Lillian Sheng

Hypothesis 1: The "golden age" hypothesisThe "golden age" hypothesis says there are one or more "golden ages" from the past that were superior at producing innovation compared to today. Perhaps understanding and restoring what worked about those "golden ages" would lead to an explosion in creativity today.

Paying attention to the froth

Company towns 1880s to 1935 In some situations, company towns developed out of a paternalistic effort to create a utopian worker’s village. Churches, schools, libraries, and other amenities were constructed in order to encourage healthy communities and productive workers. Saloons or other places or services believed to be negative influences were... See more

Totem is recreating this social experience with what they call "P-commerce" for Proximity commerce, using technology to bring the point of sale to where people are most of the day: the office, hotels, co-living spaces... Totem provides an assortment of goods that can be used immediately, whether it’s food (a quick breakfast, an energy sport bar... See more

I think that Twitter should and will build an app ecosystem like WeChat’s minis, all within the app.

But at some point, other investors began to follow in our footsteps. The market became so so hot that even if you made the right choice, you would still lose money. Whole cities and neighborhoods materialized and prospered, but the price investors paid for the land made it impossible to sell the land at a profit or generate an appropriate yield.

My final prescription to you for a life of fuzzy thinking and infelicity is to ignore a story they told me when I was very young about a rustic who said: “I wish I knew where I was going to die, and then I’d never go there.” Most people smile (as you did) at the rustic’s ignorance and ignore his basic wisdom. If my experience is any guide, the... See more