This week’s highlights: Are entrepreneurs risk takers?, Where growth comes from, and the dark secret of AI.

Good Friday Greetings and Happy Easter 

 A quick word of welcome to a number of new subscribers who have signed up in the last couple of weeks, and a special thanks to long time readers who continue to tell their friends about Fifteen on Friday. A few quick things to highlight:

• We published last week our quarterly Market Commentary. If you want a quick, four page take on what is going in the financial markets currently, I would encourage you to take a look.
• Secondly (and an admitted bit of shameless self promotion) — I was featured this week in the Nashville Business Journal. A quick interview is here.

Food for Thought:

1. MH — Don’t Mow The Lawn If You’re A Founder. One of the most pervasive cognitive errors people make is not valuing their time appropriately.
2. JC — The 1 Percent Rule: Why a Few People Get Most of the Rewards
3. NYT — How Stephen Colbert Finally Found His Elusive Groove. Mr. Colbert has done what was unthinkable a year ago: turned “The Late Show” into the most viewed show in late night. And President Trump is not the only reason.
4. HBR — Beating the Odds When You Launch a New Venture. Entrepreneurs are not risk takers, what they are is highly efficient risk managers — here’s why.
5. Atlantic — Why So Many Americans Are Saying Goodbye to Cities What’s happening to New York City is a microcosm of what’s happening around the country — the hollowing out of the U.S. city.

Business/Economics:

1. NSC — What I think I know About Investing 60 pithy statements that encapsulate a wealth of wisdom on investing — worth a least 2 reads.
2. ZH — Horseman Global Unveils New Shorting Philosophy Using ETF Flows As A Catalyst
3. TheAtlantic — What in the World Is Causing the Retail Meltdown of 2017? In the middle of an economic recovery, hundreds of shops and malls are shuttering. The reasons why go far beyond Amazon.
4. Talks at Google — Clayton Christensen: Where does Growth come from? This 90 minute lecture by the esteemed strategist will change how you view the world and your business — carve out a few moments of your time to watch.
5. BCG — Capitalizing on the New Golden Age in Private Equity. By many measures, the private equity (PE) industry is in a golden age right now. Never have there been so many PE firms and so many new players. Yet maintaining these returns is anything but guaranteed, thanks to emerging challenges on multiple fronts.

Culture/Tech/Science:

1. MIT — The Dark Secret at the Heart of AI — Credit AB — No one really knows how the most advanced algorithms do what they do. That could be a problem.
2. MNN — Should you stand or walk on the escalator? — Credit TR — You may be surprised which one is more efficient.
3. NYT — How Technology Has Failed to Improve Your Airline Experience. After this week’s United fiasco, I am sure we are all looking forward to flying the friendly skies this summer.
4. WSJ — For Real Innovation, Try a Desktop PC. With nothing left to lose, desktop makers are reinventing the stationary computer, with drafting-board touch screens and bodies that double as home-theater speakers
5. NYTimes — Is It Last Call for Craft Beer? Jim Koch, founder of the Boston Beer Company (aka Sam Adams) weighs in on the changing global market for beer.