Sunday, August 24, 2025

Cow you doing?

 


I run the Distance Learning Association. Born in the 5 boroughs of New York City (1983) NYDLA.org expanded to all of North America (NADLA.org) and now we're global (GlobalDLA.org

Because of this, we partner with all of the vendors (sponsors) that 'enable' all things REMOTE. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Logitech, Lenovo, Zoom, Adobe, GoTo, etc. The list of TBLS vendors and sponsors is LONG

When Rocware (Rocware.com) wanted to break into the North America market, we got the call. (GetRocware.com). This has been our 'deal' since 1983. Distance Learning > DIGITALlearning > DIGITALLIVING. TBLS: Technology Based Learning Systems. Helping the world to live, learn, work, play, teach, train, coach, mentor in the GLOBAL Cloud COMMUNITY. 

OK, MOOOOOving on.....

One of our vendors (sponsors) is Horion.com. As you can see they are similar to Rocware, and they had a need and interest to 'break into' the North America market. So last year GetHorion.com went LIVE. We started to offer all of the members of the (now) GlobalDLA.org all things Horion. 

And then, I started getting the calls. Tom, you guys now sell............. milk

What are you talking about? 

Typos are a funny thing. We (our family) have been buying Horizon Organic milk from our local Kings grocery store for years. My wife runs a tight ship: ORGANIC is a big word in the Capone household. So, I have been seeing Horizon Organic in my refrigerator since my oldest son was born in the 90s. 

Horion.com makes interactive flat panel displays, also known as smart boards, and related accessories for business and education. These all-in-one systems are designed to replace traditional whiteboards, projectors, and video conferencing equipment with a single touch-screen device. 

Horizon.com makes healthy kids. Horizon Organic offers a range of organic dairy products, including milk, cheese, and butter.

This 'typo' led to my meeting the leadership of Danone North America, the parent company. 

Danone North America is the North American division of Danone, a global food and beverage company headquartered in France. It focuses on producing and distributing dairy, plant-based, and specialized nutrition products, emphasizing health, sustainability, and organic standards. In the U.S., Danone North America operates as a Public Benefit Corporation, balancing profit with social and environmental goals. 



Key brands under Danone North America include:

Horizon Organic: Organic dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Silk: Plant-based milk and dairy alternatives.

So Delicious: Dairy-free products, including coconut and almond milk.

Oikos, Activia, Danimals: Popular yogurt brands.

International Delight: Coffee creamers and beverages.

The company is committed to sustainable practices, such as reducing carbon emissions and supporting regenerative agriculture. Its U.S. headquarters is in Broomfield, Colorado, with additional operations in New York and other locations. The CEO of Danone North America is Antoine de Saint-Affrique, who also serves as the global CEO of Danone. Turns out that my friend Marc de Swaan Arons from Harvard is friends with Antoine. Who is friends with Hubert Joly from Harvard and of 'Best Buy' fame - one of my first 'big' CoffeeInTheClouds.us interviews. And my friend Bill George and Hubert Joly are very close friends and colleagues. I think Hubert is taking over teaching all of Bill's courses at Harvard Business School

AND NOW..... there is a chance that all Danone people around the world shall GetZiik.us (our newest sponsor). Because we are telling the world to become PoweredByZiik.com - because we have Ziik on page 1 | slide 1 of our website, that was the first thing that everyone saw when this typo mystery unfolded. So, they clicked on it. 

Got people? Well then, GetZiik.us  

Oh, and get milk, too. Horizon Organic. 

Organic Milk is good for you. And so are organic typos. 





Sunday, August 17, 2025

What's old is new again


The phrase "what's old is new again" means that trends, styles, or even ideas that were popular in the past can cycle back into fashion or relevance. This cyclical nature of trends suggests that things previously considered outdated or old-fashioned can be rediscovered, reinterpreted, and embraced as fresh and modern. 

This month (August 2025) really drove this concept home for me. Around 5 years ago the New York Distance Learning Association (now North America, NADLA) were approached by USI to service the insurance needs of our community. Actually it was Chubb ( www.chubbsmallbusiness.com ) that was seeking help in servicing Small Business and our NADLA business community (from LA to NYC) was deemed to be attractive. Especially for things like Cyber Insurance. If you use 'the Internet' you really need Cyber Insurance. 

And so, next thing you know I was doing a www.CoffeeInTheClouds.us video podcast interview with Mike Sicard, Chairman and CEO of www.USI.com as USI is one of the largest Chubb partnerships. For many months, the landing page www.NYDLA.org/USI received millions of views. Very cool indeed.

And then, life goes on. We moved on to other projects, other opportunities. Many years passed. 

Until THIS month, August 2025 USI sponsored a webinar with a focus on Insurance for the "Trucking and Logistics" vertical market. Out of the blue I got an email: 

Hi Thomas,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is {name} and I am a Partner and Vice President of our commercial insurance division here at USI. I have been following the impactful work your organization is doing and believe there are exciting opportunities for collaboration between our organizations. 

I would love to discuss this further over the phone or even by grabbing coffee/lunch at your convenience. Please let me know if you have any availability in the coming weeks. Looking forward to connecting!
---------------------------------------

I said, "Well, did you know that we have the landing page www.NYDLA.org/USI still up, from our Chubb Cyber Insurance campaign years ago? Check it out." 

AND SO........ on 8/13/2025 we invited 15,700 of our NADLA.org members who are in "Trucking and Logistics" to attend the USI webinar. And now we are offering those 15,700 attendees 'Dash Cams' and support services via www.VerizonConnect.com and www.Azuga.com (our NADLA sponsors). If a trucking company uses Dash Cams and related services, they can reduce their insurance premiums by 10% or more. So, it's a perfect fit. It's a perfect value-added member benefit. 

Oh, and we are also offering those 15,700 webinar attendees all things www.8x8.com 

In 2018 we helped to 'Ring the Bell' with 8x8 at the NYSE in NYC. Back in the day, the NYDLA.org was a major promoter of all things 8x8. Long story short, they ran into some headwinds, as did many telecom and technology companies in the last ten years. Well, 8x8 is back - in a big way

I expect to do a CoffeeInTheClouds video podcast interview the CEO and/or the CTO of 8x8 very soon, same as we did with www.NYDLA.org/USI and Mike Sicard. Instantly and immediately we can offer these 15,700 Trucking and Logistics companies who attended the USI webinar on 8/13 the opportunity to be www.PoweredBy8x8.com  Oh, and if there are (now) GlobalDLA.org members who GetAireSpring.com (GLOBAL) they can now use all things 8x8 to live, learn, work, play, teach, train, coach, mentor to/from ANYWHERE in the world. 

My first 'MTP' company from the 80s was MaritimeTechnologyPartners.com as we sold AireSpring's Blackberry Phones and Service to the Maritime industry. By default, the 'Maritime' is global, and requires robust and affordable global communications. Along the way, we formed MyTeachingPartners.com and even MyTruckingPartners.us all serviced by AireSpring.com - we are constantly telling the world to GetAireSpring.com - it's a DLA member benefit! 

Old, old, old...........and now NEW again. I love how that works. 

For all of us - for all of our... members.





Sunday, August 10, 2025

Teach Everything You Know


I am now teaching a CRO Mastery Program | Executive Education at many colleges and universities across North America. I own TheCloudUniversity.com which is going LIVE Q4 2025. The best of our 174K+ schools serviced by the NADLA.org We're like Wonder.com but for education - not food. My buddy from Columbia University put me on the spot. We did a '10 in 10' interview, 10 questions in less than 10 minutes. I said sure, let's go.

Hi Tom,

Thanks for offering your insights re: sales!  Below are 10 questions and would welcome your expert opinions on as many of them as you feel comfortable sharing. For the context of a small, but scaling B2B startups:

Which CRM platform would you recommend and why?

{TAC} Hubspot if you are on a budget, Salesforce if you are well funded. Salesforce is great, but expensive.  

What communications tools would you recommend and why?

{TAC} I am a big fan of Zoom Workplace. Next would be 8x8 and GoTo and then RingCentral. The Zoom brand is now ubiquitous with UCaaS and they integrate with all major 3rd party apps.  

In your experience what has been the best cold email outbound template that worked?

{TAC} THE BEST is to offer a $25 gift card or some other reward for 5 or 10 minutes of their time. But don't cold call, only follow up with those who have visited your website, downloaded a whitepaper, or attended your webinar or trade show booth. Don't talk to strangers! ;-)  

What has been the best inbound follow up email template that worked well?

{TAC} We use and sell Dotdigital.com They are the best I have ever used, hands down. 

What are 1-2 of the best phrases and general approach to handling objections?

{TAC} I believe there is no such thing as objections. It is expected to have valid questions on any buying decision. The old adage of people wanting to buy, they don't want to be sold. If it is a valid opportunity, have a conversation. Teach everything you know. 

To grow a team to handle growth, after the first sales lead, what function should be hired next in the sales team?

{TAC} The key to everything is nurturing relationships. Moving from strangers to clients/customers to community members. It goes: attention > engagement > adoption > utilization. If I don't have your attention I cannot teach you anything, and I certainly cannot sell you anything. So, you need people with situational awareness, excellent communication skills, and problem-solving skills. Hire teachers. Hire veterans. 

What does the best framework to prioritize leads looks like?

{TAC} Find out are they shopping? Buying? Researching? Are they the buyer or do they report to the buyer?  People want business outcomes. They want solutions to problems. The faster you can find out if there is actually a problem to solve, the easier the process will be. Try to make a new relationship, not a new sale. Remember, he who controls the checkbook controls the company. 

What is the best current process to close leads and what's the best close %?

{TAC} Email 100,000 ICP Ideal Client Personas for your product | service | book | course. 10% will become MQLs and 10% of those will become SQLs. 10% of those will purchase. I have made a career of counting on 10% of 10% of 10%. And over time, with proper nurturing, those MQLs and SQLs will also convert. 

What has been the best framework to structure sales comp and why?

{TAC} This might be 'Old School' but if you can hire experienced, vetted Sales Professionals, give them a draw and full commission. Have a budget to cover their expenses for 90 days. If they can last 90 days, if they can pay for themselves after 90 days, they can last 90 years..... 

What is the best sales tool/tactic that has made the biggest difference for you?

{TAC} Become a storyteller. I sell via stories, parables, and sharing experiences. Try to sell a 'vision' of a future with the product, service, book, course. Paint a picture of how life is better, work is better, everything is measurably better in a world with you (your product, your service, your solution) in it. 

Much obliged!

Pete

-------

There is a 'School of Hard Knocks' on social media. I am sure you have seen the videos on Facebook or on YouTube. They are up to 10M+ followers. The concept is simple: "Excuse me, how did you become so rich...." and the impromptu interviews with (usually) self-made millionaires (sometimes billionaires) is always captivating. It is also interesting how such a social media site went from hundreds of views to tens of millions and growing. Here is something from Jack Dumoulin's LinkedIn:

About Jack Dumoulin

I'm the co-founder of The School of Hard Knocks LLC, a media company I started in 2021 with two co-founders in Austin, Texas. Since launching, we've built one of the largest media platforms in the business and entrepreneurship space, growing to over 15 million followers and 4 billion+ views across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and a variety of sub-accounts.

Our content features interviews with some of the most accomplished individuals in the world - including Shaquille O’Neal, Mark Cuban, Gary Vee, Kendra Scott, Elliott Hill (CEO of Nike), Steven Williams (CEO of Frito Lay), and many others. To date, we’ve interviewed more than 1,000 millionaires and 15+ billionaires, with the mission of improving financial literacy, inspiring entrepreneurial action, and providing mentorship to those who may not otherwise have access.

We generate revenue through platform ad monetization and high-level brand partnerships, but our impact extends through the ecosystem of businesses we’ve built:

-Organic Content Agency (2023): Full-service short-form video production and management for entrepreneur-led brands. We help clients grow across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

-School of Mentors (2024): A 4,000+ member entrepreneur community with access to the millionaire and billionaire mentors we interview, hands-on workshops, and tactical trainings from proven founders.

-School of Scaling (2025): A high-level training program designed for entrepreneurs scaling to 7-figures and beyond, featuring daily guidance from 7- and 8-figure operators across content, marketing, sales, ops, tech, AI, and finance.

-J3 Capital Group (2025): Our real estate investment fund. We made our first investment this year through a syndication deal.

While I started on camera, my current focus is behind the scenes - leading operations, managing teams, and building systems to scale our company from now 7-figures to 9-figures and beyond.

A few personal milestones:

-University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business graduate

-2017 Microsoft Excel World Champion (1st out of 2 million+ competitors from 54 countries)

-Senior Little League Baseball World Series Player (2x); 3x VA State Champion, 2x Southeast Regional Champion

-Eagle Scout with over 2,000+ hours of community service

-Traveled to 24 countries including living in Korea for 4 years

-First-degree black belt (Taekwondo)

-Proud lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan

If you're building something impactful, exploring collaboration, or want to talk content, scale, or investing - let’s connect!

----------

All of this made me pause and reflect. Lifelong Education. Teaching, training, coaching, mentoring. Living, learning, working, playing in the (now) GLOBAL Cloud COMMUNITY. Yours. Folks like Pete Novak. Folks like Jack Dumoulin. And all of the amazing folks who 'made it' and now are paying it forward. The folks that are teaching everything they know. 

It really is a great time to be us! 


Sunday, August 3, 2025

A good education

When my youngest son was attending Mountain Lakes High School in New Jersey he had a best friend. Devesh

His hometown is Mumbai, Maharashtra. When he was very young, his family made the decision to send Devesh to the USA for his education. Wow. 

From time to time his family would cross the ocean to visit. And from time to time (once a year?) Devesh would travel back home. The ultimate sacrifice - the ultimate demonstration of love - for Devesh to get a good education. Devesh had to leave his home, leave his family - to live in the USA to make this happen. Quality Life = Quality Education. 

Many times, Devesh would join us at our home for a holiday. I can remember hosting a few Thanksgivings at our home in Boonton Township, New Jersey. I don't think I will ever meet a nicer kid. Ah, a nicer young man. 
  • August 2007 - June 2009 Mountain Lakes High School
  • 2009 - 2013 Rutgers University
  • 2016 - 2020 Rutgers University Master of Business Administration (MBA) Finance, Data Analytics & Information Management. 

When Devesh was only driving for a short time (still in High School) he had to go to traffic court. A minor incident (NOT his fault) but this can be very traumatic. Very scary. I had the honor of being asked by Devesh to go with him that day. It all worked out. I will always remember the look in his eyes when I showed up for him. After all, he was my 3rd son...

When the NYDLA.org launched its partnership with RUTGERS in 2012, Devesh was sitting in the front row. Whenever I would 'present' at RUTGERS School of Business Devesh was always in the room. 

Now in 2025, you (anyone) can access an AMAZING education from ANYWHERE in the world. Today the NADLA.org services 174K+ K-20 schools across North America. There are more people attending PURDUE University Online than attending LIVE on their West Lafayette, IN campus. There are more people paying tuition to attend Penn State World Campus, than to attend Penn State LIVE in Pennsylvania. And you can now attend RUTGERS ONLINE and get an amazing RUTGERS education from anywhere. From places such as Mumbai, Maharashtra. 

This is a little snippet, a 'clip' from his LinkedIn profile:

About
Hi, I’m Devesh. Throughout my career, I’ve explored opportunities to create, collaborate, and grow alongside inspiring founders and businesses. Today, I lead Investor Relations at Mercurius Media Capital (MMC), where I work with innovative consumer-tech startups to help them grow and succeed in the US market. Here’s my story:

I grew up in India and moved to the U.S. at 16. My first job—while still in high school—was as a customer service representative at a consumer goods company, followed by a similar role at a D2C electronics startup in India. It was here that I discovered the importance of understanding and solving customer pain points, a lesson that shaped my approach to business and communication.

College was where my passion for finance and strategy truly developed. I balanced my classes with internships at Kotak Mahindra Bank and Prudential Financial, gaining firsthand insights into the financial services industry. These experiences set the stage for the next chapter of my career.

At Prudential Financial, I spent seven years developing project management and business strategy skills. From leading cross-functional initiatives to tackling complex challenges, I learned how to drive measurable outcomes while growing as a leader.
-------

2012 - RUTGERS School of Business


Here is the point of today's Sunday Blog. Quality of Life = Quality of Education. In 2025 you can indeed access an AMAZING education from anywhere in the world. You can get a degree (including MBA or PhD) from RUTGERS and others, without ever stepping foot in the USA. 

Yes, but also this: Quality of Life = Quality of the People in your Life 

Tip of the Hat to my youngest son Bobby for bringing Devesh into our lives. 


2025: 174K+ K-20 schools across North America
are serviced by the NADLA.org 



Sunday, July 27, 2025

Don't do drugs

 

Do you remember the commercials that basically said 'Don't Do Drugs' ? 

Anti-drug commercials, especially from the 1980s and 1990s, are iconic for their bold, often dramatic approaches to deter drug use. The most famous is the "This Is Your Brain on Drugs" PSA from 1987 by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, where an egg (your brain) is cracked into a frying pan (drugs) to show how drugs "fry" your mind. A 1997 version featured Rachael Leigh Cook smashing a kitchen to emphasize the chaos drugs bring. These ads were simple but memorable, with the tagline "Any questions?" becoming a cultural staple, even parodied in shows like The Simpsons and Robot Chicken. 

Nancy Reagan’s "Just Say No" campaign in the 1980s also shaped many PSAs, urging kids to reject drugs outright. Celebrities like Pee-wee Herman, who warned against crack, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, who called drug dealers “dorks,” starred in quirky ads aimed at youth. Some, like Mr. T’s anti-drug rants or Michael Jordan’s pep talks, used star power to drive the message home.

Other ads took a darker turn, using scare tactics. For example, a 1988 PSA showed a girl named Linda in a drug-induced spiral, while a Montana Meth Project ad from 2006 depicted teens promising to “try meth once” only to face grim consequences. Some, like a PSA showing a rat overdosing on crack, were criticized for being too graphic.

While memorable, studies suggest these PSAs often didn’t change behavior. Scare tactics could backfire, making drugs seem like "forbidden fruit" to curious teens, and simplistic messages like "Just Say No" ignored complex social pressures. A 2016 federal review found scare-based ads ineffective, with campaigns showing drug-free teens as independent more likely to resonate.

Every day, I get a 'Daily Horoscope' reading. 

A horoscope is a forecast or interpretation of a person's future based on the positions of celestial bodies like stars and planets at a specific time, usually their birth. It’s rooted in astrology, which divides the sky into twelve zodiac signs, each tied to specific personality traits and life events. A horoscope typically offers predictions or advice for a person’s day, week, or month, based on their zodiac sign (e.g., Aries, Taurus, etc.), determined by their birth date. 

For example, a horoscope might say, "Leo, today you’ll feel confident and creative, but avoid impulsive decisions." It’s often found in newspapers, magazines, or online, tailored to each sign. While some view it as a fun guide, others see it as a spiritual or psychological tool, though there’s no scientific evidence supporting its accuracy. It’s more about belief and perspective than fact.

I don't remember how many years ago I signed up via email to get a daily horoscope. And, I don't remember the last time I actually read it - but it still shows up in my inbox. Every. Day. I read mine today for the first time in a long time. I actually read my 'personalized horoscope' today, for first time in months. I admit it, I got a little jolt of dopamine. A drug. 

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical messenger in the brain that plays a key role in how we feel pleasure, motivation, and reward. It’s released when you do something enjoyable—like eating, exercising, or achieving a goal—creating a sense of satisfaction that drives you to repeat the behavior. It also helps regulate movement, attention, and emotional responses.

Think of it like the brain’s "feel-good" signal. For example, when you get a notification on your phone, the little rush you feel is dopamine at work. It’s produced in areas like the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra and travels along neural pathways. Too little dopamine can lead to issues like depression or Parkinson’s disease (affecting movement), while too much is linked to conditions like schizophrenia or addiction.

It’s not just about pleasure—dopamine also sharpens focus and boosts drive, like when you’re “in the zone” working on something you love. It’s a crucial part of the brain’s reward system, but it doesn’t act alone; it interacts with other neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine.

Where are you going with this Tom? Land the plane.......

Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign was a prominent part of the Reagan administration's War on Drugs, aiming to prevent youth drug use through abstinence-focused messaging. While it did raise public awareness of drug abuse and sparked a national conversation about prevention, research and expert opinion largely conclude that the campaign itself was ineffective and ultimately failed in its primary goal of reducing drug use among teens. 

Here's a breakdown of the campaign and its criticisms, and why it FAILED:

Focus on abstinence and D.A.R.E. program: The campaign emphasized "just saying no" to drugs and supported programs like the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.), which involved police officers lecturing students on the dangers of drugs.

Criticism of the simplistic message: Critics argued that the "Just Say No" slogan oversimplified the complex issues surrounding drug addiction, failing to address underlying factors like socioeconomic conditions and mental health challenges that contribute to substance abuse.

Ineffectiveness at reducing drug use: Studies have shown that participation in D.A.R.E. programs had little or no impact on drug use rates, and in some cases, may have even backfired, leading to an increased likelihood of experimenting with substances.

Stigma and mass incarceration: The campaign and the broader War on Drugs have been criticized for contributing to the stigma surrounding drug users, portraying them as criminals rather than individuals struggling with addiction. The associated policies, such as the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, led to increased incarceration rates, particularly affecting minority communities due to sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine.

Failure to address evolving drug landscape: The campaign primarily focused on illegal street drugs and failed to address the emerging issue of prescription drug abuse, which would become a major problem in later years. See Fentanyl and 'the border' in 2016, 2024. 

In summary: While the "Just Say No" campaign raised awareness about drug abuse and Nancy Reagan played a significant role in promoting the message, its simplistic approach and reliance on abstinence-only education proved ineffective. The campaign's legacy is further complicated by its association with policies that led to increased incarceration and disproportionately affected minority communities. 

Tom???

Here we are in 2025. I'm still getting a Daily Horoscope, every single day. It's a drug. Fox News... a drug. Red Hats with Make America Great Again slogans....guess what: that's a drug too. Big time.

The "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) slogan, popularized by Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, resonated for several reasons, grounded in historical context, psychological appeal, and political strategy. Here's a breakdown of why it worked:

Nostalgia and Emotional Appeal: The slogan tapped into a sense of nostalgia for a perceived "better" past, often idealized as a time of economic prosperity, cultural homogeneity, or global dominance. For many, it evoked feelings of pride and a desire to restore what they felt was lost due to globalization, immigration, or cultural shifts. Nostalgia is a powerful emotional trigger, as it simplifies complex issues into a yearning for a familiar, glorified era. (I say nostalgia is a dopamine trigger). 

Simplicity and Memorability: The phrase is short, catchy, and easy to chant or display on hats, signs, and social media. Its simplicity made it a versatile rallying cry that could mean different things to different people—whether economic recovery, cultural restoration, or political dominance—without requiring detailed explanation.

Anti-Establishment Sentiment: By 2016, distrust in institutions like government, media, and elites was high. The slogan implicitly criticized the status quo, suggesting America had fallen from greatness due to failed leadership. It positioned Trump as an outsider promising to disrupt a broken system, appealing to voters frustrated with career politicians.

Broad Interpretability: "Great Again" was vague enough to project individual hopes onto it. For some, it meant manufacturing jobs; for others, traditional values or national pride. This flexibility allowed diverse groups—blue-collar workers, evangelicals, small business owners—to unite under one banner without needing policy specifics. Drugs for everyone!

Cultural and Economic Context: The slogan capitalized on real economic anxieties—stagnant wages, job losses in manufacturing, and rural decline—while also addressing cultural fears about immigration and changing demographics. It framed these issues as a decline from a golden age, offering a simple solution: restoration through strong leadership.

Effective Branding and Repetition: Trump’s campaign leveraged the slogan (drug) relentlessly across rallies, merchandise, and media. The iconic red MAGA hat became a cultural symbol, amplifying visibility. Its repetition created a sense of unity and momentum among supporters, reinforced by social media echo chambers. Drugs, everywhere. 

Polarization and Identity: The slogan doubled as a dividing line, signaling loyalty to a movement. It wasn’t just a policy promise but an identity marker, creating an "us vs. them" dynamic that energized supporters and provoked opponents, keeping it in the public eye.

Posts on X reflect ongoing debates about the slogan’s impact, with some users praising its unifying patriotism and others critiquing its divisive undertones or vague promises. Data from the 2016 election shows Trump’s campaign resonated in regions hit hard by economic decline, like the Rust Belt, where the slogan's promise of renewal struck a chord (e.g., winning key swing states like Ohio and Pennsylvania).

In short, MAGA (the drug) worked because it was emotionally charged, adaptable, and perfectly timed for a moment of widespread discontent, turning a simple phrase into a cultural and political juggernaut.

We worried that 'drugs' would take down America. Wow. We were all worried about Fentanyl, we should have been even more worried about dopamine. That is the most dangerous drug of all. 

"Make America Great Again" hats could double in price after new U.S. tariffs.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Need a boost?

A "boost" can have different meanings depending on the context. Here are the most common interpretations:

  • General Definition: A boost is an act of increasing or improving something, like giving a push or enhancement. For example, boosting confidence means increasing someone’s self-esteem.
  • Social Media (e.g., X): On platforms like X, a boost refers to reposting or promoting someone else’s post to increase its visibility. It’s similar to a retweet but may carry a different connotation depending on the platform’s terminology. For example, boosting a post amplifies its reach to your followers.
  • Technology/Gaming: In tech or gaming, a boost often refers to a temporary increase in performance or power. For instance:
  • Boost in Computing: Overclocking a CPU or GPU to enhance performance (e.g., Intel Turbo Boost).
  • Gaming: A power-up or temporary advantage, like a speed boost in a racing game.
  • Marketing/Advertising: A boost can refer to paid promotion, like “boosting” a post on social media platforms (e.g., Facebook or Instagram) to reach a larger audience through targeted ads.
  • Slang: In casual language, “boost” can mean stealing (e.g., shoplifting or carjacking, as in “they boosted a car”) or giving someone a lift, either physically or emotionally.
I am a beta tester of the LinkedIn 'Boost' feature, and I can say right now, today.... it's nuts. 

There are 1B+ professionals on LinkedIn and millions of the use LinkedIn Learning. If you remember Lynda.com was one of the first 'distance learning' platforms. In April 9, 2015 LinkedIn announced its intentions to buy Lynda.com in a deal worth $1.5B. And then in 2016, Microsoft bought LinkedIn for $26.2B, being their largest acquisition at the time. 94% of business-to-business marketers since 2017 use LinkedIn to distribute their content. 

So, sometimes (not all the time) I spend the money.... to 'Boost' a post. LinkedIn will use its algorithm to figure out if the post is 'boost worthy'. It will come back and say that 'for this much money, you can reach this many more people' and these are people that are the ICP or ideal client persona for THAT topic. 

So here is the super secret hack that I am sharing with you today. I think we have cracked the code on 'boosting' on LinkedIn as in the 6th bullet that I have listed on the top of this page. It seems that we have figured out a way to boost the boost - of a boost

LinkedIn is a BUSINESS platform. Not like Facebook or Instagram, it is really designed for business. The odd little 'this belongs on Facebook' post does sneak in from time to time, but for the majority of the time, it's all about BUSINESS. And, when someone is promoting a book - the algorithm can then identify the ICP for that book's audience - who are by default, also in business. 

Now sometimes the post is not boost-able. Like, I would love, LoVe, LOVE to be able to boost a post regarding Zoom. But the folks at LinkedIn think that would be piggy. Ah, but books seem to work like magic. When the good folks at FortierPR.com have a new book to launch, I usually get the call. Our CoffeeInTheClouds.us (aka ZoomTalks.us) fireside chat interviews reach millions of people living all around the world. And during our virtual book signing events, we usually give the new books away for FREE to our paid members. So it makes perfect sense that promoting a new book via our millions of Distance Learning Association members would 'boost' book sales. 

If a post is boost-able, the algorithm finds folks in the 1B+ user universe of LinkedIn who are an ICP (Ideal Client Persona) for THAT book. It could be a book on LEADERSHIP. Or a book on TELEMEDICINE. Or a book on ECOMMERCE, or CYBERSECURITY or anything. So, boosting (promoting) books (paper or Audible.com) via LinkedIn is great. 

Ah but doing it via our (now) Global Distance Learning Association - and giving the books away for FREE (we credit the DLA members $25 / one month membership fees) is again......nuts. We are boosting the boosts! And if the LinkedIn user is not yet a member of the association, they should join and get the book that they clearly told us they wanted to read.....for free. (Again, we give a $25 credit). I guess we are really 'reimbursing' the member for their purchase. Anyway....

Our ZoomTalks.us video podcast interviews are PoweredByZoom.com so even though LinkedIn does not allow us to boost 'Zoom' posts specifically, I think we found a work-around. And so...

If you have a product | service | book | course that you would like 'boosted' to the 1B+ professionals on LinkedIn, we should chat. We might not be able to boost the boost OF THE BOOST...

Maybe I'll just blog on it. That seems to be working pretty good too. 



DrZoom.us wants you to GetZoom.us 




Sunday, July 6, 2025

Uber Frustrating

 




Thanks, Intuit! You guys are the best. I was not expecting you to pick up lunch...


Oh, instructions? OK, fine. 


Well that 'next step' was pretty easy! I don't have to do anything.....time to eat!


And so it begins. The voucher was not automatically added to my account. And the 'BOGO' (buy one, get one FREE) spiff on the order was not applied. And now I am sending screen shots, forwarding emails, spending time chasing down $25. Actually more than $25 since I did not get my damn BOGO!

Wait, when did I become a grumpy old man? Am I really going to spend MY TIME chasing down my credit? Am I really going to be like a dog with a bone.... refusing to let go?

Yes. Yes I am. But not for the reasons you might think.

Intuit spent thousands of dollars on that Virtual Event. I am an Intuit Partner. Do they realize that their 'good will' gesture that they spent money on has now created the opposite effect? A positive has been flipped into a negative. I was not expecting $25. Cool! Nice! Thanks, Intuit! You guys rock....

What started out as a simple click on Customer Service: Hey, Uber. I did not get my credit. Oh, and by the way, the BOGO deal did not apply either. Total charge was around $33. Please give me my credit. Thanks! 

Now I am fighting with an AI robot in Customer Service. At least I am hoping that I am fighting with an AI robot, because if this is real human, we are all doomed. 

I learned a lesson many years ago from a mentor. They told me that for every letter that someone writes to Customer Service, there are at least 100 others who wrote the letter, but did not have a stamp. In other words, for every Complaint, there are many who are just as mad, just as upset, but they just never mailed the letter. Or there are THOUSANDS who are very upset, but they did not take the time to complain. Or, they made an initial complaint, but as soon as they started getting the run-a-round they just said to themselves 'it is not worth it' and they just moved on. But they did not really move on. Not really.

Trust me, they will remember. This incident made me review EVERYTHING. Hey Intuit, why the tiny window to use the voucher? What if I did not check this email SAME DAY? I would have had a gift that expired, FAST. How was THAT going to make me feel? Why flip a positive into a negative? 

Hey Uber. I am not going away. I am going to keep chatting with your damn AI bot in Customer Service until they wave the white flag. I am going to escalate this. I will keep asking to speak with a Supervisor. And then their boss, and then THEIR boss. I want my damn $25 and I want my BOGO. And you should be paying attention, because for every one of 'me' out there, there are 100 (or 1,000+) who are just as pissed, just as frustrated. But they just threw their hands up and said, screw it. 

But they will never forget...... heck, they might even Blog on it one day......


And today:

Now I'll share my Sunday Blog ThomasCapone.com with the leadership of Intuit and Uber. Yeah, I guess I turned into a grumpy old man.....but one with a blog and 1M+ followers across all Social Media.  [ class dismissed ]

**** Update! Uber Eats refunded my $25 - and they also gave me a 40% off coupon for my next Uber Groceries order. I'm thinking a dozen Lobsters from Kings in Boonton NJ...