Breaking Bad News

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What Does It Take to Start a Trend?

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Why Does Everything Look the Same?

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Creating Sunglasses

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Don’t Post While Driving

Sigh. I love new technology, but… Today I tried to do another Utterz, and while attempting to avoid a collision with an individual pulling out in front of me, I hung up. However, my Utterz was incomplete, and I didn’t hit the (3) button, so I figured my Utterz was either lost or hanging out until I could call back. Wrong.

My Utterz posted, and my incomplete call doesn’t communicate what I’d hoped. So new users beware—even if you hang up without pushing (3), your Utterz is captured for posterity. For the record, I deleted both the post and the Utterz, however, if you subscribe to my feed, I didn’t catch it quite fast enough, so my apologies for wasting 38 seconds of your time.

As a side note to Sim, the guy behind Utterz, perhaps hanging up shouldn’t constitute and automatic post.

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Under the Influence

Courtesy of Chris Brogan who’s been an influence to me during the last few months, I’m answering the following meme:

“Who had a big influence on you and how did that affect the direction of your life and career?”

In the same spirit as Chris, it does make sense to express my gratitude for the individuals who’ve influenced my life on Thanksgiving (the U.S. holiday).

• My Parents—Sigh. While a common answer, I can’t underestimate the role my parents played in my life and current success. As much as I hated it at the time, my parents taught me how to work. That work ethic has been the foundation for everything I’ve every accomplished. My parents also showed me firsthand what’s required to make a business successful. They also believed in me and supported my efforts. I’ve only moved alone once. Every other time, my parents showed up to help. Now that’s real support.
• My Grandmother—I’ve got the best grandma in the world. Yes, that’s a totally subjective opinion, but she’s been my biggest cheerleader from day one. Instead of constantly inquiring when I’d marry like other grandmas I know, she was excited when I got a promotion or started my own business. I’m in awe of her and what she accomplished (worked full time and raised six kids mostly on her own), so her respect means the world to me.
• My friend Ann—I met Ann in graduate school, and my initial impression, well, I didn’t think we had a lot in common. However, Ann is a people person who just has a talent for connecting, and she and I connected. With Ann’s encouragement, I entered my first triathlon and managed to finish, cursing her name for most of the way. However, I signed up for my next race within a matter of weeks. Ann showed me that I didn’t have to stay in my comfort zone. And the way she lives her life is a continual reminder to not always take the obvious path.
• Kim Zarkin—A professor from graduate school, Kim and I struck up a friendship after graduation. We have two completely (well mostly) different world views. Kim is by far the most opposite person from myself that I know, and I’m convinced that to be happy, successful, and well-rounded in life, you need someone like Kim who can challenge your assumptions and speak persuasively about opinions different than your own. I’ve learned so much from my time and conversations with her.
• Martha Barton and DeAnn Zebelean—These two women have been mentors to me for the last 18 months. Their influence changed my life. Since meeting them, I quit my corporate job and started my own business. They’ve freely shared their insight on how to manage and market a business. They’ve never made my relationship with them feel like a competition, a rarity in mentoring relationships. Plus, while they make no apologies for their success, they never make me feel lesser for being at the beginning/middle of my career versus my peak.
• Rachel Clarke—Some people hesitate to share what they know. Others are happy to answer all your questions without ever making you feel foolish for asking. Rachel falls in the latter category. From the beginning, she’s answered every question I’ve ever posed and been a friendly face at conferences. I’m also impressed by how Rachel has lived and is living her life. She follows her interests even when they take her across an ocean to another country. I’m hoping that as opportunities present themselves, I’ll have the same courage to follow new paths.

The interesting thing about influencers can be how long the influence lasts and the ripple effect as one influence intersects with another. Hmm…I think I feel another post percolating.

For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving today, I hope you reach your destination without any mishaps. For everyone else, have a safe weekend.

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photo courtesy of raspberreh

Thoughts on New Media

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Cork & Knife Likes Potatoes

Cork & Knife has kindly published a piece I wrote based on my earlier post on digging potatoes. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and gave it a boost.

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Housekeeping: Comments Feed

I finally got around to putting up a comments feed. If you’re interested in subscribing, you can do so via my blog or by clicking here. I’m always curious to hear what you think about what I write, and with the feed, it will be easier to keep track of the conversations. I hope you’ll always feel free to participate.

Microsoft, You Missed An Opportunity

A few days ago, I wrote a post calling attention to the trouble Atlantic correspondent James Fallows was having with Windows Vista. Apparently, even he has had enough of Vista and reverted to XP. This situation leaves me shaking my head. However, Mr. Fallows makes the excellent point that:

Sooner or later, we will all (in the PC world) be using Vista. That’s how new computers will come.

So given the choice, wouldn’t Microsoft prefer that users actually wanted to use their operating system? Forced migration to something not as good rarely leads to a happy ending. Tossing aside the argument of Mac vs. PC for a minute, I’m left wondering why a company wouldn’t aim for better results, for happier customers.

Here’s the thing, I remember the days of having to boot up my computer using disks to run DOS. Windows 3.1 seemed light years ahead of what I could do in DOS (programming wasn’t my strong point). Windows 95 didn’t seem quite as amazing, but 2000 acted more stable (I loathed ME). Then there was XP. I’ve loved XP. However, I prepared myself for the day that Microsoft would ask me to move on to something else. I figured whatever came next would look like that leap between DOS and 3.1 because XP played out what we already expected in an operating system. Instead, we got Vista—the memory-draining, battery-sucking, DRM mess masquerading as an operating system.

Optimistic, I ordered a new laptop for my grandmother with Vista. Short story—she hasn’t had any serious issues, but the little I’ve had to work with it to set up email and network connections left me hating it. I went from planning to buy a new computer loaded with Vista to scrambling for a new PC that offered XP. I did the happy dance when Dell announced that certain models would offer XP as an option. (Yes, I considered a Mac, but I’ve had a less than stellar experience with Macs. I know, the exception to the rule. I do think they’re pretty.)

Microsoft isn’t the only company to stumble over its past. American car companies are still trying to recover from the Japanese invasion that shows no signs of slowing. Companies like General Motors are exhibiting more life than others. Cars and operating systems are only the beginning. The publishing industry, the music business—any of these sound familiar—are both struggling to stay relevant in the changing marketplace.

Even as a “technology” company, Microsoft is not immune to the changing tide and the need to innovate. Within the bowels of Microsoft, some really smart people are probably planning their next move to battle Google for world domination. In the meantime, if Microsoft can’t deliver a positive experience for individuals like James Fallows who were willing to give Vista a chance, it won’t matter what Microsoft plans for the future.

Although adoption of Vista is growing while Mac OS X use is staying flat, what will happen in the fall when Apple unveils its latest operating system, Leopard? Given Apple’s recent launch of the iPhone, and past results of other Apple launches, the user experience will likely surpass that of early Vista users.

During the recent dual interview of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Jobs was asked about what drove the turnaround of Apple. He made the very astute observation that “Apple wasn’t going to beat Microsoft. It didn’t need to. It needed to remember that Apple was Apple.”(link) I think the same reasoning could apply for Microsoft with a twist.

Is it possible that Microsoft no longer needs to be all things to all people? What if Microsoft became the expert at providing the flexible framework for all other developers to hang their programs on? (I’m not a programmer, so if my idea isn’t feasible, please give me some wiggle room.) As I understand it, one of Microsoft’s big headaches is trying to make the thousands of programs, drivers, and all the other bits and pieces compatible with its new operating systems. What if that was someone else’s job? Wouldn’t that free Microsoft to build a truly dynamic operating system? Wait, it almost sounds like I’m describing an open development process. Now wouldn’t that be an amazing leap forward?

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