Sunday, December 12, 2010

Super Heroes & Tech Startups


This morning I was up early contemplating on what makes a successful technology startup business. I’ve been reading about building a team of people and how the people make the business. I think that’s true but it really boils down to 1 person or 2 people with a vision.
Some of the most successful technology startups were NOT formed by committees but by 1 or 2 people. If you think about our favorite comic book heroes, they are usually NOT a group, they are usually 1 or 2 people.

1 & 2 Person Super Heroes:
Superman
Spiderman
Wonder Woman
Ironman
Batman & Robin

1 & 2 Person Successful Tech Startups:
Apple
Microsoft
Facebook
Ebay
Amazon
Google
Yahoo!
Hewlett Packard

Many times startups feel that they have to have the perfect business plan and backing from friends, family and a bank before they can get things moving.
As of December of 2010, my organization (The Web Academy) is approaching 2500 all time enrollments. I didn’t form that organization with a consensus vote. It was about me having a vision and putting the pieces together. In the beginning, I was the Executive Director, the Administrative Assistant, the Web Master, the Sales Director, the Marketing Director and the only Instructor.
General Dwight Eisenhower once said plans are worthless but planning is everything. I love that quote. So, have a vision, work hard, don’t be afraid to be solo, and plan for everything imaginable.
So, what do you think?

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Social Media, Colliding Galaxies & Holodecks


In about 3 billion years, our galaxy (The Milky Way) will collide with our nearest cousin galaxy (Andromeda). It will be a galactic fireworks display of energy and destruction and some dancing of stars. Dancing of stars? Not "Dancing with the Stars" but "Dancing of Stars". Yes, some stars will be destroyed and some will find a partner in the opposite galaxy. Those stars will conduct an interstellar waltz for eternity or at least until those stars exhaust all of their hydrogen. In any case, both galaxies will be changed forever.

Similarly, the world of social media will collide with the web. One might say this is a bad analogy as social media is a part of the web and the Milky Way and Andromeda are 2 distinct galaxies.

That is true but bear with me.

When this collision of social media and web happens, there will be some destruction as old players die out. In addition, there will be players who dance with partners that they never dreamed of dancing with.

You’re probably asking “What does this mean?”. I will get there soon, but 1st another metaphor.
On the TV series “Star Trek the Next Generation” there was a technology called the “Holodeck”. The Holodeck was a virtual reality simulation that used computers, optics and force fields to simulate any environment. On the Holodeck, you could experience sailing on a 1700 century sailing ship or experience a night club comedy show act or anything and everything. The “people” and things encountered on the Holodeck seemed real. On one particular episode, the cast of characters encountered Professor Moriarty (the fictional character and arch enemy of Sherlock Holmes) on the Holodeck. Professor Moriarty’s personality was controlled by the Holodeck’s computer. In the episode, the artificial intelligence became self aware and Moriarty desired to leave the confines of the Holodeck simulation . Moriarty in turn held members of the Enterprise crew as hostages on the Holodeck.

To defeat Moriarty, the crew of the Enterprise fooled Moriarty into believing that he had left the Holodeck by using transporter technology to beam him to another Holodeck. Moriarty thought that he was in the real world when in actuality he was on another Holodeck.

Now, to the non-Star Trek fans, thank you for your patience.

My point:
Social Media is the Holodeck.
The Web is the Real World.


Soon, you will not be able to distinguish one from the other.
Facebook knows a lot of information about its users. For instance Facebook knows that I like Star Trek, that I’m from Detroit, that I studied Computer Science and that I like Google Android Application Development. This information can be used to change the way I interact with the web. As Facebook expands its reach to publisher networks, visitors will experience the Facebook experience throughout their entire web experience.

Imagine going to Yahoo! News and seeing news on your college buddy’s new business or doing a Google Search and finding information on your co-worker’s bridal shower or seeing a display ad on CNN for your father’s retirement party.

With the help of Facebook, the web will be more personal and more meaningful. The entire social media experience and web experience will be blurred to the extent that the user will not be able to distinguish between the two.

While working at Yahoo! on their social media task force, I tried to help them understand this concept. So, what do you think?

Facebook Numbers Game


So, you may have noticed that several of your friends have random numbers in their status updates such as #74 or #5545 followed by some kind words.

Perhaps you got an email in your Facebook inbox from a friend with a random number and you're thinking "What is this number thing all about?"

It's the newest Facebook Viral Trend unofficially called "The Numbers Game". The goal is simple. Send a number to a friend. This number is specific to you. Next, your friend will create a status update telling the world how they feel about you but only you know because it's your number.

The Numbers Game is meant to be a fun way to tell people how you really feel about them. So, have some fun with it...

As always, what do you think about The Facebook Numbers Game?