Letters

Readers react to articles from the November issue of Inc., including Russ Baker's "Surfer's Paradise," Dr. Steven Berglas' "Your Work Is Never Done," and Norm Brodsky's "Forget Spreadsheets."

We learned about readers' likes and dislikes this month: we got a thumbs-up on Internet tips, two thumbs-up on stories about motorcycles, and mixed reviews on handwritten spreadsheets. Among the dislikes: imbalanced lifestyles and nine-point typefaces.

To Surf, with Love

Editor-in-chief George Gendron invited readers to assess " Surfer's Paradise," by Russ Baker (November), a back-to-basics Internet primer. Some people thought the material was too remedial, but others, including this reader, thought there were plenty of executives who hadn't mastered their on-line ABCs:

In the health-care industry, in which I work, one would think that technology is something everyone takes for granted. However, what I've seen recently leads me to believe that articles such as this one will have an appreciative audience for some time to come. Recently, I watched as executives, many of whom manage millions of dollars in business, became very excited during a basic Internet presentation--they had no idea of the Web's possibilities. Companies with world-famous names are just now sticking their toes in the wwwater and discovering that it's not all that bad. Six months ago I, too, would have been concerned that Baker's article was too basic, but no longer.

Scott Gipson
Owner
Gipson & Associates
Arlington, Tex.

Another reader concurred, noting that the article contained fresh material for veterans like himself as well as for novices:

The Internet is growing at warp-speed-plus (and browsers are being updated at the same pace), so no article is too basic. Since the user base is expanding exponentially, a monthly "basics/tips" column would help everyone. I've been on the Internet since its inception, and your tip for cleaning out the cache just speeded up my browser.

Duke Miller
Owner
Venture Marketing Partners
St. Petersburg, Fla.

Finally, this reader found it in his heart to forgive us for repeating some fairly basic tips:

Yup, Baker's article was too basic. On the other hand, I'm only partway through the magazine (just got it tonight), and I've already found two gems: Norm Brodsky [" Forget Spreadsheets," Street Smarts] and Jack Stack [" A Passion for Forecasting," Critical Numbers]. Given the range of interests and experiences among your readers, how many gems can I expect to find per issue? You rarely disappoint.

Kevin Clark
President
Wood Stock Ltd.
Des Moines

Chained to the Desk

Dr. Steven Berglas wrote about workaholics in November in " Your Work Is Never Done" (Entrepreneurial Ego), suggesting that, for many, leaving work behind is harder than slaving away at the office. For this reader, however, Berglas missed an opportunity to make a more important point:

Berglas prescribes a cure for merely the symptom and not the illness. An executive's unwillingness, perhaps inability, to ease the constancy of business life points to a serious ailment--an imbalanced life. What about family, charity, the great books, and solitude? Success and fulfillment are a function of many factors. Indeed, good doctor, our lives are not lived at work alone.

Andrew J. Dwyer
Writer
St. Louis

Hog-Wild

Readers also responded to Marc Ballon's " Born to Be Wild" (Anatomy of a Start-up, November).

I really enjoyed your article on Dave and Dan Hanlon and their plan to revive Excelsior-Henderson. Two years ago a friend and coworker of mine was negotiating to resurrect the Indian Motorcycle brand. His plan to use an old American logo and compete with Harley was very similar to the Hanlons'. My friend failed in his attempt, and the brand is still bogged down in legal battles. Indian missed a golden opportunity, but the Hanlons seem to be headed in the right direction.

Eric Remer
Treaty Underwriter
Constitution Reinsurance
New York City

Type Casting: Font of Discontent

The most passionate complaint about Russ Baker's " Surfer's Paradise" was not about substance but about style (and, to the point, typeface):

My vote is to take whoever designed pages 57 and 61 and force that person to reread them until he or she goes blind (or at least needs glasses). Doesn't anyone gauge the readability of your printed pages before they go to press? Please forward readable pages 57 and 61 to me either by E-mail or by snail mail. Maybe after I have readable copy, I can make an intelligent vote.