The Soul of a New Machine Max Effgen, June 10, 2025 Tracy Kidder’s The Soul of a New Machine was an assignment for an Organization Behavior class at University of Michigan in the early 1990s. It has become one of the books I have re-read in my career. The technology has improved. This could easily be about the development of a… Continue Reading
Great and glorious game Max Effgen, May 23, 2025May 16, 2025 A. Bartlett Giamatti, a scholar of Renaissance literature, former president of Yale University, and the seventh commissioner of Major League Baseball, left an indelible mark on the sport through his eloquent and profound writings. His collection, A Great and Glorious Game: Baseball Writings of A. Bartlett Giamatti, edited by Kenneth… Continue Reading
Julius Caesar’s Commentaries Max Effgen, May 8, 2025 The Commentaries are two of my favorite works. I did not expect to enjoy them and have pulled many lessons from them over the years. Julius Caesar’s Commentaries, specifically Commentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic War) and Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War), are remarkable… Continue Reading
Marshall McLuhan’s The Medium is the Massage Max Effgen, April 28, 2025 Marshall McLuhan’s The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects, co-authored with graphic designer Quentin Fiore and published in 1967, is a groundbreaking work that reshaped how we understand media, communication, and culture. This is a visionary work that captures the transformative power of media with unmatched clarity and… Continue Reading
Goethe’s Truth Bomb Max Effgen, March 27, 2025March 27, 2025 Goethe, that titan of German literature, dropped a truth bomb that still echoes through the centuries… Continue Reading
Never Die Easy: Enduring Wisdom of Walter Payton Max Effgen, March 19, 2025March 27, 2025 Never Die Easy: The Enduring Wisdom of Walter Payton Walter Payton, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, left behind more than just records and accolades. I have been reflecting on his words, “Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay…. Continue Reading
Kilogear Max Effgen, February 22, 2025February 22, 2025 Kilogear (https://kilogear.com/) is an interesting fitness startup. I have been using their gear after a chance meeting with the founders. I immediately understood the concept of microloading thanks to course work through USATF. Simply, Kilogear works. My first ruck with Kilogear was 5.5 lbs. heavier than my normal rucks and… Continue Reading
CEO Wisdom Podcast with Charles Cormier Max Effgen, January 28, 2025 Thank you Charles. I enjoyed our conversation. Continue Reading
Thoughts for 2025 Max Effgen, January 3, 2025 Angel and Pre-Seed investing has been growing and will continue to grow. Competition for dollars will continue to be a challenge, especially for first time founders. The team for young companies is paramount. They need to understand the problem that started the company and have tremendous synergy with each other…. Continue Reading
Startup Due Diligence Legal Issues Max Effgen, October 29, 2024 Below is a fairly comprehensive list of what I look for when I am doing due diligence on a potential startup investment. Choice of Entity Capitalization Intellectual Property Employment Matters Compliance Continue Reading