It not everyday I blog about personal issues or conversations I've had. Most of the things I bring up are business or tech related as I try to maintain that fine line between my personal life and what I care to share. However I had an interesting conversation at the bar the other night with a friend of a friend.
The conversation was related to relationships and how most men and women are looking for the wrong thing. In fact I did a lot of soul searching and realized that there are a lot of women out there looking for a free hand out, looking for someone to pay their way, and someone that will bend over backwards for them. While there are people that will do that for what they like to call a relationship, it's really not. In fact a relationship should be a give and take, 2 sided journey throughout life.
Relationships last for a reason, and that reason isn't money, sex, fame, or any other ungodly reason you want to try to use to justify it. In fact we wonder why the divorce rate is what it is in this country, when all we do is parade models and money around on magazines, television, and other media. Hate to say it but America has a lot of waking up to do when it comes to understanding relationships.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Monday, December 07, 2009
75% of founding CEOs that raise VC are no longer running the company by the time the company exits.
During the normal course of browsing this week I ended up stumbling across this post. The post goes on to explain one companies struggles and how they recently took Venture Capital money despite the fact that 75% of CEO's are forced out of their own company at some point by these Venture Capital companies. In any event it got me to thinking and I figured I'd post my thoughts for you all to read.
So we all hear about all the great Venture Capital companies that have cashed out on companies like Facebook, Google, MySpace, etc. However we rarely hear of the Venture Capital firms that lose money when their venture backed start-up go under. While this is not typical it bring up my main point, Venture Capital companies are pouring money into your company, not you. In fact if you are out there raising capital you'll quickly learn that it's all about the pitch. In fact it's just like poker in a way. They are putting a nice size of their pot on you, hoping to make money on their investment. So is it wrong for them to out a CEO if they feel that they can find someone better qualified or someone who can bring this company around quicker?
Personally it's my opinion that if I can get Venture Capital to grow my business and help it reach it's full potential, then I've already won. Now yes, as soon as I sign on the dotted line (and are any lines truly dotted anymore these days?) I can ultimately lose my job and all of my hard work would be for nothing, but at that point, I'd rather see my idea flourish with the best possible leadership in place than have it fall under my inexperience or leadership.
Now on the other hand I know a lot of people that would say the exact opposite, and would rather retain control. But when does that control hurt your decision making ability and your company culture? I mean the people who prefer to keep control of their company rather than go out and get Venture Capital money, are those that are likely to be control freaks, wanting their hand in every aspect of the company. This attitude only help tear the company apart and make your employees wonder if the best person is really running the company they are putting their hearts and souls into.
So my message to people is not to get caught up in the logistics of a possible VC deal, but rather take a look at it with an open mind. Would you rather have your company around for 3 years if not longer with a different CEO or in the deadpool after a year with you at the reins?
So we all hear about all the great Venture Capital companies that have cashed out on companies like Facebook, Google, MySpace, etc. However we rarely hear of the Venture Capital firms that lose money when their venture backed start-up go under. While this is not typical it bring up my main point, Venture Capital companies are pouring money into your company, not you. In fact if you are out there raising capital you'll quickly learn that it's all about the pitch. In fact it's just like poker in a way. They are putting a nice size of their pot on you, hoping to make money on their investment. So is it wrong for them to out a CEO if they feel that they can find someone better qualified or someone who can bring this company around quicker?
Personally it's my opinion that if I can get Venture Capital to grow my business and help it reach it's full potential, then I've already won. Now yes, as soon as I sign on the dotted line (and are any lines truly dotted anymore these days?) I can ultimately lose my job and all of my hard work would be for nothing, but at that point, I'd rather see my idea flourish with the best possible leadership in place than have it fall under my inexperience or leadership.
Now on the other hand I know a lot of people that would say the exact opposite, and would rather retain control. But when does that control hurt your decision making ability and your company culture? I mean the people who prefer to keep control of their company rather than go out and get Venture Capital money, are those that are likely to be control freaks, wanting their hand in every aspect of the company. This attitude only help tear the company apart and make your employees wonder if the best person is really running the company they are putting their hearts and souls into.
So my message to people is not to get caught up in the logistics of a possible VC deal, but rather take a look at it with an open mind. Would you rather have your company around for 3 years if not longer with a different CEO or in the deadpool after a year with you at the reins?
Saturday, December 05, 2009
My Visit to Sangoma in Markham, Ontario, Canada
First off, I know it's been quite a long time since I've posted to this blog but that's about to change as I have integrated this blog with my new website GameGamer43.com. Now a lot has changed since I last posted a story to this blog so I'll give you some quick bullet points below:
As the holidays approached, I was bound to head back to Buffalo, NY to meet up with my family and friends for Thanksgiving. In doing so I also made it a point to go visit our good friends up at Sangoma as it was only a 2.5 hours drive. So their was plan A which was to drive up Sunday afternoon and get a hotel room with a bunch of friends and plan B which meant I was waking up at the crack of dawn to make the morning commute via the QEW. Sure enough I ended up opting for plan B and woke up at 4 am EST. After getting ready to learn more about Sangoma's products, I left the house and began my commute.
I ended up reaching the Sangoma office at 8:15 am EST after a few stops for food and something to drink. After arriving I was greeted at the front desk and told that the person I was meeting wasn't in yet but that they were usually one of the first one's in. Sure enough at 8:40 am, I met with Konrad and I was given the grand tour.
During the grand tour I learned that Sangoma is one of the few manufacturers that still assemble all FXO/FXS/T1/E1 cards on-site. This to me was a little suprising after seeing that Digium only does the testing on their cards in Huntsville, Alabama and that the actual manufacturing process is done elsewhere.
In any event I learned a lot about Sangoma's product and I also found that the entire team at Sangoma is very passionate about their jobs as well as their products. They definitely stand behind their warranty, which on most cards that I've encountered is a Lifetime Warranty.
So I'd like to thank Sangoma for having me and look forward to their continued attention to quality.
- Relationships have come and gone
- I've worked for HSBC Bank as an Internet Banking Customer Service Rep, E-Mail Support Representative, Internet Banking Service Technician, and a Premier Client Consultant
- I received my Associated Degree in Business Administration from Erie Community College
- I bought a 2007 Ducati SupperSport 800 to enjoy the summer nights
- I started PBX Techs, LLC in the first quarter of 2008
- I am continuing my education for a Bachelors Degree in Information Technology with a focus on Software Engineering
- I moved from Buffalo, NY to Neenah, WI to take a job at Schmooze Communications LLC
- And I'll be headed to Jamaica in January for a nice little vacation
As the holidays approached, I was bound to head back to Buffalo, NY to meet up with my family and friends for Thanksgiving. In doing so I also made it a point to go visit our good friends up at Sangoma as it was only a 2.5 hours drive. So their was plan A which was to drive up Sunday afternoon and get a hotel room with a bunch of friends and plan B which meant I was waking up at the crack of dawn to make the morning commute via the QEW. Sure enough I ended up opting for plan B and woke up at 4 am EST. After getting ready to learn more about Sangoma's products, I left the house and began my commute.
I ended up reaching the Sangoma office at 8:15 am EST after a few stops for food and something to drink. After arriving I was greeted at the front desk and told that the person I was meeting wasn't in yet but that they were usually one of the first one's in. Sure enough at 8:40 am, I met with Konrad and I was given the grand tour.
During the grand tour I learned that Sangoma is one of the few manufacturers that still assemble all FXO/FXS/T1/E1 cards on-site. This to me was a little suprising after seeing that Digium only does the testing on their cards in Huntsville, Alabama and that the actual manufacturing process is done elsewhere.
In any event I learned a lot about Sangoma's product and I also found that the entire team at Sangoma is very passionate about their jobs as well as their products. They definitely stand behind their warranty, which on most cards that I've encountered is a Lifetime Warranty.
So I'd like to thank Sangoma for having me and look forward to their continued attention to quality.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Citizens Bank Not Focusing on it's Citizens
Well if your not one to want to read someone ranting and raving, I'm warning you know that this may be what this post turns into. Anyways, seeing as it's my birthday and all a recieved a pre-paid gift card issued by Citizens Bank from a relative. Great, as I've had past experiences with pre-paid gift card, especially ones that are usable just like a regular credit card and can thus be used anywhere. But after reading through all the accompanied paperwork, I go to find that you must register your card with Citizens Bank at one of there websites if you want to use it online. Great, and I figured that'd be no problem, I mean I'm more than willing to give them my name, address, and phone number if that's what I need to do to use it online. So I go over to the website, login with the proper credentials and find the link to register. Now normally, as with any website, the asterisk (*) denotes the fields that are required. So I fill in the fields denoted by the asterisk and try to submit my registration. But rather than processing my application to register the pre-paid gift card, instead the site throws up an errors saying that I gave an invalid social security number. First off the form I filled out did not denote the field with an asterisk, informing me it was required. Secondly what the hell do they need with my social security number. So I continue to read through all the paperwork looking to see if there was anything talking about the information they need, and of course there was nothing. So I found a number to call to register the card. Called it up, supplied the bank employee with whom I was speaking all the information he he need and continued to explain my problem. In which case I was told he could help me register my gift card. And continued on to first inform me registration was to primarily be used if the card was lost or stolen. In which case I explained it said in the accompanied information I must register the card if I planned on using it online, and as I'm not sure of how I plan ot use the card just yet, I figured I'd get it over with. So he responded by saying he understood but wanted to make it clear to me and continued to ask me the same question the form did starting with my social security number. Now don't get me wrong Citizens Bank may be a trusted bank but I'm not one to give out information like that to people, especially for something that should not even require it. To this I replied that I refuse to give my social security number to him, in which he respond it's required. Well again, how is this required because as of the website it's not denoted by an asterisks, saying it's a required piece of information. Again I told him I will not give him my social security number and that the website said it was not required, in which he said that it was required once more. This is where the conversation ended, as I told him, that wasn't gonna happen and I'll deal with this issue as a later date. Now, where does a bank get off requiring something they don't even need. Especially for something just so you can use a pre-paid gift card online or in case your card is lost or stolen. They where already paid for the card, now stop trying to control it's use, or at least don't make something that should be easy to do more difficult than it has to be. I mean this experience alone, has left a bad taste in my mouth. And to make it even better, any chance Citizens had of ever getting me to use there bank is now gone because of this. Maybe rather than trying to make things difficult for customers and end-users, Citizens need to start thinking about them and making things easier for them.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Business and the Thoughts that Associate it
Here is the first article in a series of many more to come based on "Running a Business Is Not As Easy as it's Made Out to Be!"
Originally when people create businesses they don't just jump out of nowhere and say, I'm making a business today? Well for most of us it's not that easy. In this article I plan to explore the ups and downs of creating a business and breifly touch upon the planning it involves.
So you want to start a business, but don't know where to start. Usually the best place to start is at the local Borders bookstore looking through just about any book you can find about creating a company in the state that you are in. For the most part, these books will lay a lot better groundwork and help tremendously when starting a business. But why do you want to start the business in the first place? That's the question you really need to ask your. Is it that you want to look professional, because your putting a lot of money into side jobs and want the benefits of being a business, or is it just because you want to say you own a business. Regardless of the reason let's look at the amount of time you will be putting into that business. First you have to file paperwork with your local government usually at City Hall stating that you are doing business as (and for the sake of this article I'm going to assume we are talking about a sole proprotiership). This at least in New York State is roughly going to run you about $35-40 last I checked, and this is just the very beginning. Then depending on what type of business this is you need to decide whether or not you have employees, because having employees come with have to pay medicaid, ssi, and many more taxes. So again I'm going to assume it's just yourself for now. Then by apply for your d.b.a you are also olibigating yourself to file quarterly taxes and paying your taxes on your expected income upfront. But do you know what it take to do your taxes as for being a business. I mean a lot of people can do there individual taxes by themself or with the help of TaxAct, Inuit, or insert product name here, but you also want to think about hiring an accountant who knows what he is doing, especially now and days with all the accounting scandals going on, do you really want to be responsible for your taxes. Then after you have that all figured out your ready to go, but wait don't forget what kind of business your in, all the costs you'll end up spending on your business, and even the costs you have to spend just to become or get into the business. And that about wraps up out intial breakthrough in the "Business and the Thoughts that Associate it."
Originally when people create businesses they don't just jump out of nowhere and say, I'm making a business today? Well for most of us it's not that easy. In this article I plan to explore the ups and downs of creating a business and breifly touch upon the planning it involves.
So you want to start a business, but don't know where to start. Usually the best place to start is at the local Borders bookstore looking through just about any book you can find about creating a company in the state that you are in. For the most part, these books will lay a lot better groundwork and help tremendously when starting a business. But why do you want to start the business in the first place? That's the question you really need to ask your. Is it that you want to look professional, because your putting a lot of money into side jobs and want the benefits of being a business, or is it just because you want to say you own a business. Regardless of the reason let's look at the amount of time you will be putting into that business. First you have to file paperwork with your local government usually at City Hall stating that you are doing business as (and for the sake of this article I'm going to assume we are talking about a sole proprotiership). This at least in New York State is roughly going to run you about $35-40 last I checked, and this is just the very beginning. Then depending on what type of business this is you need to decide whether or not you have employees, because having employees come with have to pay medicaid, ssi, and many more taxes. So again I'm going to assume it's just yourself for now. Then by apply for your d.b.a you are also olibigating yourself to file quarterly taxes and paying your taxes on your expected income upfront. But do you know what it take to do your taxes as for being a business. I mean a lot of people can do there individual taxes by themself or with the help of TaxAct, Inuit, or insert product name here, but you also want to think about hiring an accountant who knows what he is doing, especially now and days with all the accounting scandals going on, do you really want to be responsible for your taxes. Then after you have that all figured out your ready to go, but wait don't forget what kind of business your in, all the costs you'll end up spending on your business, and even the costs you have to spend just to become or get into the business. And that about wraps up out intial breakthrough in the "Business and the Thoughts that Associate it."
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