Category Archives: Biography

May 5, 2017 · 11:30 am

THE SUM OF ALL PARTS

Optimizing Human Behavior with a STEM Model

by Moises Goldman PhD

The Human Conundrum

For the last 15 years I have given numerous seminars aimed at optimizing executive and managerial performance in technology driven firms. The goal is to optimize departmental performance resulting in the larger optimization of an entire firm. As the theory goes: If the whole is the sum of the parts, and each part is optimized, then the whole is optimized.

These experiences have challenged my ability to communicate with people involved in STEM fields. This group represents a highly gifted segment of the population, and they tend to be very results driven. How does one reason, interpret, and convince scientists to modify their own behavior? Continue reading →

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Tagged as discovering the best outcome, finding the best way, influencing behavior, influencing outcomes, optimize, optimize behavior, optimized behavior, optimized system, optimizing a company, optimizing a department, optimizing an organization, optimizing and people, optimizing behavior, planning, predictive analysis, the language of science

October 6, 2016 · 7:00 am

ALIEN ABDUCTS FISH, THROWS FISHERMAN BACK

by Jim Kren

Avid fisherman John Jonelis was enjoying some late night fly-fishing on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan when he had a close encounter with something not swimming upstream.

“I’m casting a fly called a Crystal Bullet with a number 4 hook on a sink tip,” said Jonelis. “This beautiful Chinook Salmon practically bends my number 10 Recon in half but after about an hour, I land it. Al snaps a picture, then all this happens. Me and my salmon get lifted by a glowing ray into some giant saucer-like ship that smells of fish inside.” Continue reading →

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Tagged as alien abduction, big fish, bueter, bueters salmon camp, catch and release, chinook, crystal bullet, Fish, fly fishing, king salmon, michigan fishing, pere marquette, salmon, silver bullet, steelhead, trout

January 14, 2016 · 8:24 pm

KILLER SHILLER

John Jonelis

At Loop Lonagan’s urging, I’m walking his 85 pound bull terrier Clamps down the hard Chicago winter pavement. I don’t mind because it’s an opportunity to road test my two knee replacements. That’s right; I’m the happy product of the wonders of modern orthopedic carpentry! And I enjoy the best physical therapy known to man because I own the company!

Old Donatas Ludditis flanks my other side to make sure I don’t slip on a stray patch of ice. Despite my upbeat attitude, I hold Clamp’s heavy leather leash with some trepidation. In my condition, I seriously doubt my ability to control such a large and volatile animal. Continue reading →

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Tagged as bob shiller, Donatas Ludditis, economic theory, Economics, economist, economists, eugene fama, fama, Loop Lonagan, perfect market theory, predict, predicting, predicting asset prices, prediction, prediction of asset prices, random walk, robert shiller, shiller

October 31, 2015 · 4:11 pm

DON’T ASK WHY—ASK WHY NOT

by Howard Tullman

How the First Apprentice Winner Became an Entrepreneur

(No, The Donald Didn’t Help):

Bill Rancic readily admits he wasn’t the smartest guy on the show. But in his subsequent career, he has become very smart about getting the most out of the people around him. Continue reading →

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Tagged as 1871, Bill Rancic, Conductor, delegator, do what you fear, don't ask why, don't ask why ask why not, don't tell me, donald trump, habit of learning, Howard Tullman, learn, Learning, life of learning, manage risk, managing risk, mentor, orchestrator, practical execution, Risk, show don't tell, show me, show me don't tell me, start, The Apprentice, why, you can't win a race with your mouth

January 9, 2015 · 10:28 pm

UNDERESTIMATING THE COMPETITION

by Robert Jonelis

Ever face a crisis situation? Raw panic? Of course you have. We’ve all been burned by miscalculation, greed, and shoddy research. People have been making the same mistakes for quite a long time and a young woman from the 10th Century can teach us a pointed lesson about the importance of accurately sizing up the competition. Continue reading →

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Tagged as bankrupsy, belly up, best practices, business lessons, busniess mistakes, case study, consequences, crisis, Greed, miscalculation, Panic, Princess Olga, research, shoddy research

August 5, 2014 · 1:08 am

ROUGHING IT

as told by Mark T Wayne

“Don’t you want to feel safe?” asks Rosalind Russell. In response, Clark Gable knits his brows. “I never have. What’s it like?” * Vigorous travel is a grueling sport! One anticipates deprivation and hardship on any trip of significance. One seeks adventure! Exhilaration! One does not select air transportation to wrap oneself in a safe cocoon. No sir! Air travel exists for one and only one purpose. SPEED! Continue reading →

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Tagged as airline, Airport, airport security, canada, cancelled flights, clark gable, delay, fishing, fishing trip, mark twain, o'hare, rosalind russell, safe, security, speed, strip search

July 25, 2014 · 3:07 pm

BE THE ONE THEY CAN COUNT ON

by Howard Tullman

“Winners have a sense about other winners and you can’t miss the shift in their interest and attention when they encounter another of their own species. Wanting to win is fine – wanting to do the work that it takes to win and to keep at it until you do win is what makes the difference in the end.” Continue reading →

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Tagged as 1871, committment, get the job done right, grind, grinders, Howard Tullman, passion, perseverance, perspiration, preparation, principles, show up early, stay late, stick to it, success, winners

March 4, 2014 · 2:13 pm

WHAT MAKES INNOVATION?

Brain Tech – Part 1

Adapted from the Journal of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Chicago

John Jonelis

A member of the audience asks the entrepreneur, “What made you go after private equity? Didn’t you think of partnering with a large manufacturer?”

The speaker’s answer is abrupt and final. “NEVER,” he says. “I wanted to see this through fruition.”

Dr. Daniel DiLorenzo is the founder of NeroVista, a cutting-edge medical device company in Seattle that’s out to put a lid on Epilepsy. His comments are for an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and PhDs assembled at the MIT Enterprise Forum, Chicago. This guy gives insights that I find both lucid and striking—insights on innovation that clear away the cobwebs—that make you sit up straight and say, “Yes!” Continue reading →

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Tagged as American short term quarterly performance, Epilepsy, how to buy research without reducing quarterly earnings, innovation comes from small companies, quarterly earnings, Seizure, short term outook, the effect of research on quarterly earnings, the finance of innovation, Why large companies can't innovate

November 30, 2013 · 1:46 pm

FOUNDER’S PROCLAMATION

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, Continue reading →

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Tagged as Entrepreneur, entreprenuership and faith, founder and faith, founding fathers, God and our country, God and politics, God and the founding fathers, thanksgiving, thanksgiving day, the great entrepreneur

October 11, 2013 · 9:01 pm

THE LEAN STARTUP

Michael Pollack of Rocket Fuel Labs

Verbatim, Part 4 – John Jonelis

“If it doesn’t work, get a bigger hammer.” – Butch Fischer, Local #1 Boilermaker Foreman.

Entrepreneurs need a wide array of management and technology talent to build truly extraordinary companies. How do you fill those gaps while remaining lean? Continue reading →

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Tagged as codint, discovery, execution, infrastructure, lean canvas, lean startup, listening to customers, OODA loop, pivot, programming, prototype, ptorotyping, vision

September 27, 2013 · 12:25 pm

TAKING IT APART

Michael Pollack of Rocket Fuel Labs

Verbatim, Part 3 – John Jonelis

I’m continuing a conversation with Michael Pollack, CEO of Rocket Fuel Labs at the huge 1871 space here in Chicago. We’ve covered a lot of ground and I think it’s time to get down to the business itself. Continue reading →

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Tagged as cash, equity, filling gaps, getting paid, new businesses, new companies, outsourcing, startups, talent