September 18, 2008
May 07, 2008
May 03, 2007
January 29, 2007
Divine Intervention
Ever feel like some external force is making things go your way? Like someone is planting treasures meant to look unintentional. Today, I do and good, we deserve it :-).
2006 was intense because we have a start-up but also because we didn't find our footing right away. We didn't see as much traction as we'd like, we had to learn (are still learning) how to become product people, I am learning how real CEOs work. So much very good work was done but not until we launched MapKit at the end of October did we really get a sense of connectedness with the broader marketplace and a clear focus as a company. All of a sudden the disparate parts began to take on a shape of a whole. (I am eager for that whole picture to be realized out but everything takes time.)
Over the past couple of weeks, I've had a glimpse of what we could look like as a successful team with a truly great product. It's a little intimidating to feel inexperienced and in awe of great people at work. Mostly because I see how we weren't being the best we could be. In the past few weeks we've collaborated with CEOs, product folks, UI folks, college students and technology people who have kept us constantly in awe. I wish I could've seen this 2 companies ago!
Back to external forces. I happened to stand in line waiting to talk to someone at a conference. While chatting up a fellow attendee also waiting to talk to that person, I found a mentor. While demo'ing last week I was introduced to a co-presenter who offers exactly the one skill I need ASAP but don't have. And then there are actual forces offering help. There will be more on that later but it feels refreshing to have people working with us to get where we want to be. Whatever happens, this feels like the right path to stepping it up. That's all that matters right?
Today while testing our new super duper mapmaker (to be released tomorrow), I made a map of all the Places I've seen Sinterklaas and guess what? I've seen him more than 10 times!
January 24, 2007
Bond Girl, Maps and Mystery
A week of intrigue, mystery, espionage and James Bond at Platial. Not bad for Portland.
To start things off, I'll be visiting an Agency (The kind with a capital A that one doesn't discuss) tomorrow to demo Platial. It is surely less exciting than it sounds but it has given me a chance to consider this that my phone is tapped. This only happened after an email from them mistakenly came in an alias; a childhood nickname that no one uses anymore other than remote relatives in Massachusetts. Also, when I arrived at the airport to find my flight delayed, I imagined their were agents stationed throughout to make sure "the eagle was ready to fly". Or does that only apply to landing?
I was also informed that I could not bring my non-US citizen colleague which I didn't even think about! I actually didn't know one of my colleagues was not a US citizen. Nice of them to inform me. That sai, I will play Bond girl in the Second Life of my own mind until I return home safely to my family.
Also, I read in two separate documents today that there are rumours of us being acquired. I am apparently not privy. I also read today that we are considering going public. I need to keep up on these things better.
Because of all of this, on Saturday, I will wear a gown and try to find a local casino, have a cocktail and go home to rent old 007 movies. Any Portland friends wanna join in?
January 22, 2007
Mom & Pop 2.0
I think "2.0" is overused too but it's convenient to have a buzzy way to package a positive mark of our time. There have been many words written about microglobal businesses and how the pervasiveness of tools and cheapening of technology allow them to compete and grow on a global scale. We all like the idea of a level playing field and the makeover of the Mom & Pop is perfect to investigate.
Wal-Mart displaced local Mom & Pop shops in the 80s and 90s who couldn't compete with the cheap prices of child labor this spousal start-ups became nostalgic rather than fiscally prudent. Then ebay came along and enabled a million Americans to work from home while promoting re-use. Then I had a company (60 people/lots of revenue). Then I had a baby (6 pounds 15 ounces). I didn't want to choose between being the mom who ran back to work after a 3 month maternity leave (I never did the 9-5 thing anyway) and the stay-at-home super mom. So Jason and I decided to divide and conquer on everything from diaper changing to presentations when we started consulting together. We took Emiko around the world so I could breastfeed and still keep speaking gigs. She spent 30% of her life on the road until we moved to Amsterdam. And it was a blast. Miami for work then a few extra days, Austin for work and a few extra days. (Hint: Get a cousin who is in her early 20s to live with you and be your nanny during these life without walls periods.)
After a couple of years of this, we started a for real company from bed a few days after having home-birthed our son in Amsterdam. It was about one of thee best weeks of my life. Scheduling is always tricky but we're still working together and one cooks while one works or one stays home while the other travels and most of the time 5:30-8 is sacred family time. This scenario works for few people I understand, but the idea of having the same person there to cover for you at home or at work is pretty amazing! (We even fill in for each other being recording secretary at the Parent Teacher meetings) And considering we spend 24 hours together and rarely get to see each other (divide and conquer again) imagine how little time we would have if we had separate jobs! When we got serious about our new company, we did move to Portland to be among Jason's incredibly supportive family which helps the Mom & Pop thing work.
We are hearing this more and more. We have several friends who started companies with their spouses and some may have kids soon. Here are a few Mom & Pop 2.0 companies to start the list, so please let me know if you hear of any/already know more.
Platial (Mom, Pop and Uncle Jake 2.0 really)
UrbanBaby (Inspiring couple, now part of CNet)
Greasy Kidstuff (Moved here from NY around the same time we did. We love them and They Might Be Giants just wrote them a song. Congratulations!)
Add a Mom & Pop 2.0 company to the Map!
Compelled to blog
even though the last thing I need is a project to neglect. I started blogging here and even got into co-blogging with Jason as my daughter's alter ego here. And then there were the business blogs which brings my total contribution to blogosphere growth to 4, all of which stand idle. (I do what I can over at Platial.) This blog was created to test the Platial Typepad tool and it's empty pages have been calling me since.
I need a completely unstructured forum so expect to hear about parenting, Mom & Pop 2.0, investors, ups and downs of start-up life, activism and fun with structures; corporate structures, neighborhood structures, governmental structures and a collection of things I have no place else to keep...
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