Yesterday I said I was going to hang out and write and figure out what I want to do, but it’s kind of obvious what I want to do. After all, I had been doing it — or at least a compromised version of it — up until a week ago. Forget professional CEOs. I’m an engineer, and a company is a just a project with formal ownership. Let’s engineer a better company.
We already have the brand. United Lemur has a mascot and logo in Lemur Che. Hell, I dare say we have an icon. So we’ll build United Lemur, going back to plan A, as it were. But let’s incorporate the experience I’ve gained from this most recent adventure. Our greatest asset was the team, and my ability to build and lead a team. Forget this one-man shop business. Let’s build an indie development house, more like Omni.
Of course, to hire a team, you need money, which means you need funding. The App Store model is pretty well proven, so we should be able to generate revenue pretty quickly. Still, to do this right, we’d still need investors, which means we’d need a corporation, which means we’d need a board. Then we’re right back where we are now — ejected by people who own the company, but not the vision.
Here’s an idea — I could take my newly minted Silicon Valley Veteran badge and appeal to investors who are personal heroes, like Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, Guy Kawasaki, Paul Graham, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Alison Jolly, Richard Dawkins, and Wil Shipley. If a board like that disagrees with me, I’m probably wrong.
More and more, this is beginning to sound like a plan. There’s only one more uncontrolled vector. The fact of the matter is, running a business requires more than just writing software and selling it. There’s a lot of paperwork involved, and a lot of process that has to be followed. Organizations have infrastructure needs beyond their primary purpose.
Then a great business development specialist (or “bizdev” as we say in the Valley) got in touch with me out of the blue. I asked if he was the kind of guy who could amuse himself with a big pile of money while Engineering and Design got their vision on, and he clearly indicated he was exactly such a person. And get this: his name is Mike, or Michael, as he prefers.
Let’s be serious here. I was in the New York Times, Fast Company, CNN, the Washington Post — mainstream media. I built the hottest start up in the new bubble. I’m not going to be happy with some nine-to-five or retirement shop. It’s time to start NeXT, and I already have the T-shirts.
¡Viva la Revolución!
Addenda 
A quick preface to answer certain commentors’ concerns. I am going to try to show you all why I think Che is a person to be admired. If I fail, and you wish to let your feelings keep you from joining the fight, I’m sorry to see you go, but I will not turn my back on a hero because he wasn’t perfect. Maybe you can find somebody who’s doing it for the fame and follow them instead.
Random Lemur
Sad to hear that things didn’t work out and wishing I knew more about the story behind this -- and realizing that it’s hard to say more than you did without sounding bitter, which you did not.
Sad to hear that things didn’t work out and wishing I knew more about the story behind this -- and realizing that it’s hard to say more than you did without sounding bitter, which you did not.
Random Lemur
Best of wishes and good luck, Mike. Lemurs ho!
Best of wishes and good luck, Mike. Lemurs ho!
kdbdallas
I call employee number 2 position :-)
I call employee number 2 position :-)
Hans Gerwitz
I have a one simple but unanswered concern: how do I invest?
I have a one simple but unanswered concern: how do I invest?
Gareth Townsend
Good to hear you’re getting back on the bandwagon.
I’m looking forward to great software from the Lemur army.
Good to hear you’re getting back on the bandwagon.
I’m looking forward to great software from the Lemur army.
Solitary [Satellite]
Mike, great to hear that you start already your new project!
I am looking forward to see what you are pondering.
If there is any help needed (and by any, I mean seriously ANY), please let me know, I would gladly lend you a hand the best way I can.
Cheers and good luck for your new company.
Mike, great to hear that you start already your new project!
I am looking forward to see what you are pondering.
If there is any help needed (and by any, I mean seriously ANY), please let me know, I would gladly lend you a hand the best way I can.
Cheers and good luck for your new company.
Chad Mortensen
Is there such a thing as Open Source Investing... take donations in trade for revenue sharing? Someone donates $1000, they get .01% profit sharing. Might be too much to deal with in logistics but might also be a good idea
Is there such a thing as Open Source Investing... take donations in trade for revenue sharing? Someone donates $1000, they get .01% profit sharing. Might be too much to deal with in logistics but might also be a good idea
Chuck Burt
I agree: when and where can we help micro-vest?
I agree: when and where can we help micro-vest?
Joshua
Do it.
Do it.
Rob
I feel fortunate to have had the chance to own a shirt before the big bang (boom isn’t significant enough to describe what’s coming and is likely trademarked by the steve) ;-)
I feel fortunate to have had the chance to own a shirt before the big bang (boom isn’t significant enough to describe what’s coming and is likely trademarked by the steve) ;-)
Random yLemur
Go man, go!
Go man, go!
Jonas Wisser
I wish you the best of luck, and look forward to years of really cool projects.
Keep kicking ass.
I wish you the best of luck, and look forward to years of really cool projects.
Keep kicking ass.
Psuedo-random Lemur
Don’t start NeXT. NeXT, and Apple before it, did a lot of really stupid things which limited the platform, and in NeXT’s case, almost killed it. Don’t make it hard to get your stuff (like, say, only selling to universities and R&D groups). Don’t make it hard to use and extend (like, say, restricting the dev. tools, and charging and arm and a leg for them and the documentation, or requiring development on a box that sold for about 5 times as much as the target platform). It doesn’t matter how slick the gizmo is, if nobody can get or use it.
Don’t just study successes. Study failures; for they shed light on what does not work. Take note of the wins and fails (personal and professional) of everybody involved, yourself included; these parameters define the true functional structure of your enterprise. And above all else, make DAMN sure that everybody has the same overall vision! (although, given your recent experiences, I suspect that’s something you don’t need reminding of.)
On the other paw, I really like the mascot/logo, and the attitude it embodies. And the hat. Especially the hat.
Lock & load...
:-)
Don’t start NeXT. NeXT, and Apple before it, did a lot of really stupid things which limited the platform, and in NeXT’s case, almost killed it. Don’t make it hard to get your stuff (like, say, only selling to universities and R&D groups). Don’t make it hard to use and extend (like, say, restricting the dev. tools, and charging and arm and a leg for them and the documentation, or requiring development on a box that sold for about 5 times as much as the target platform). It doesn’t matter how slick the gizmo is, if nobody can get or use it.
Don’t just study successes. Study failures; for they shed light on what does not work. Take note of the wins and fails (personal and professional) of everybody involved, yourself included; these parameters define the true functional structure of your enterprise. And above all else, make DAMN sure that everybody has the same overall vision! (although, given your recent experiences, I suspect that’s something you don’t need reminding of.)
On the other paw, I really like the mascot/logo, and the attitude it embodies. And the hat. Especially the hat.
Lock & load...
:-)
Anthony Piraino
Mike: Sorry to hear about what went down at Tapulous. It makes no sense that they wouldn’t work with you to address the problems. Either they’re going to end up with no company when everyone else leaves, or they’re going to end up with a company full of developers who don’t like working there. Neither scenario is good for the business.
Regarding your new plans - not to rain on your parade, but by looking for outside investors aren’t you putting yourself in the exact same position you just left? I understand that you’re aiming to get involved with people you respect, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll want to go in a direction you’ll be happy with. And then, as you said, you’ll be right back where you are now.
Why not start on a smaller scale, and keep control of things yourself? Maybe just partner with one or two other people with a similar vision?
Mike: Sorry to hear about what went down at Tapulous. It makes no sense that they wouldn’t work with you to address the problems. Either they’re going to end up with no company when everyone else leaves, or they’re going to end up with a company full of developers who don’t like working there. Neither scenario is good for the business.
Regarding your new plans - not to rain on your parade, but by looking for outside investors aren’t you putting yourself in the exact same position you just left? I understand that you’re aiming to get involved with people you respect, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll want to go in a direction you’ll be happy with. And then, as you said, you’ll be right back where you are now.
Why not start on a smaller scale, and keep control of things yourself? Maybe just partner with one or two other people with a similar vision?
Guillermo X
I believe you can do anything really well. You can back up your bluster with solid ideas and info. I wish I could get mentioned in the washington post that doesn’t involve the words ‘Yap’ and ‘sluts’
I believe you can do anything really well. You can back up your bluster with solid ideas and info. I wish I could get mentioned in the washington post that doesn’t involve the words ‘Yap’ and ‘sluts’
Greg Hughes
Ah, *that* Michael, eh? Good news.
Best of luck. Your vision sounds energizing, exciting and fun. Enjoy!
Ah, *that* Michael, eh? Good news.
Best of luck. Your vision sounds energizing, exciting and fun. Enjoy!
Random Lemur
Eep!
Eep!
Random Lemur
Go, go, go!
Go, go, go!
Aurelien
Awesome rebound.
Don’t start NeXT, start Pixar ;)
How can we fund you?
Awesome rebound.
Don’t start NeXT, start Pixar ;)
How can we fund you?
Random Lemur
Eep!
Eep!
Nick Prudent
Mike,
Passionate people always have a harder time with board and investors. I do hope that you reconsider being a solo developer with a flexible team …like Will. It may be scary right now, but you need to put yourself in a situation where you don’t need investors to realize your vision.
Go, Mike Go!
- Nick -
Mike,
Passionate people always have a harder time with board and investors. I do hope that you reconsider being a solo developer with a flexible team …like Will. It may be scary right now, but you need to put yourself in a situation where you don’t need investors to realize your vision.
Go, Mike Go!
- Nick -
Random Animal
Your ego is as big as the nonexistent pile of money your investors are throwing at you. You’ve been in Silicon Valley for how long again?
Your ego is as big as the nonexistent pile of money your investors are throwing at you. You’ve been in Silicon Valley for how long again?
Your Friend
Dear Mike, snap out of it.
Dear Mike, snap out of it.
Seth
I hope your joking about using Lemur Che as a mascot or logo. Maybe I’m not thinking hard enough, but I can’t think of one company I respect that builds its brand on a likeness of a militant marxist that urged for nuclear weapons to be launched from Cuba at the United States. Why not lemur hitler, or lemur stalin?
I wish you luck, but I’d hate to see you tarnish a potentially awesome software brand with a thinly veiled political message that many, if not most, people find major problems with.
I hope your joking about using Lemur Che as a mascot or logo. Maybe I’m not thinking hard enough, but I can’t think of one company I respect that builds its brand on a likeness of a militant marxist that urged for nuclear weapons to be launched from Cuba at the United States. Why not lemur hitler, or lemur stalin?
I wish you luck, but I’d hate to see you tarnish a potentially awesome software brand with a thinly veiled political message that many, if not most, people find major problems with.
Tony Knight
There is nothing like a minor upheaval to sharpen the mind and help you focus on what is important. Great minds always find a way to do great things.
Hit me up if you want to bounce some ideas.
myname@gmail
There is nothing like a minor upheaval to sharpen the mind and help you focus on what is important. Great minds always find a way to do great things.
Hit me up if you want to bounce some ideas.
myname@gmail
Joshua Fleetwood
Congrats on the new (old) idea! You could just generate capital by selling said t-shirts. My email is jfleetwood@gmail.com and my size is xxxl.
Congrats on the new (old) idea! You could just generate capital by selling said t-shirts. My email is jfleetwood@gmail.com and my size is xxxl.
Random Lemur
What exactly did Tapulous do other than take two apps that were already available via Installer and mod them a little bit and wrap them in a social network? Were either of them even your idea? Was anything really “built” besides your ego?
What exactly did Tapulous do other than take two apps that were already available via Installer and mod them a little bit and wrap them in a social network? Were either of them even your idea? Was anything really “built” besides your ego?
Joshua McKenty
Mike,
My tenure at Tapulous has already been forgotten by most, but I’ve got my first solo app in the AppStore review queue. We need to talk.
Joshua
Mike,
My tenure at Tapulous has already been forgotten by most, but I’ve got my first solo app in the AppStore review queue. We need to talk.
Joshua
Random Lemur
Eep! I was you 10 years ago. Egalitarian only lasts as long as it can before the rats and snakes and wolves and foxes and sharks and... take over.
Eep! I was you 10 years ago. Egalitarian only lasts as long as it can before the rats and snakes and wolves and foxes and sharks and... take over.
Three-Legged Lemur
Mike, post thy email address so people can contact you.
Mike, post thy email address so people can contact you.
Random Lemur
Eep!
Have you considered a Patron model instead of instead of a traditonal business model?
If you want to create Software more a kin to Art than Product, then take clues from the funding arrangements of Art.
Sure in the old days and even the new artist most likey had a single patron but doesn’t have to be that way. The basis of a patron over an investor is we would never expect to see money back our return would be in joy not cash.
Not to say there might not be a cash profit down the track and that should be allowed for.
No the idea I’m suggesting is if you work for Patrons then the board must follow that lead, Art comes first profit some where down the line but only if there isn’t something interesting / better to put it to.
How much money do you need say on a weekly basis?
How many patrons does this equate to at say 99c(one itune) per week.
Eep!
Have you considered a Patron model instead of instead of a traditonal business model?
If you want to create Software more a kin to Art than Product, then take clues from the funding arrangements of Art.
Sure in the old days and even the new artist most likey had a single patron but doesn’t have to be that way. The basis of a patron over an investor is we would never expect to see money back our return would be in joy not cash.
Not to say there might not be a cash profit down the track and that should be allowed for.
No the idea I’m suggesting is if you work for Patrons then the board must follow that lead, Art comes first profit some where down the line but only if there isn’t something interesting / better to put it to.
How much money do you need say on a weekly basis?
How many patrons does this equate to at say 99c(one itune) per week.
Josh
I’ll second Seth’s sentiments. Even if you made the coolest, whiz-bang piece of software that I just had to have, I’d refuse to buy anything associated with that piece of marxist scum, even if it was dressed up as a cute lemur.
Screw the “Che Lemur” logo, and draw up one with “Benevolent Lemur”.
I’ll second Seth’s sentiments. Even if you made the coolest, whiz-bang piece of software that I just had to have, I’d refuse to buy anything associated with that piece of marxist scum, even if it was dressed up as a cute lemur.
Screw the “Che Lemur” logo, and draw up one with “Benevolent Lemur”.
Random Lemur
I feel your pain. I recently left the startup I co-founded. It is a painful process, but life goes on... to the next big thing. While they have what I built, the vision they don’t keep, and goes with me.
I feel your pain. I recently left the startup I co-founded. It is a painful process, but life goes on... to the next big thing. While they have what I built, the vision they don’t keep, and goes with me.
Here’s an idea — I could take my newly minted Silicon Valley Veteran badge and appeal to investors who are personal heroes.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Engineering the Organization
