james coletti

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. – Leonardo Da Vinci

James — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:09:22 +0000

Stop trying to look like a millionaire

James — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:41:11 +0000

From a recent article published in The Boston Globe:

“Got your heart set on being a millionaire? Stop trying to look like one.”

The article states that pretenders – people who spend beyond their means, pretending to be wealthy – often end up in financial trouble. It also lists several facts from the research of professor Thomas J. Stanley, who defines a millionaire as someone with net-value investments of $1 million or more, which include such items as cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and equity shares in a private business.

86% of all prestige or luxury makes of motor vehicles are driven by people who are not millionaires
Typically, millionaires pay about $16 (including tip) for a haircut
Nearly 4 in 10 millionaires buy wine that costs about $10
In the United States, there are nearly 3 times more millionaires living in homes with a market value of under $300,000 than there are living in homes valued at $1 million or more

Update: Another relevant article emailed to me by a reader. I love #7 (”I was a B student”).

WordCamp Boston 2010: Thank you

James — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:32:18 +0000

Today was the first WordCamp ever in Boston, MA. I witnessed more WordPress fans under one roof than I have ever seen at the Microsoft New England Research and Development Center, and in the entire Boston area. Congratulations to everyone who made this event possible. This marks a significant milestone for Boston’s WordPress community, and it brings me great satisfaction to be a catalyst for initiatives of this magnitude.

I think it is fair to say the relationship between WordPress, Boston, and Microsoft NERD was formed exactly one year ago, when a handful of enthusiasts and I met at a dive bar in the outskirts of Boston. We pledged to build a great WordPress community in Boston… and to find a new venue. We are so fortunate to have such generous and continued support from Microsoft.

With nearly 300 members to date, the Boston WordPress Meetup group has executed 8 official meetups, hosting presentations by our talented members and providing an invaluable networking opportunity. The overwhelming participation from the group has enabled everyone to share their knowledge and love for WordPress.

Thank you all for a great year of WordPress in 2009 as we look forward to a brand new year.

For those who did not have a chance to see Chris Coyier’s new Digging Into WordPress book, I will have a hard copy available to pass around at the next Boston WordPress Meetup in February. Chris is a skilled designer and WordPress guru, and the book is an excellent and comprehensive resource for anyone looking to sharpen their WP skills.

New Year’s resolutions for 2010

James — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 05:49:30 +0000

Obligatory list of resolutions to bring in the New Year with, in no particular order:

Publish more content on this website
Travel to a new place
Improve organization, time management, and task prioritization
Discover more indie media (music, films, and texts)
Learn to cook something noteworthy
Reach 500 Twitter followers
Read at least 10 books
Run a mile in under 7 minutes
Play the stock market more aggressively
Get more sleep

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal. – E. Joseph Cossman

James — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:52:00 +0000

Great motivator during problematic times.

Innovation creates a better way to deliver value. – Saul Kaplan

James — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:46:42 +0000