If you’re over 40, you can still run a great start-up and succeed so says Vivek Wadhwa.

If you aren’t using Gmail right now, you’re so missing it out it hurts me to think of it.

So many of my email connections are Comcast this, EarthLink that.  If you knew that you were able to not be trapped in email hell — even at work — you’d move to Gmail.  I have my corporate mail going in.  I have my personal mail going in.  I use the calendar — all the functions.  My wife and I and a few others I work with on a daily basis share the Google Calendar.  I can see in a few seconds what you’re up to and schedule accordingly.  Even on my blackberry.

Get out of the other amateur crap and move over.

You’ll thank me later.

Very so awesome Gmail management system in an add-on for Firefox.  (ps- if you’re using Internet Explorer or Safari, you’re decades behind).

Check it.

There are so many specialists that are unemployed that the experts could fill the Rose Bowl and the parking lot would hold the runoff.  It’s big folks.

Take heed that if you are one of the “lucky” laid off, you might find that you can escalate your status and find something you’ve always wanted — a job that isn’t’ a job.  It’s a passion.  A connection to the world that supps from your cup of knowledge.

There might be some things the HH is doing to connect those experts with others and allow them to partake in great products and services without even paying.  It’s not that wacky when you pencil it out.

Get out and let the world know you have the talent, the chops, the energy to light up their future and blow away their problems.  If you’re still employed at the job from hell, this may be the time to jettison yourself.  If you’re young and you haven’t added the Christmas ornaments to your life that some of us have (you know who you are and what I mean), then take that chance.  The world won’t be as friendly to your plight and your goals in two years.  It is today.  Take the pit in the valley and use it as your springboard.

Go gettem…

I’m noticing that my Pandora station list is starting to look like a large Arkansas family with different teeth missing but still the same gene mapping.  I have found that what Pandora purports to do — find your melody sweet spot — it sort of does too well.

I mean, I try to even put up some heavy metal only to find I like softer heavy metal.  What gives?

I put up classical alongside my Coldplay and Sia, but turns out it starts playing more melodies like my other stations.  Could it be that Pandora is dipping into my psyche without me knowing it?  I realize that they have a quick mix function but this isn’t what I’m speaking of.

My station line up says I’m a puss.  Oh well.  At least I can sing the entire Hotel California without missing a beat.

Here’s an idea.  Pre-interview or pre-sales call… if we were able to out-load our PSL or Pandora Station List to someone, then you might find that your musical synergies work with your perspective clients or bosses (or girlfriends).  In fact, I am working on a project right now where we take the Pandora model and apply it to matching you with good child care.  I believe this is just the beginning of us finding more overlapping synergies with our day-to-day partners.  After all, everything you do in life can be melted down to a few digits of science.

Doesn’t that make you all fuzzy and paranoid?

And btw, if you saw my tweet, I am in for $36 on the Pandora One.  That, along with the Boxee hack for APTV and I’m one Pandora fool.

This is the 200th hothead post!  I will be celebrating this with a few long posts on the history and impact of the Starbucks gift card, among other stories.

Onward.

AT&T is looking to extend its exclusive deal with Apple to offer the iPhone in the U.S. from 2010 to 2011, per the WSJ. AT&T has reported adding 4.3 million iPhone customers in the second half of 2008, some 40% of which were new to AT&T.

Grocery stores fit this model. I shop almost daily for this household’s groceries and I can easily tell you how much a certain family staple costs at each store. I scan each of the four store circulars that come in each week in a few minutes and take out what I need.

Fresh & Easy came on to the LA scene pretty strong in 2008. We have one near our home and I tried it. It’s a mix of Smart N Final (feel/texture/size) with Trader Joe’s (packaging, pricing) and any other general supermarket (they have bad stuff like Coke). The prices are competitive and on the low end in any pricing poll, and the whole concept is relatively cutting edge. There are 1/2 the employees on duty, maybe less. You self check. It’s all very European just like F&E’s owners.

They began marketing with a $5 on $25 coupon in circulars that was also always available and in the pockets of everyone in the store. Coupon expired? Here’s another and a pack for your four friends. Override needed because the register didn’t like your coupon? Fine. In late fall the coupon moved to $6 on $30. I pushed a lot of shoppers to try F&E and I know the recruitment was successful on most occasions.  It is a strong trust builder when you train customers over a seven or eight month period to expect to be able to use a coupon on each stop whether you had one or not. Then suddenly everything went south.

On a recent trip they began to not have any coupons in store. Then when mine was expired it took two managers and lots of angst to get them to give me the $6. I was handed cash in a rush and made to feel as I might not want to come back. Now, 20 years + in retail tells me the customer is not always right and maybe I’m not.  And also I realize this was marketing based on trialing and testing for a giant new investment.  But, I’ve been conditioned to want this coupon and I’m angry.  I know many others are.  We can’t continue this money saving practice and that’s a bummer.  In this economy what better time than to continue offering ways to save more on stuff for survival. There are no club cards to track me by and offer “sale prices” on the things I buy at F&E.  This is it.  What the numskulls don’t really get it is that in almost each occasion, I put things in my cart that the $6 savings will [sort of] cover that I wouldn’t have bought without it.  I spend more money folks!

On the other hand, I have been largely impressed by the Starbuck’s black/gold card (whichever you feel most proudest of). It offers me to commit $25 to save possibly hundreds over a year’s time. If you run the numbers and know what direct response gives most promotions it’s a winner for Starbucks. I’m not a winner for them — I shop there all the time. But it does keep me from going to Peet’s, a coffee I like better, just because I get the 10%. I’ve asked Peet’s to follow and I’m asking Fresh & Easy to do it as well.  Guess what?  In the case of the 10% card, I SPEND MORE MONEY FOLKS!  It’s a no brainer really!

If I were asked to pay an up-front charge to save 10% on my grocery bill each and every time, I’d be happy to. Look also at the success of Amazon Prime. Today my bill would have been reduced by $4.30 instead of $6. Fresh & Easy would have made money. Lots of people won’t show after the initial buy-in and the store does well. The loyalists like me will have smiles far and wide.

I KNEW they would get rid of this sweet sweet deal and I’m angry not only for the long tenured tease but also because I was right.