Grommets a-go-go
One of the deepest joys at The Grommet is getting love letters and news from our Makers and the customers who appreciate them. Here are two worthy…
What if your paycheck got adjusted every week–by greedy strangers?
Yesterday I found the box of accessories that came with a long-forgotten sewing machine. The aqua Singer was an antique when I bought it so the accessories are…
A simple battle plan for raising your seed round (which also involves facing your deepest fears)
I’ve been listening to all of the Reboot.io podcasts by JerryColonna, post his conversation with me. I initially found Jerry’s new- age-hippie style raised some “radar, radar”…
My one rule for making big decisions
I gave a talk to The Grommet team and to the teams at Mass Challenge on this topic. It’s had more impact than I expected, including this…
Can you say the L-word about your team?
Nine times out of ten, my youngest son smiles at me when I walk into a room. He’s been like that ever since he was a…
Why paying interns is a civic duty for our company
An insightful short comic by Toby Morris is blowing up online. (See all the panels here.) It’s about how success and privilege are unmistakably correlated. Reading the diverging tale…
Real Deal Road Trip No. 20: Watching as the Charlestown Marina gets born
My childhood home featured the constant hum of a nearby Diesel plant, frequently punctuated by the explosive passing of freight trains. When a train rattled our little brick…
Quirky’s troubles were sadly predictable
A venture capital firm I really respect passed on looking at The Grommet because they felt their Quirky investment was too competitive. I applaud any VC who protects their…
Are designers surpassing engineers as the next big wave in tech company founders?
John Maeda has done it again. This design and business thought leader (formerly MIT Media Lab, then President of Rhode Island School of Design, and now Design Partner…
46 Million ways that sharing makes the world go round
At a yoga class yesterday, I piloted a plush new rubber mat. Adelaide, the young teacher with choppy hair and leg warmers, asked me where…
Jules Pieri 