I bring up this story because on occasion I like to post an entry to let new readers know that I do run two distinctly different blogs. The Wasatch Girl is where I track thoughts on tech and venture capital. The other half of my life consists of climbing, running, traveling, etc and is tracked on a site named after my little dog at www.cragbaby.com.

Screenshot of the Cragbaby. Feel free to come over and read if interested.

I loved the post (and Brad’s list) as I know I also suck at a whole bunch of things. I say this not with a lack of confidence, but more as a realization that I just don’t have the skill set needed in certain areas. Some of my list includes:

• I can not swim. I even took a swim class at a junior college and I seriously can’t master the technique and breathing. I would really love to do a triathlon, but I genuinely could not do the swim portion without a life jacket.
• I have zero cooking abilities. If it requires more than boiling water, it is out for me. I will gladly clean all the dishes and the entire house, but please do not hope for a good meal outside the realm of Kroger Mac and Cheese.
• I don’t deal well with cocky people. They irritate me, especially when I feel like they are clueless on the subject matter at hand. And especially when they put someone down to build themselves up.
• I have a rough time working on one sole project as I am a true multi-tasker. I need variety and get bored with only one thing on my plate.
• I suck at crossing logs over rivers. The log crossing is more treacherous for me than a technical rock climbing route.
• I have a hard time NOT giggling in my personal (and sometimes even work) life. Even while playing poker I can’t hold a straight face. I like to giggle…. it is part of who I am.
• I feel that I struggle to convey my business thoughts and ideas in words. This isn’t yet a lost cause, but is one of the main reasons why I started this blog.
• I can’t watch scary movies and by scary I mean even Ghostbusters.
• I struggle not to over extend myself. I always think that there are more than 24 hours in a day.

Brad briefly mentioned entrepreneurs, to which point I want to re-circle. I feel that I often hear the “story” or only the good aspects that a CEO is trying to spin when coming to talk to the firm. The spin is necessary to an extent in order to engage the investors and sell the positive aspects, yet I also want to know the trouble spots or what the management can’t do. I absolutely love it when someone genuinely tells me that he/she might not be the right CEO upon entering the growth phase of the business. Or that the company really needs someone with more of “x” experience (x being any area of the business). I really appreciate the humble entrepreneurs who have the necessary passion, but are willing to listen to an outside perspective.

I think Brad nailed the idea on the head when he said our weaknesses can actually be a filter and that we can choose to either work to make these areas our strengths or structure our business/life to either outsource or avoid these areas altogether.

Thanks for the post, Brad.

Interestingly, I read the article in the Wall Street Journal “China Aims to Limit Smoking in Public.” The article (which for some reason I can’t find a link to right now) talked about how the in place ban on smoking is actually going to be enforced as it poses a threat to the public. According to the article 2/3 of all men smoke, one million people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses and the Chinese government produces all the cigarettes, making it the world’s largest cigarette maker. The obvious economic benefits have deterred the government from enforcing the ban, but this is soon to change as China is getting pressure from a United Nations public health treaty and the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics pledge to make the 2008 Olympics smoke-free.

I can’t even imagine a smoke-free China and found the article so amusing since the smell of smoke is what triggers my memories of the foreign land. The smoke is so absolutely consuming in that country that I, a non-smoker, started to crave the tobacco taste while visiting and actually smoked a little at the end of my month long backpacking trip.

The Olympic pledge is definitely a valiant effort and I hope they succeed. It will create a completely different, and healthier, experience for the Olympic visitors. In the meantime I will continue to daydream of my Chinese travels as the smoke wafts through the air.

The book will be published soon, at which time I will write more about it. I felt lucky to be part of the team and grateful to work with the writers who are both amazing people.

The non-profit event was for the Salt Lake Climber’s Alliance and turned out to be a big success. The event was very well attended, the experience of organizing an event was a great learning experience and we made a nice profit, of which the exact number will be released next week.

Both projects were a ton of fun, but it is nice to have time to blog again.