The Blog of Andrew Syrios
  • Home
  • About
  • Writings and Interviews
  • Contact

The Blog of ANDREW sYRIOs

New Article at BiggerPockets: Why You Shouldn’t Settle for Hiring Anyone Below the Top 10 Percent

5/31/2017

Comments

 
My newest article is up at BiggerPockets titled "Why You Shouldn't Settle for hiring Anyone Below the Top Percent of Talent in a Paygrade." Although the article actually focuses more on coaching and firing.

First I note how Jim Collins in Good to Great found that it was Who not What that propelled greatness.

"The executives who ignited the transformations from good to great did not first figure out where to drive the bus and then get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it. "

Then I go onto detail some of the strategies Geoff Smart and Randy Street discuss in their book Topgrading, mostly regarding coaching and evaluating people after you hired them. As they note, "Topgrading is simply defined as achieving teams of almost all A players: those in the top 10 percent of talent available for the pay." Quite obviously, teams of A players are going to wildly outperform other teams. And thereby, companies with such teams will wildly outperform other companies.

As I conclude the piece, "...great employees can bring your business to new heights. You absolutely need to make hiring, firing, and coaching a priority in your business." Check it out.
Comments

New Mises Article: Is Communist Speech Free Speech?

5/20/2017

Comments

 
My newest article is up at Mises.org; "Is Communist Speech Free Speech?"

The article is intentionally incendiary and serves two purposes: 1) To give a brief rundown of communist atrocities. As I note, "Going back through the twentieth century communists generally fall into two categories; 1) Mass-murdering, totalitarian dictators when in power and 2) terrorists when not-in power." And 2) To mock all of those "hate speech isn't free speech" lunatics on the Left. Most notably, Joe Biden, who recently tweeted out that "hate speech is not protected by the first amendment."

Umm, yes it is Joe.

Unfortunately, a lot of people didn't seem to get the obvious satire as the comments shows. Perhaps had my original draft been used, which included the following over-the-top ending, it would have been more obvious. But I can understand it really isn't in the spirit of an intellectual website such as Mises.org:

"
Postscript: Communists tend to be rather dishonest, so if Howard Dean is looking for an unbiased third party to determine who is and who is not a communist, the Mises Institute would be happy to lend a hand.

"Postscript to the Postscript: After a thorough review, the Mises Institute has determined that Howard Dean will no longer be allowed to express his opinion."

Of course, people's sarcasm detectors seem to be permenantly broken when it comes to the written word. So perhaps one more would have been necessary:

"Postscript to the Postscript to the Postscript: Yes this is satire, c'mon people!"

Oh well. Regardless, communism sucks and freedom of speech, even for bad speech, is the cornerstone of a free society.
Comments

Say Hello to Heaven Chris Cornell

5/19/2017

Comments

 
Yesterday was a punch in the gut as I learned my favorite musician had committed suicide in Detroit.  Anyone who has heard his music could tell he had suffered from depression before. But having followed him through the years, I thought it was something he had beaten. Heartbreakingly, that appears to have not been the case. I wish the best for his wife and kids. 

I became a huge fan of Chris Cornell when the first Audioslave album came out. I had liked Soundgarden before, but hadn't really differentiated them from any other 90's rock. I then rediscovered Soundgarden though and got into all of their stuff (other than their early heavy metal songs). Then I discovered Temple of the Dog and was basically hooked.

I followed him through his Audioslave days, his solo career (even the stint with Timbaland) and of course he reuniting with Soundgarden. And I loved his recent acoustic-based album Higher Truth.

I was lucky enough to see him in concert four times and must say he's a great performer, particularly when it's just him and an acoustic guitar. He was quite funny and really engaged the audience. And good lord, he could sing. Those acoustic concerts included something like 30 songs, which, as an amateur musician, I can tell you would not be easy to get through. Especially with the range he sings at.

Regardless, I will always be glad for the music he brought us while here. In parting, I think the song he wrote for Jeff Buckley when he died best illustrates how I feel. Thank you Chris and rest in peace.

Comments

New BiggerPockets Article: How to Improve Your Odds of Scoring a Loan With a Private or Hard Money Lender

5/3/2017

Comments

 
My new article at BiggerPockets is up. It's titled "How to Improve Your Odds of Scoring a Loan With a Private or Hard Money Lender" and it's about what, well, I think it's pretty self explanatory.

Other than getting a great deal under contract, I note that the most important things you can do fall into four categories,

  1. Your Financials
  2. Your Experience
  3. Your Trustworthiness
  4. Your Coherence

The coherence one may sound a bit odd, but it's just as important as the rest. As I explain,

"...A confused mind says “no.” This is especially true with private lenders or equity investors. If they can’t understand what your pitching, it doesn’t matter how good the deal is, they will say no."

Go check it out.

Comments

    Andrew Syrios

    "Every day is a new life to the wise man."

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Picture
    Business Websites

    Stewardship Properties
    333 Rent
    Blog Roll

    The Real Estate Brothers
    The Good Stewards


    Bigger Pockets
    REI Club
    Meet Kevin
    Tim Ferris
    Joe Rogan
    Adam Carolla
    MAREI
    1500 Days
    Worcester Investments
    Just Ask Ben Why
    Entrepreneur
    Inc.
    KC Source Link
    The Righteous Mind
    Star Slate Codex
    Mises Institute
    Tom Woods
    Michael Tracey

    Consulting by RPM
    The Scott Horton Show
    Swift Economics
    The Critical Drinker
    Red Letter Media

    Categories

    All

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Writings and Interviews
  • Contact