sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand
Austin, TX
Joined June 2008
- Tweets10.4K
- Following68
- Followers703
- Likes201
Variable rewards is the reason why people like hunting. Present company included.
Find myself saying, “if I stay another 30 mins, maybe THEN I’ll get a big buck.”
Just returned from Main Street Summit.
Highest concentration of marketplace leaders that are humble and take relationships seriously.
Everyone I met was a breath of fresh air.
Electrician in West Texas is the new oilman.
Mike Rowe says he visited a Texas data center and met three “debt-free” electricians under 30 making “north of $240,000/year.”
All three have been “poached” three times in the last 18 months because the demand for electricians is crazy high.
ROWE: “I was in Plano, Texas… got a tour of a data center.”
“I ran into three electricians, all under 30, all making north of 240 grand a year, all debt-free.”
“Now here’s the craziest part. All three had been poached three times in the prior 18 months.”
“The shortages are so acute that the companies don’t have time to train. They have to poach.”
“Great news for an electrician. But it’s a little weird for the economy overall.”
Last year we lost Mikey Trafton, this year we lose Josh.
Josh invested in my first company when I went through @CapitalFactory years ago. He was gracious and kind and funny.
I'll miss him.
Capital Factory founder Joshua Baer, a visionary force in the Texas technology and start-up ecosystem, died Tuesday night in a private plane crash in Laredo, the organization confirmed to the American-Statesman.
"Joshua was a fearless leader, a brilliant partner, and a dear friend to so many of us," Capital Factory President Bryan Chambers said.
statesman.com/news/article/l…
"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost
my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of
myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation,
Iago, my reputation!"
Trust is the currency. (Bill knew)
With respect to AI usage, a line I will not cross is using AI for writing.
Not even helping me think through what to write.
I know how good the models are and I know it could nail my voice and tone. There's a 95% chance that it could generate something and I'd say, "yeah that's exactly what I would've written!"
To me, writing is helpful because it formulates my thoughts and it is, in essence, personal.
When my children read letters from their deceased father, I don't want them to think, "I wonder if Dad wrote this or if AI helped him."
Taylor Brooks retweeted
On so many, many levels this is the best interview I've listened to in a long time
nytimes.com/2026/04/09/opini…
Aside from the obvious love and empathy for Ben's situation personally, listen to higher-ed talk at the 47 min mark
@BenSasse yes to all of that
+ well done @DouthatNYT
Taylor Brooks retweeted
I was born in the 80s. I grew up watching Apollo 13 and From the Earth to the Moon. I heard my dad’s stories of the '60s. I watched JFK’s speeches. As a young man, I read Heinlein and Verne.
Great talk by one of my favorite people.
Well done @kristianindy
youtube.com/watch?v=HbgOI6VJ…
Taylor Brooks retweeted
Here is a closely held belief that fuels me:
Business can be one of the most powerful forces for good — when it’s rooted in virtue, responsibility, and purpose.
In an era obsessed with speed and scale, our focus remains on building an enduring company
One that’s committed to people, craftsmanship, and community.
My worldview is shaped by faith, family, and a belief in free enterprise as a moral good.
I reject the idea that success must come at the expense of integrity or independence.
Through our work at HB Solutions Group, we’re proving that long-term, purpose-driven private ownership can outperform the short-termism of Wall Street and private equity.
If you believe discipline, humility, and service — not financial engineering — are the true foundations of a great company and a great life, you’re in the right place.
Today I laughed, cried, said the “f word”, and worked my ass off.
This life is a gift and experiencing the full range of emotions is part of it.
What a life. How grateful.
I like to read the Declaration of Independence every 4th of July to my kids.
archives.gov/founding-docs/d…
