Rhetoric vs. Results: Which Creates Long-Term Shareholder Value?
Driving home from dialysis today, I found myself thinking about rhetoric.
Not rhetoric in politics, but in corporate leadership.
Nextdoor's stock reached a two-year high of $2.77 on December 11, 2025, and another notable high of $2.52 on July 15, 2026. Since then, I've been asking myself a simple question:
How low will this slide go?
I've shared before that I'm currently bearish on NXDR. From my perspective, the company hasn't yet demonstrated the value proposition, communication, or user experience improvements that would change my outlook.
That brings me back to rhetoric.
I have no issue with a CEO giving interviews, appearing on podcasts, speaking at conferences, or communicating with investors. Those are all legitimate responsibilities of executive leadership.
The question is one of balance.
At what point does the effort spent crafting the narrative begin to outweigh the effort spent improving the reality behind that narrative?
Throughout my career, I've had the opportunity to work for organizations ranging from small businesses to global corporations. I've met several CEOs along the way.
What impressed me wasn't how often they were in front of a microphone.
It was the results.
When products improved, customers noticed.
When service improved, customers talked about it.
When execution improved, the financials eventually reflected it.
The rhetoric became believable because it was supported by measurable outcomes.
As a shareholder, I don't invest in presentations.
I invest in execution.
I don't invest in carefully crafted messaging.
I invest in products that customers value, cultures that encourage accountability, and leadership teams that allow results to speak louder than interviews.
In my opinion, rhetoric should amplify success—not attempt to substitute for it.
That's why I continue to ask questions about transparency, communication, and the customer experience at Nextdoor.
What does the global corporate workforce think?
When a company's rhetoric and its results appear to diverge, which one ultimately determines long-term value?
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Can a Horror Movie Still Scare Me?
Today during dialysis, I was talking with one of the nurses, and somehow the conversation turned to horror movies. I'm not exactly sure how we got there, but that's dialysis for you. You show up to get your blood cleaned, and somehow you're discussing demonic possessions, haunted houses, and things that go bump in the night.
I mentioned that I love horror movies and suggested checking out my movie reviews. Come to think of it, most of them are horror. Apparently I spend my free time voluntarily trying to scare myself.
During our conversation, I came across the trailer for this upcoming movie:
🎬 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEpTgowZ1dI
Take a look and let me know what you think.
This actually looks like a movie that might shock me. My biggest concern? That Hollywood pulled a Hollywood and stuffed every scary scene into the trailer. If that's the case, congratulations...I've already seen the best three minutes.
I've been watching horror movies for as long as I can remember. One of the first that really stuck with me was Poltergeist (1982) with Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams. Between the creepy clown, the TV static, and all the stories about the so-called "Poltergeist curse," it left quite an impression on a younger me.
The nurse and I talked about how years of horror movies may have desensitized me. These days, it takes a lot to make me jump. Most horror movies follow a familiar formula: creepy kid, dark hallway, loud violin screech...cue the popcorn.
But now and then, one comes along that reminds you why you love the genre. I'm hoping this is one of those movies.
Here's hoping I leave the theater thinking, "Wow, that was terrifying," instead of, "The trailer was the best part."
And to whoever at the studio is reading this...I need a pre-screen! Hook a brother up! I promise I'll bring honest feedback, avoid yelling at the screen (probably), and write a review. That's a fair trade, right?
If you've watched the trailer, let me know what you think. Does this look like a future classic, or is it another victim of the "we showed you the entire movie before opening weekend" marketing strategy?
And if you're a fellow horror fan, be sure to check out my movie reviews. Misery loves company...especially when it comes to watching scary movies together.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Peace, Serenity... and the World's Longest Car Horn
Today I was reminded that peace and serenity aren't destinations—they're things I have to keep practicing every single day.
I've shared this story before, but it still makes me laugh... and cringe.
On my way home from my initial retina detachment consultation in Hanahan, South Carolina, traffic came to a complete crawl. Bumper-to-bumper. I was actually doing fine with it. Traffic happens.
Then someone decided the shoulder was their own personal VIP lane.
They flew past everyone who had been patiently waiting and squeezed right in front of me.
At that exact moment, my serenity clocked out for the day.
I didn't give a polite courtesy honk.
I didn't tap the horn to let them know I was there.
I introduced them to the entire catalog of my car horn.
And I kept introducing it.
For so long... that I literally wore out my car horn.
Yes... I broke my horn.
I actually heard it take its last breath.
I'm pretty sure if my BMW could talk, it would've said, "Niel... buddy... enough already."
I estimate I was honking continuously for at least 15 minutes.
The person who cut me off probably forgot about me after 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, I was apparently auditioning to be the Low Country Symphony's first horn section.
Looking back, it's hilarious.
It's also a little wild.
For me, that's what alcoholism can look like today. It isn't that I'll pick up a drink—that was never my first thought, and recreational drugs weren't my thing either. Instead, it can show up as anger, self-righteousness, and reacting in ways that make absolutely no sense.
I've never repaired the horn.
Not because I don't have the time.
Not because I don't have the money.
I haven't fixed it because, in my mind, I haven't yet truly learned how to share the road with other people. Until I make more progress on that, the broken horn serves as a daily reminder that I still have work to do.
Recovery isn't about becoming perfect.
It's about recognizing when I'm the problem, owning it, laughing at myself when appropriate, and trying to do a little better tomorrow than I did today.
Recently, an awesome friend from one of my recovery meetings thought of me. She knows this story. She knows I still wrestle with the rage that can pop up out of nowhere—and she knows I've been driving around with a silent horn ever since.
She surprised me with the perfect gift.
I laughed immediately.
Now I need to mount it on my dashboard.
If you want to see what she gave me—and hear some of the hilarious things it says—head over to:
Oh... and before anyone points it out, ignore the lack of manicure in the video. Dialysis, life, and recovery have been keeping me just a little busy.
Who knew one broken horn would become one of my biggest recovery reminders?
Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons.
Sometimes those lessons arrive with a whisper.
Sometimes they arrive with 15 minutes of uninterrupted honking.
Thanks for reading, and if this story made you smile—or reminded you of one of your own moments of insanity—leave a comment. I'd love to hear it.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Day 38: Context Matters
Nextdoor recently shared another feel-good story on LinkedIn about a lost tortoise and a neighborhood coming together to help.
It's a great story.
What caught my attention, however, was what wasn't included in the LinkedIn post.
In the accompanying NPR article by Alina Hartounian, the story notes that both Facebook and Nextdoor were used to help spread the word—with Facebook mentioned first. The LinkedIn post, by contrast, highlights only Nextdoor's role. To me, that leaves out important context about how the community effort came together.
It also raised a few questions.
I wonder whether Alina Hartounian is aware of the criticism some users have raised regarding Nextdoor's moderation and communication practices. NPR has a long history of reporting on issues involving free expression, transparency, and the role of the First Amendment in public discourse. While the First Amendment limits government restrictions on speech rather than private companies' moderation decisions, NPR has frequently covered debates about censorship, platform moderation, and the importance of open dialogue. That made me curious how those broader conversations intersect with reporting on social media platforms.
At the same time, Nextdoor's CEO, Nirav Tolia, continues to lead a company whose LinkedIn posts do not permit public comments. As someone who values feedback and discussion, I find that contrast noteworthy.
Today is also Day 38 since I requested a Nextdoor study. I still have not received the study or a response. At this point, I continue to wonder whether the document is intended primarily as a marketing or lead-generation asset rather than research distributed broadly upon request. I don't know the answer, but the continued silence naturally raises the question.
Transparency isn't just about the stories we tell.
It's also about the context we provide, the conversations we allow, and the questions we're willing to answer.
What are your thoughts?
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
Battle of the Shave Butters: Round 1 — Scent
After spending at least a week with my new challenger, it's finally time to begin the comparison.
Welcome to Round 1 of the shave butter showdown:
Dollar Shave Club vs. Van Der Hagen.
This first round is all about one thing...
The smell.
When I open a tube of Dollar Shave Club Shave Butter, the scent reminds me of butter you'd use in the kitchen. Think baking a cake, making macaroni and cheese, or one of those rich French dishes where the chef believes there is no such thing as too much butter. It's a pleasant, warm scent that I've grown to enjoy over the years.
The Van Der Hagen Shave Butter is completely different.
To me, it smells very similar to Cetaphil, a well-known line of gentle skincare cleansers and moisturizers designed for sensitive skin. Cetaphil products are fragrance-light, non-irritating, and formulated to help cleanse while maintaining the skin's natural moisture barrier. Many dermatologists recommend them for people with dry or sensitive skin.
Now, here's where a completely unrelated story comes in.
Years ago, while attending a recovery meeting in Las Vegas, I was either chairing the meeting or filling in as the secretary. The person I was serving with mentioned skincare, and somehow the conversation turned to Cetaphil. They commented that crystal meth smelled like Cetaphil.
Whether that's accurate or not, I have no idea.
What I do know is that I wasn't particularly fond of the scent before hearing that story, and afterward I gravitated toward it even less. Funny how our brains make associations that stick with us for years.
That doesn't mean Van Der Hagen is a bad product. This is simply my personal reaction to the fragrance.
There are several more rounds to come—glide, razor feel, closeness of shave, skin hydration, value, and overall performance—but if we're scoring only Round 1: Scent, there's a clear winner for me.
🥊 Round 1 Winner: Dollar Shave Club Shave Butter.
What do you think? Have you tried either of these shave butters? Do scents influence your buying decisions, or is performance all that matters?
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.