Give algorithms credit where credit is due — and don’t bank on a loan

WHENEVER I’m speaking at a conference, I try to get to the venue at least an hour ahead of the time at which I’m slated to speak.

That way, I get to see the speakers who are up before me, get a sense of how the audience is reacting to them, and as a consequence get to adjust what I plan to say accordingly.

A couple of years ago, I arrived early at the hotel where an enterprise conference was happening. I slid in at the back of the hall and listened to the Q&A that followed the second speech of the day. It was all very civilised until a question came from the audience about the lack of credit from banks for small businesses, which was an issue even then.