Photo from Martin to me via MMS
Subject: Look who’s working hard – don’t blog :)

I knew Martin really well (few did). This is approved by Martins family.

“Dear Martin I miss you and I love you. All the time we have spent traveling, talking and partying and all your energy, amassing stories and knowledge – have helped me and the world. I’m crying now – because I have seen you with my kids (playing endless games) and I know how much your siblings and your father and mother will miss you. I hope you are happy where ever you are. I will always miss you (and I meant it when I told you that you were like a son to me). FUCK its unfair.”

Martin was an always online person and the web is already full of beautifull goodbyes Twitter search on Martin (hundreds of comments) –David Naylor (many y friend to Martin) – Sullivan (many year friend)–  All Things D – says goodbye – Alley Insider says goodbye – La Times friends say goodbye

This is impossible to believe in all ways. I feel so bad. I feel so bad for his fantastic family and the Mother (doctor) and Father (engineer) – who created the most unique and outstanding 23y old  Scandinavian kid ever seen in the business world. Because Martin Schaedel:

– was a true self made international bizzman 23y old.
– was loyal – like no one else
– had no fear (unfortunately)
– had gotten so much love from his parents that he dared scratching every surface of the world and did it.

– was smarter then most people I’ve met – and always challenged structures and deals and patterns – people 20y’s older never even understood. And he was following the world news, blogs, deals and politics via his amassing RSS subscriptions on mobile and on his 2-3 laptops.

– impressively made his own money since 17 – and spent it on OTHER PEOPLE (the only one who ever gave me a 1000$ gift – and loved teasing me by paying for big dinners while I was looking away for a second).

– travelled like there was no day tommorow – and max 1% of the readers here will spend as much time in planes. (please send me a link to his insane travelmap if u have it).

– was a boy of energy, energy, dreams, hope and mystery – He stepped into the biggest companies in the world – 100% self confident and gave a bold shot at how to do the next move.

– was driving his cars like a mad man – mad.

(post your own in the comment field)

FACTS

Yesterday I was contacted via Facebook by Ari (did not know him) – telling me to contact him urgent regarding Martin. I had no clue what it was about – but it has happened quite often that someone wanted to see if Martin was for real :) – and since we shared energy level (on my good days) people had often asked me for a reference check. So I asked Ari to call me and he did in 5min. Within the same minute I received a mail from my journalist friend in NY that something might have happened to Martin. I was in Paris on my way to a meeting – when Ari told me that Martin had been with him in LA all day and Martin went to his flying/pilot lesson after their meeting – see his twitter:

There are lots of news out there already and we all feel big pain.

Post your words and links here – and your memories (all of them please – the crazy and good one’s). for his siblings and family to understand how much we all loved him. They never met any of his hundreds of international friends… I will wear the t-shirt he got made for me with Motu Lund in big print (meaning big dick in some kind of Indian) today.

Note: I will update when I know when and where the memorial service will be taking place and if it will be public.

On a last note I will recommend you to go on to this post about his hero Astrid Lindgreen on Martins blog to see how big he was as a person. And yes I often called him Emil.

Watch this

Yes I’m under extreme pressure. Nothing to hide!!

I’m going to next level of radical truth – after going trough hell and having survived mentally only from the backup from my enormous network in the real world (100= days of traveling pr year), on this blog, facebook linked and twitter…

1 Testing the friend – myth

Everyone has told me that it’s now I will see who my real friends are. And I’m very positively surprised. Everyone + people who are not close has been extremely supportive. The actual price of my friendship has a rate :) – to make my survival fund/bailout.

Best sms from a very strong investor/entrepreneur: “Hey Morten – let me know if you need cash for kids and their schools. We don’t leave soldiers behind”.

2 : Killing negative and conspiracy

I have ALONE TAKEN ALL DECISIONS – and no one (nothing) from outside can be blamed. I have quite some people writing me – to tell how stupid the system is and how everyone tries to cheat.. Thats not my mindset – and not my experience – and don’t write me to get support in that direction.

Best live ACT (proof): – a fantastic guys (not overdressed) went to the tv-studio where  was interviewed – and told me how much the system had been after him… I was very flattered that he went all the way – but had to state that blaming society and conspiracy is NOT ME. Then he gave me a handwritten bizcard – and told me that no matter what I could have his Mac Book Pro. (I was so moved).

3 : Saying – S.O.R.R.Y.

Behaving civilized (not something I normally do all the time) is to solve conflicts. I’m so happy mentally that I don’t have “aggressive daytime visions” anymore about:
A: the guys who took me down
B: how to ever solve my extreme dept generated from the paper.

Its feel like my ass is itching and my arms are to short to do anything about it… But I will invent a mechanism to itch back.

Best phone call: I had BIG TROUBLE calling my guy at the bank during the last many years. He is such a good guy and said: “we will get into fights – but you have been helping so many people and always acted with 100% integrity – so I will try as well”. WOW

4 : Financial Tsunami

When the whole world is collapsing and even USA is on socialistic capitalism (bailout after bailout). Then I’m not very sure that I could sell any companies for the next 24months anyway – the Danish banks are OUT OF MONEY – and all my smaller portfolio companies have been called (means asked to pay their dept) with a 2days notice. Its bad, but also = oppertunity.

5 : Believing my own bullshit

I still do (mostly) and to me “risk equals = reward”. And note that Im serious about not beliving in failure (its Anthony Robbins bullshit but I use it) – its just another experience and I’m used to it and I can and will handle it.

6 : Moving on

I trust in myself (thanx Mum) – I fucked up – but I will solve it. And just 3 days after disaster – Im still getting 1-3 opportunity a day (and looking at the backlog of 200+). And I will be back before you can say – WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED.

7 : You may that I’m a dreamer

– but Im not the only one. Again thank you for the 3000+ support mails, comments, sms’s, facebook notes.

Funniest facebook message: “I will make u Swedish meatballs and potatoes for free – if u will help me and my friend with our biz – and my mom thinks u r hot.” :) (What the fuck is that about)

no 8 and 9.

Should have been something about green-tech – but I’m looking at a new project that gives my system goosebums – and I’m not ready write about it.

10 : My portfolio

I cant speak about it – rules are rules. But look at the rest of the bullet point and do the math. But I can say that 25% of my portfolio is closing down due to the crisis – startups are so 1999 these days. :(

Will I miss anything. Only two things: My house (if I loose it – it looks like it) and Paying for all kinds of dinners (all over the world). I have payed for 99% of all dinners I have attended the last 10 years – and I like it much more then the other way around. But again – its NOTHING.

Have a great day – and don’t worry about me – it’s 99% about materialistic problems (rich people thinking about what pink hearths in diamonds they want to buy for their stinking ugly dog). There are real problems out there – Go solve them.

PS. Leave a comment. Don’t be soft or unnecessary positive :) – lets go for radical truth.

There is not a businessman in the techworld (whole world) that reaches Steve Jobs’ level. Apple, Pixar…. And this video just show how early he got it ALL RIGHT (exept from scrolling is in the right side :) – well the NeXT company did not go really big – but unlike many others he SOLD his “failure” for a fortune. NeXT in Wikipedia

Its just so sad that he is out for now.

(The day I lost my legs and arms part II)

I’m now 5months past closing my newspaper, and it has been ugly – ugly – ugly. I have been using a LOT of mental power to get around this situation and through it. Family, Partners, Banks, Banks, Creditors have been VERY understanding and I have been working like a dog to get through, especially mentally – getting my mind off the huge defeat it was to lose:

a big bet and
a big team
a big dream
quite a lot of money
my head (for some time)
– and then refocusing and coming back to what I’m (supposedly) good at: Starting companies – catapulting people and ideas into reality – and identifying where (big) money meets stellar executors/executable visions.

But I need to confess (I was insecure + afraid + a self-centered dickhead towards 2 of my own soldiers) – but I can only see that now.

I have had a fallout with 2 guys from top management Svenn and Morten, and quite a lot of mud has thrown around. And I have been furious and felt that I was a victim – and I felt these guys where wrong/washing hands/burning me to look good/not sharing responsibility. But Monday this week at a pre-courtroom meeting I realized that it’s all about me being stupid and selfish and NOT LIVING UP TO THE ETHICS I WANT TO – put simply, I realized that my behavior was completely wrong (and yes it took me 5months). But I never had a lawsuit filed against me, never had to appear in court before and I intend to keep it like that. It took quite some time – but Im not too proud to change my mind and give a GIANT APOLOGY !

1) Jan/Feb 2008 I did a deal with my TOP management – I personally underwrote a 1 year salary compensation and some super-warrants (In case the venture should fail) – because I believed in them. I gave them my word.

2) Until the last day Morten (and Svenn) worked like hell – were present 24/7- hyper energetic – always very very very loyal – and hard as steel towards anyone who dared to say anything wrong about the project. Even the final “standing up in front of all employees” – they offered to take care of.

THE FALL OUT WITH TOP MANAGEMENT (Svenn and Morten)

3) During closing I was – scared like hell – didn’t dare to think through all consequences – Chose to listen to the advise of lawyers who didnt know what they were doing – and where our documents where.

3a) Monday morning 8.00 – I told Svenn and Morten that I would keep my word – but would have trouble honoring the money on time – and they would have to wait and help out – I would pay whatever urgent bills and do everything I could. I kept my word! They told me directly: We want our deal – not talk (hey, that’s my motto). NOTE: I was stupid – and I was not negotiating, just demanding – and felt they should suffer with me (also financially) and I did not think about Svenn and Morten’s security and real life economy. They where looking at a guy who just burned 150mio(DKR) – traveled the world – WAS very rich – talked about billions – and had no chance of knowing that I was at the time 99% bankrupt despite my huge portfolio – used private jets – had an art collection – was a clean tech (wannabe three-hugger) investor….

4) Tuesday one week later – During that upcoming week I did not dare to call Svenn and Morten – since I was not myself in the storm! And my x-lawfirm told me that the contract with TOP MANAGEMENT had never been signed – I made one of the worst mistakes of my life (confused, afraid and full of self pity) – I told Morten and Svenn that the contract was not signed and that I would not honour it. I broke my own rule number one I RAN FROM MY WORD – and of course they got insanely mad. I would have gone ballistic as well. Eepecially as the signed contract was at my x-lawfirms other office (Svenn used them). The rest is well know – I was accused of everything possible – and had to defend myself – (of course I had done nothing even remotely illegal – but I was blamed and hurt like very few Danish entrepreneurs my age – actually I felt as if I had lost my arms and legs) – as a guy who runs from his word deserves.

5) Until Monday this week – I had to deal with very strong self pity and emotions against Svenn and Morten – and I felt betrayed (called them the silliest names in the media) – but also – probably because my situation is not solved*. But with the Gaza conflict in mind I had an epiphany and realised that I needed to keep things in perspective. I realized that my situation was more than 90% my own fault – and in the bigger picture my troubles are so small and such wast of good energy, time and money – If I can’t solve my own shit how can there be any hope. Secondly, I have to state that I have been way too close to seeing how you can bend rules and how weak contracts really are (and how much I could have used it – and could be forced to use it) – I’m simply scared that once you end up being on the other side using the rules and the system to postpone simple things, you can’t go back. And therefore this:

Dear Morten and Svenn – I have been acting in a selfish, demanding, foolish way and I did not keep my word. Im sorry – I will of course do so (when possible). And I fully understand that you guys wanted to set me under fire – I would have done worse things if a idiot had not kept his word to me. My deepest and biggest apologies!

*but Im close banks and everyone else has been all cool – and if I will go bankrupt it’s due to the financial crisis on top of this unwise paper investment. My portfolio is GOOD and STRONG – but all creditlines to companies are being called in and some are dying). I have had some legal meetings around this – and felt so bad about it.

I have to finish off with the song from Nike’s Olympics commercial: I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier – and next time I will honour my word to my soldiers.

ps. this is what it looks like: A way to get peace in my soul – and focus on the important stuff. I could easily take 24months in court and get at huge discount on the amount – my new legal guys are fantastic (and hate me for writing this). It’s just not me and its not gonna happen – time spent in court is time wasted!

read to title again

Im scared – really danm scared. As I wrote some weeks ago – the banks dont call their bad dept (keep your head up). This weekend I saw the worst possible thing: A GOOD and HEALTHY real eastate company (400mioEUR was injected and 600mioEUR lent) – was forced into bankrupsy bacause one of the smaller loans was called from a suffering bank – this will mean that we are ONLY SEING THE TIP ICE THE FINANCIAL TSUNAMI.

Have a great day – and think about something positive / PLEASE!!

Im in a weird stage of my life – so insecure and jet so full of power and new ideas and hope for the post financial crisis… At Leweb I tried not to say anything planned – just talk from the top of my brain.

And I have to say that I get so nervous everytime – but love the effect everytime – 50-100 emails from people who where moved (felt a change in their life) from my silly ideas…

This fantastic Lady (Danish Journalist and blogger and my friend) has been digging up the biggest IT scandal in Danish history – and I really want to show my deepest respect and regret that I did not help her more when she was on the track of IT Factorys founder Stein Baggers highly criminel setup (100mio$ leasing and interbilling loop). Im simply to naiv to see fraud when its just in front of my eyes. And since Im a close friend of Asger Jensby (we had wine and talked about how fantastic the company was – last wednesday) – I simply wanted to believe in the story – despite the fact that NO ONE WANTED TO SHOW ME THE SOFTWARE. Mygdal and Nyholm and Albertsen have all been extremely negative from the very early beginning – and I only know Stein from spinning classes – never talked to him.

Biggest respect to Dorte Toft – because she has handled this with elegance and not like an ego boost.  And also think I know her well enough to believe that she had a dream inside (as all of us) that it was not fake – and that Denmark could have a new TECH SUPERSTAR making 62mioEUR profit this year and 110mioEUR next year… BUT NO – so sad and so psyked…

CNN is showing something as unTV’ish as can be – they are celebrating a good stories and good people. No killings and disaster tonight!!!!! Heroes is all about normal people who makes a difference – read more at CNN.com/heroes

And also read about the worlds coolest (and luckiest) nanny…

And suddenly I remember the founder of CNN – Mr. UberCOOL – Ted Turner:

In 1998, Turner pledged to donate $1 billion of his then $3 billion to United Nations causes, and created the United Nations Foundation to administer the gift. The foundation “builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.” In 2006, the foundation delivered its billionth dollar to UN causes — $600m of which came from Turner and $400m from public and private partners. Turner has pledged to use the remaining $400m of his commitment to leverage additional funds for UN causes and activities.

Sime.nu in Stokholm was a fantastic event for the online and new media industry – the energy is second to none – and ONLY Ola Alverson (and his energy bomb team) can give this event to SPARK as it does… AMASING. 1200 people showing up in the middle of ressesion – and all smiles and power to change is just fantastic.

I spoke first time at Sime 1998 – and I love the show and profesionalism SO MUCH.

Here is some of the video (wacked crazy as it is)

SIME 08 – Morten Lund from SIME on Vimeo.

NOTE: I’m not a shareholder in any way shape or form – and not related to Result!!!

Kevin Kelly (co-founder of Wired) is one of the best technology thinkers and bloggers – this is how I would like to blog getting VERY QUALIFYED RESPONSE.

I have been growing up with butchers and new rich people instantly bying B&O – as soon as the had the chance – and the high flyers had a B&O-LINK system (interhouse). It is a minimum 20.000$ investment – and you need to really be B&O geeky to use it… Now – with music on all devices – PC, Mac, Phones, iPods – it even more relevant with a system for the whole house – and there are 4-5 systems that seems good like

Sonos Digital Music System VERY EXSPENSIVE
Logitech Squize Box DID NOT REALLY WORK WHEN I TRIED

But as (always) Apple seems to be most simple and first – iTunes in mind – but Airport Express and iPhone with Remote Access is simple and not that expensive. WOW – see this simple Apple tutorial Video

This FT article is tough shit

PLEASE WATH THIS VIDEO

This is probobly the best pratical joke ever – and most sizeable..

The TheYesMen.org (UPDATED) made 1,2mio copies of a fake and VERY POSITIVE version of New York Times – and distributed them yesterday. Stating that the war in Iraq is over, ads telling that all the bad guy companies in Iraq will know help USA with building infrastructure…. READ the full story here

This a true example on people who ACT – dont talk…

(one a day where I got on t-shirts)

A chat with Peter a my room
The Pirate Bay has 60% of all BitTorrent trafic – and BitTorrent trafic is 80% of all internet trafic. Im nearly lost my ears when i heard that. (Im getting really handicapped – no legs no arms and now..)

A chat with Dan Dubno on the street
There probobly where some weapons of massdistruction in Iraq – and they where distributed to the countries around… (scary). More scary is the fact that – due to the extreme speed of developement in technology and knowledge sharing – its proboly gonno be very possible to make a Nuclear Bomb in 10 years… And scientists have geneticly modyfied human shit to smell like banana… (sorry Dear Reader its not nice info) – but the point from Dan D is that chemical warfare posibilities will be CRAZY OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS- imagine a chimical injected into water in Israel that would make all men sterile (SCARY – but scientist can do it (Dan is pretty/very much jewish thereor this example – darn Im turning political correct/afraid)….

Lunch with Nobert Teufelberger, CEO BWIN
Nobert made it pretty clear to me that Deutche Bank would have gone down if AIG would not have been saved by the bail out plan.. Also I got a lot of interesting knowledge about the worlds number one gambling brand (sponsor at Real Madrid and Milan) – but I can tell :)… (sorry)

18th of October I uploaded this photo to Facebook via my BlackBerry – while walking in NYC – and asked the question:

What does this refer to?
Yesterday Casper (a Facebook friend answered) – and today Sam followed up – this really shows the power of these social networks – Im really seing and feeling BIG VALUE here!! The knowledge of your network becomes active and alive. WOW WOW WOW…

THE ANSWERS:

Casper Andrea wrote at 12:10pm yesterday It will have to be “Let them eat cake” (qu’ils mangent de la brioche). Said by Maria Theresa (French queen) during the french revolution. When a messenger told Marie that her people were starving due to bread shortage, she replied… “Let them eat cake…”. Hope this helps? :) Delete

Sam Ward wrote at 4:59pm Marie-Antoinette, Austrian Princess, married to Louis the IV. Beheaded for her frivolity amongst other things.

I’m so ever impressed with Google Applications – www.google.com/a – and this blogpost show why

Im using it for Mail, Controling family mail, Writing docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Blogs…. Im nearly not using The Office Suite anymore…

One question: “How’s it hanging over there in Redmond?”

Here is a good and SUPER inspirring presentation of a potential next users interface… Weird how conservartive we users are… I just love when I see someone presenting his product – being proud like a king !!

Dear Valued Readers

NOTE: IM STILL VERY OPTIMISTIC: Keep the entrepreneurial spirit HIGH – its the perfect time to build and start fantastic companies – all the wannabes are gone – and drive can take you anywhere in this depressive finacial climate!!

TO MY POINT: Im not at all into stocks and not an expert (in anything) – but since Im spending most of my time with people at the higher end of the financial latter – I have decided to post the key points I have deciede to believe in – with a in this financial tsunami.

ON THE NEGATIVE

1) The national bailout plans seems to be very good in short term (and thank you to USA for bringing financial socialism back – its great fun to meet with all my ultra literalistic friends) – but be aware that its NOT necessarily a safe solution. It could easily be like peeing in the pants to get warm – since its also subsidizing VERY BAD BANKS that should have been shut down.
(The problem is that you cant see the good from the bad when you legislate troughout a whole sector).

2) Be aware of insane interest rates – since the bonds (behind mortgage loans) around the world that are about to be reissued – probably will have no (or very few) buyers – the interest of these can very likely explode.
*A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage

3) Be carefull with Bank stocks – I have seen a very clear pattern here in small Denmark – the banks are only calling the midsize trouble clients who have REAL VALUE in their arrangements (say 50% or more in real value) since they:

• a – get real money out of it
• b – take only a limited hit on they ballance = yearly reports = their stock.
• c – they only look moderately stupid

The banks try to do nothing (or areextremly carefull) – or even slightly hide the midsize clients in deep trouble with no real value (lets say a smalltime realesate developer with 2-3 buldings and 100% loan finansing) – since

• a – get NO money out of it
• b – take 100% hit on their ballance = yearly reports = stock.
• c – only ULTIMATELY stupid – and probobly breach the original idea of being a bank.

ON THE POSSITIVE SIDE
Buy compnaies dept (bonds) – they are 50% down in price and pay a fantastic interest – but remember its risky!!

The ba