I often get invited to classes at the various universities around town to give a talk, sit on a judging panel or be the entertainment for the evening. The other day, I was asked to speak with a group of technical students in a summer group getting some business briefings. Rounding out the minds, I suppose. It was a small group of about 18 students and my time lasted for about 45 minutes.
The Q & A wasn’t recorded (my bad) so this is off my notes and what stuck out in my mind.
Q: Is Slashdot important?
A: Heh. Like I’m gonna take that bait. If you’re asking if I think, as a technical person, there is value in reading the various top line entries in slashdot, I’d say yes. If you are asking me if I think wading through all the debate, <fill in> bashing is useful, not really. I would not, as a business person, give slashdot commentary as much weight as say a search in blogland on a particular topic. But that’s my personal opinion based on what data I need in my daily life.
Q: What’s the best conference a student can attend to learn from?
A: Depends on what you do. As a technical person, looking to mind meld with other technical people, Reboot and/or Gnomedex. As a business person trying to see what’s out there, what’s happening on the various technology fronts, CeBit in Germany is a good choice. Reboot/Gnomedex are good choices because very smart people spend time with people getting started or wanting to learn. Both places have an amazing sensitivity to mixing the speakers with the audience.
Q: After reading your blog and the various hits you’ve placed on Microsoft and Robert Scoble, would you hire him to promote a product?
A: I’m surprised you think they were hits, debates more like it and lots of smart people chiming in. On hiring Robert, no I wouldn’t because that is not what he does and I’d be disappointed that at the end of his MS run, that’s all people thought he did. I’d recruit Hugh Macleod for promotional work because he is amazing at it and worth 10x whatever he gets paid. Robert? Change agent. If I was running some company, I’d hire em as a change agent, give him a contract, shields, a video camera, and stir stick for max shit disturbing. His style, approach and results speak for themselves but he’s not the guy holding up a can of Jugo Juice saying, “mmm tastes like chicken..” Not his thing.
Q: Do you think Google will beat Microsoft?
A: No. I think both companies will be successful with you being the winner. You’ll be able to “beat” somebody else because those two companies offer up so many opportunities for people to innovate and make money.
Q: Would you go back to work for Microsoft?
A: No. Different company today looking for different skill sets.
Q: Why do you quote/point to Scoble so much?
A: He’s a good target. More seriously, tho, it’s a function of the new world we live in. Because of blogging and transparent communications we have today, famous people (or people who are ‘public’) are in a much better position to show you all sides of an issue. This also means you get to see the good, bad, ugly, smart, etc. When Scoble, Doc Searls, Dave Winer, Om Malik, Seth Godin or any of the more public people are involved in any issue, it’s always educational for starts ups and business in general. I try to call stuff out from that perspective. So, for example, if there is an incident/issue with Microsoft that has Robert fighting the good fight, you can get a front row seat to the action. Besides raw entertainment, there is usually good educational/life lesson stuff happening which is what I hope I’m pointing out. I recognize it can look like shameless sucking up but I assume that so long as I’m making a valid point about the conversation, people will get it and not get hung up in keeping score of whom I’m talking about.
Q: Do you make money on your blog? Do you think anybody can make money on blogging.
A: No, it cost me money just like most people. I believe blogging can be a part of an overall business that can make money, yes. Straight blogging, with ad revenue and, maybe subscriptions or donations of some sort? Could be. Making money for some people means that little extra resulting from selling the old stuff on Ebay so 50 bux in ad revenue will matter to some people.
Q: Do most VC firms have a blog?
A: I don’t believe so. I believe VC firms are like any other business. Some are trying, others are watching to figure it out, and others don’t feel the need.
Q: What was your favorite job?
A: Prior to being in the VC business? Being in the U.S. Air Force on the AWACS aircraft. I loved it beyond words. VC gig is the best tho…
Q: Worst job?
A: Bagger at Safeway in Richardson, Texas. Job consisted on taking groceries out to cars after bagging them, stacking dirty, sticky,soda empties a mile high, and using a buffer to polish the floors after the store closed. I ran the buffer into a shelf really hard and took out half the canned vegetable aisle. Awful job.
Q: How many blogs to you read regularly?
A: 25 and I have a some keyword searches that result in additional feeds that I scan for good stuff.
Q: Do you look for an MBA when funding a company?
A: It’s not a pre-requisite to get in the door, no.
Q: Do you think people in 5 years will all have a PDA of some sort that will provide messaging, video, etc, in an always on state?
A: No. 10 years for 60+ percent penetration for edge networks to be deployed enough with price points down where it is just normal. That plus devices in general getting 30fps video, streaming music, GPS, etc. 10+ for main stream.
Q: Favorite device?
A: RIM/Blackberry.
Q: Why?
A: Rock solid, does the things I need, features I need, without the overhead.
Q: Do you think there is a market for personal RFID jamming devices?
A: No. Too many myths about passive RFID tags/readers floating around.
It was great fun and I always appreciate the opportunity to talk to the next generation of credit card spending consumers as well as the work force of tomorrow.
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