About
I am an agent for social change. This is the place on the web where I post interesting photos, stories, and videos. Sometimes I talk about my life as a business owner, traveler, explorer or just things that make me think harder about life in a global community. You can email me at downing.billy at gmail dot com.Following
Big Ben was solid.
Dad. Dean. Mom.
The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs : A not-so-brief chat with Randall Stephenson of AT&T
Fake Steve Jobs on fire with this post.
(via bijan)
(via fred-wilson)
Its about Google shakes up the mobile market
my new custom bag thanks to the amazing folks at Rickshaw Bagworks
This time of year, many venture backed startups have created or are putting together their operating plan for 2010.
Few suggestions for early stage/pre revenue companies:
1. Start with the ending. What do you want to accomplish by the end of next year and why?
2. Set quarterly objectives
Quarterly objectives help your board identify what’s going well and not well at the company. Are the goals realistic? Are we understaffed? Do we have the right people in the company? Does the company execute well? Is the product on track?
Some early stage companies are hesitant to create quarterly objectives. I know it can be challenging for a few reasons: (a) some entrepreneurs are worried that they will look bad if they miss their objectives and (b) startups have to be flexible at times and priorities may need to change
My response to concern (a) take the time to pick your investors wisely. The best ones will help you and your company be successful. The worst investors suffer absentee landlord syndrome which is a nightmare.
In response to 2nd concern: have an open communication style and culture amongst your board members. Don’t wait until the board meeting to propose a big change in the plan or priorities. Early stage investors and board members understand that things will change. That’s part of the deal so don’t sweat it.
3. Operating Budget
For early stage/pre revenue companies, i suggest that you operate the business assuming you are going to miss your 2010 revenue forecast entirely or significantly. You can always spend more if revenue (or user engagement) grows nicely. But cutting is painful at best.
4. Fund raising
If you need to raise additional capital in 2010, assume you will need 4-5 months to raise money. Clearly there are exceptions but for most companies that is the general rule. Get some feedback from your existing investors what they want to see to support the next round.
Gotham Gal (via fred-wilson)
Exactly. I have one good friend who isn’t formally educated but one of the smartest people I know. I keep telling her to teach herself how to program and she’d make a very comfortable living. When I was at Foocamp I gave a talk entitled “Where are all the minorities at Foocamp?” There were three people of color out of about 200 people. My basic argument was that we need to teach programming at a very young age in the inner city schools to let children know that they don’t have to be just users of the technology they love so much, but creators of technology they’d like to use and have the ability to make a very comfortable living. It still blows my mind how difficult it is to find high quality designers/programmers. I mean, I think the internet is going to be a big deal and quite possibly an area of growth.
;)
(via jayparkinsonmd)
News 10 runs a story on students leaving California schools.
One of my favorites.
It’s hard to think that 2009 is nearing to a close so rapidly. It seems like only yesterday that we are waiting for Obama to take office and throwing the old Christmas tree out.
But with each year ending, there is a renewed hope and energy that next year will be better than the last. Over this year at ESM, we feel blessed that our mentor-based tutoring and counseling platform has been well-received both globally, and locally.
Each day I go to sleep thinking about how we touch the lives of our students, and how in turn, they touch our lives. There is so much we have accomplished, and yet so much that still needs to be done, and it helps calm me when I realize that this process truly is not about an end, it is about a healthy and happy journey along the way.
Here’s to 2009, and to an even more fruitful 2010.
I’ve just finished Peter Mayle’s two books on life in Provence — “A Year in Provence” and “Tojours Provence”. If you are looking for a fun, relaxing and inspiring read, Mayle is simply the best. With his English wit in full swing, he details his life in the South of France with an eye for detail that makes you feel as if you are sitting at the dinner table with him.
I first read these books in high school as part of my French class, but I am glad I re-read them again - this time enjoying and appreciating the humor and life lessons so much more. I’ve order the third and final installment - “Encore Provence” - which I hear is another brilliant tale of good food, good friends and even more important in French culture - good wine.
