My latest cover story for International Bowling Industry magazine is an interview with Ben Jones, one of the pioneers of freestyle skiing. Ben went on to become a serial entrepreneur in the hotel and family entertainment industries. He is now
R.I.P. Prince
The achievements of the late Prince placed him among the elite of pop music stars: He sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden
The Man You want to Hate but Can’t
There are a lot of car commercials out there on TV and the web, most of them unremarkable in terms of story. At least 75% of them seem to feature good-looking people driving aimlessly around the deserted streets of downtown
Chipotle Gives Away Food to “Look like Chipotle Again”
Can free burritos help Chipotle maintain its market leadership? The company is certainly willing to try. The Associated Press reported today that Chipotle has plans to expand its burrito giveaway, part of its campaign to persuade people that its food
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: David Bowie as Transcendent Rock Star
How influential was the late rock singer, actor and fashion icon David Bowie? A short list of big pop stars who borrowed his style or musical ideas includes Mick Jagger, Lady Gaga and Peter Capaldi, the current “Dr. Who.” Over
Chipotle’s Challenge Goes Beyond Food Safety
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a 900 lb. burrito in the restaurant industry, with 1,755 stores and more than $4 billion in sales in 2014. In twenty years, founder Steve Ells grew a single restaurant into a market leader in the
J.J. Abrams on “Star Wars,” Communal Experience and Myth
The Los Angeles Times ran a Q&A today with J.J. Abrams, the director of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” He talks about the powerful communal experience of watching the film in a theater, which ties in well with the mythic
Kobe Bryant: A Market Leader Moves On
On November 30, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers announced that he would retire at the end of the 2015-16 National Basketball Association season. Given that the woeful Lakers are highly unlikely to make the playoffs that would put