?? Silly Valley News: September 10th 2024 ??

We're back! And oh how I've missed you all so much. In fact, I missed you so much that I got a debilitating sickness that prevented me from having any ice cold cruisers for the first week of NFL football. I am v upset about it. Anywho, let's hope the 90000mg of DayQuil works and get to some super important news stories.

This Week's Piping ???? (Hot 'Tent)

?? People Won’t STFU About “Founder Mode.”

?? Indicted CEO Looking To Raise $100M For EV Startup.

??? Nobody Works On Mondays.

?? More "fun facts" to satiate your brain's lust for knowledge...

The Silly Valley

?? Malvertising, or Malicious Advertising, Is Becoming a Big Problem Incidents on search engines rose 42% last fall, according to CNBC. Hackers use ads that mimic legitimate brands like Amazon to lure users into phishing schemes or install malware. These ads target both consumers and corporate employees, as seen in one case where a single Lowe’s employee was tricked by a phishing link and caused a massive security breach. The surge in malvertising is partly due to Microsoft blocking hackers’ previous method of using embedded Office macros, which hackers could pre-program with malware that users would unknowingly download when downloading files. To protect against it, security experts recommend updating software, using antivirus programs and ad blockers, and maybe not being a big dumb idiot and clicking on suspicious sh*t!

?? People Won’t STFU About “Founder Mode.” The ongoing debate in Silicon Valley revolves around how involved founders should be in their companies, with a distinction made between “founder mode” and “manager mode.” Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, and Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, highlight how being more hands-on can lead to better outcomes. Graham critiques the assumption that scaling a startup means switching to “manager mode” and points to Chesky’s decision to stay highly involved in all details of Airbnb’s operations as a successful example. Other “founder mode” figures include Jobs, Huang, Musk, and Zuck. However, some argue that founders still need capable managers, as seen with Tim Cook’s role at Apple. Others view strong managerial execution, such as Satya Nadella’s leadership at Microsoft, more favorably. As a CEO of a 3 person company, I have to say that manager mode is the obvious choice. Also I hate my boss... Who is also me.

?? Indicted CEO Looking To Raise $100M For EV Startup. Thunder Power Holdings (shockingly, not a nickname for my thighs), is an electric vehicle (EV) startup that went public via a SPAC merger back in June. Now though, the company is attempting to raise $100 million more through selling stock shares despite its CEO, Wellen Sham, facing 11 criminal charges in Taiwan. Sham is accused of securities-related violations connected to another company, Electric Power, where Sham serves as chairman. Allegedly, he used Electric Power’s resources to pay for a seminar hosted by Thunder Power and issued a false press release aimed at spreading rumors and misleading information. Despite being founded in 2015, Thunder Power has yet to produce a single EV, and as of May 2024, only prototypes exist. The company has lost over $35 million since its inception, holds just $921,349 in cash, and has no revenue. Sounds good to me, where do I send my check?

Sales Tip of the Week

Using customers' names during sales calls increase your chance of getting through to decision-makers and achieving positive outcomes by 30%. - InsideSales.com

Outside the Bubble

??? Nobody Works On Mondays. A study done by Village Labs, which analyzed millions of documents, messages, and code across a variety of platforms like Google Workspace, GitHub, and Slack, revealed distinct productivity trends throughout the workweek. Mondays are notably unproductive, supporting the idea of a real life "case-of-the-mondays" as employees struggle to get their weeks going. Productivity tends peaks on Tuesday, with a significant increase in work output, except for coding, which remains steady from Tuesday through Thursday. By Friday though, output declines by 10-25% from Tuesday's output. Interestingly, weekend work is focused on solo projects, with twice as much documentation produced compared to Monday, though fewer messages are exchanged. Sounds like the 4-day workweek is already alive and well.

?? According to Podcasts, Attention Spans Are Increasing. Long podcasts, some exceeding three hours, are becoming more common, with creators like Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, and Steven Bartlett pushing the limits of episode length. Lex Friedman recently hosted a nine-hour conversation with Elon Musk, while a Bartlett interview with Andrew Huberman ran for four hours. Data shows that longer episodes result in more dedicated listening. Many listeners consume these extended podcasts in the background, particularly on YouTube, where TV app usage is increasing. Even in a world of short-form content, long podcasts are carving out a space by offering deep dives and immersive experiences for their most devoted fans. Maybe this means Natalie and I are doomed because if you recorded us for more than 3 hours for a Demoted episode we’d lose our freaking minds. (and you would too).

?? Does The American Dream Have to Include a Picket Fence? A recent survey of millennials and Gen Zers revealed that younger generations are increasingly redefining the American dream due to soaring housing costs. While nearly 88% of baby boomers see owning a home as part of the American dream, only 68% of Gen Zers agree. The National Association of Realtors reported that the median age of first-time homebuyers has risen to 35, compared to 29 in 1981. Nearly 10% of homes in the U.S. are now valued at $1 million or more, more than double that of 2019. Instead of buying homes, many young people are choosing to invest earlier, with Gen Z starting at an average age of 19 and millennials at 25, compared to boomers who began at 35. Kristin Scott, a marketing professor at Minnesota State University who’s authored some of these studies, notes that while boomers focus on material items like houses and cars, younger generations tend prioritize personal achievements. Wait, how does compound interest work with personal achievements again?

?? Airline Rewards Programs Under Investigation. Ever had an airline credit disappear and get super pissed? Well, the Transportation Department announced an investigation into the loyalty programs of the four largest U.S. airlines—United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines—aiming to protect consumers from issues like reward devaluation, hidden fees, and dynamic pricing. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ordered the airlines to provide records and details about their programs, emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness. In recent months, the department has introduced rules to improve refund policies and fee transparency. Airlines defended their loyalty programs, with Delta and Southwest issuing statements, while American and United deferred comments to Airlines for America, which said U.S. carriers are transparent about their practices. Meanwhile I still had my airline credit disappear so WTF United?!?

Last Week's Piping ???? (Hot 'Tent)

Fun fact: I hate fun facts...

The Corps share some of the most insane listener-submitted stories of ludicrous office behavior:

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