Quick Hits of the Week

• What’s at the heart of capitalism and business? There are a lot of arguments that it’s vices like greed, but others claim that when your enterprise is totally focused on serving yourself, it won’t last very long. If you focus instead on helping others, and you serve enough people, that’s when your business will thrive.

• Have you ever had the joy of working for a micro-manager? I think that most of us have. If you’re stepping into leadership, learning to delegate authority and trust your team is vital.  Take a look at this list of micro-managing habits by Dan Rockwell, and evaluate yourself against it. See anything concerning? Time to make some changes.

• Last week, our space shuttle program finally came to a close. There are good reasons to mourn the end of this era. We have so  many fond memories. It taught us so much. It’s a lot like attending the funeral of a grandparent whose time was long in coming. Times change, and dynasties end. Rising in it’s place is private innovation and adventurism. I welcome that. So does California, it seems. Maybe Virgin Galactic will get us back to the moon. Wouldn’t that be cool?

• After all, we should all be less cautious and more curious.

• I’ve openly declared my lust appreciation for IKEA in the past. The latest awesome: an independent online store full of accessories and add-ons for IKEA brand furniture. A wide array of inserts for storage units (including a cocktail bar and a step stool). Fancy bed legs. There’s even a conversion kit for combining a cabinet and a bed from IKEA into a Wardrobe Bed. Very cool stuff.

Is there something valuable or important or cool or funny or weird or awesome out there I missed this week? I can’t hit it all, but you should let me know about it by dropping me a line or sharing it in the comments below! I’d appreciate the heads up.