What You Need to Know Today: July 10
Good afternoon, Early Risers!
Here’s what you need to know
TECH
Read faster: one. word. at. a. time. Accelerator is a new iOS app that will make you read faster. Period. Not only is this app cool, its landing page is noteworthy. If you’re developing an app – here’s a great example of how to present your apps benefits in a compelling way. Remember: Features are boring; benefits are what everyone wants to see.
7 brilliant ideas scribbled on cocktail napkins. Some of the best jokes, inventions, and songs in history were scribbled on cocktail napkins, toilet paper, and the backs of envelopes. Napkin is a website that gives entrepreneurs a platform where they can validate and share their best napkin-ideas. The project is still early in its inception, but looks to be promising. Tip: read the comments of the first napkin post. Already some good ideas are being shared…
+ Forward this to your craft beer loving friends.
How to get verified on Tinder. If you want to try your luck at getting your profile verified, you need to email verified@tinder.com to be considered. (TNW).
CAREER
Not what you think it means… “Without owning a single room, Airbnb has more rooms on offer than some of the largest hotel groups in the world. Airbnb has 800 employees, while Hilton has 152,000.” WTF?! is what Tim O’Reilley is asking…but WTF in Tim’s vocabulary means something entirely different than what most of us think.
+ This guy thinks McDonald’s toys in Happy Meals are saying WTF.
Texting bae. One of the weirdest but most compelling reads this week is a story about invisible girlfriends/boyfriends. If you’re looking for a summer side-hustle and have good grammar and can spell, consider this your next gig.
+ Aziz Ansari’s book ‘Modern Romance’ is released today.
Tip for naming your brand. “I knew that Kodak and Coca-Cola were the two most recognized names in the world, and they both have a predominant “K” sound in them. Also, from doing stand-up comedy, it is a known secret that the “K” sound makes people laugh. So for good luck, I wanted my product’s name to have the “K” sound in it,” says Sara Blakely, founder of the billion dollar company Spanx. Blakely could be on to something. Another brand that opted for a “K” in their name is the shoe company Keds. Do you know where sneakers got their name? Answer.
+ “The Rise of Sneaker Culture,” exhibit opens today at the Brooklyn Museum.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Tao of Crowdfunding. 1. “I’m Not Only the Campaigner, I’m Also a Funder!” Some of you may remember that 1980s TV commercial for The Hair Club for Men and Cy Sperling’s famous concluding statement “I’m not only the Hair Club president, but I’m also a client.” Similarly, you should be more than just the filmmaker, musician or entrepreneur by having something more tangible than time invested in your project. Surprisingly, this is something crowdfunders rarely do…Full story.
+ How to crowdfund your wedding without being the worst.
Scout vs Potter. Harper Lee’s sequel book to To Kill a Mockingbird is crushing pre-order sales. Pedestrian claims pre-order numbers on Amazon are surging through the roof, rivalling a record Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows set in 2007. A story you might not know is how Harper Lee found the time to write To Kill a Mockingbird. Here’s that story.
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