and aim to focus on 15 masterpieces in detail, rather than speed-walking past 2,000 (your feet will thank you). You know I love art - not just for its beauty but also as an investment. Here's my advice if you want to combine buying art for pleasure and profit (I was lucky recently and made one of the best art investments in Norway in the past five years - a 30× return in 30 months. Google my name and Phillips auction to see for yourself):

• Find an artist—or better yet, a few—under the age of 35 whom you love and can afford.
• Try to buy original artworks, not lithographs.
• The artist should have a distinct style you can recognize among hundreds of others.
• They should be ambitious and great at self-promotion on social media.
• They need that elusive X-factor.

Let's talk about luck! Increasing your chances of luck is like giving fate a friendly nudge. Marc Andreessen, the famed investor and the genius who "invented" the first web browser, has a cool framework you'll love. He describes four types of luck:

1.???? Blind Luck - This is the kind of luck that's as random as finding a $20 bill in an old pair of jeans - completely out of nowhere, and there's no way to boost the odds.

2.???? Luck from Motion – The more you move, the more you increase the chance of luck happening. With every new action, you create more contact points with people and opportunities than if you were standing still. "June, keep moving, and luck will have a hard time not bumping into you!"

3.???? Luck from Recognizing Good Fortune – Being in motion is great, but if you keep your senses sharp and use your unique mix of skills and experiences to actively seek opportunities, you'll become even luckier. "In other words, always be prepared and keep an eye out for those subtle hints of opportunity that can turn into great fortunes."

4.???? Luck from Directed Motion – This isn't luck that happens to you; it's luck that seeks you out because of who you are. "The more 'June' you are—exploring the world with your unique flair—the more luck will start chasing after you!"

Now, let's get back to business before luck thinks we're ignoring it.

The project is cruising along, and we're at the stage where we need to place orders. This is scary. Some parts of the product are standardized components, and some have a lead time longer than a Monday morning meeting and a hefty MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity). Yesterday, I learned that the MOQ for the LCD screen is 7,000 units, and they take 45 days to produce. So, we have to place that order now - no pressure!

Our first order will be less than 7,000 units, so the factory will kindly babysit the extra screens in the meantime. I've also been crunching numbers for box sizes. There are many things to consider:

• Retail Packaging: First, we need to design the packaging that will catch the consumer's eye. I've decided on a sturdy white box adorned with graphics and USPs (Unique Selling Points—why anyone should buy the product). The purpose of this packaging is to sell the product and protect it on store shelves.
• Transport Packaging: Next, I'm planning to put a thin transport box around it. The reason? It'll make it super easy for the warehouse to just slap a shipping label on it—no extra time wasted playing Tetris with boxes.
• Distributor Packaging (D-pack): Shipping all these small boxes individually would be as silly as wearing socks with sandals. We need to group them into what's called D-pack. I'm thinking of packing them into a box of 4 units, and then packing 6 of these into a larger box of 24 units. The idea is to strike a balance: small retail stores get a manageable quantity, and we maintain warehouse efficiency. With 6 boxes of 4 in a larger cardboard box, we create a unit that's easy to move around the warehouse.
• Palletizing: The last consideration is how many of these boxes fit on a pallet or in a container. In the old days, you'd need special software for this. Now, you just ask ChatGPT! I found that 216 units fit on a pallet, which is great for warehouse efficiency.

I look forward to the next letter. Some big news just happened for the project—stay tuned!

With all my love and support,

Dad

P.S. Remember, it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

P.P.S. Whenever you're trying to be creative, grab a dictionary, flip to page 524, look at the top right corner, read the word, and ask yourself, "What great ideas do I get from the word 'xxx'?" Often, you'll stumble upon amazing insights.