The Monk who built a business

Via Wired: McCoy , a monk from Wisonsin, had to save the brotherhood from financial ruin. His solution: dust. The idea came to him while he was replacing the toner cartridge for the abbey’s laser printer. Peeved by the high price, he searched online for a better deal and found several manufacturers that refill used ­cartridges with powdered toner for a fraction of what new ones cost. McCoy opened an account with the intention of ordering not only for the abbey but also for local churches and businesses.

New Essay by Paul graham

The power of Marginal: A technique for determining when you’re on the right track. You’re on the right track when people complain that you’re unqualified, or that you’ve done something inappropriate. If people are complaining, that means you’re doing something rather than sitting around, which is the first step. And if they’re driven to such empty forms of complaint, that means you’ve probably done something good.