Software, Team and Strategy

I just had a quick exchange over twitter in regards to Redbeacon being bought out by Home Depot.  First of all I want to congratulate Yaron, Aaron and the rest on starting a great company that got great traction.  Secondly why the hell did you sell to Home Depot? I understand that a lot of folks in this world right now do startups and want to cash out.  If that’s why you are starting a venture – great!  You are basically running an R&D department for a big company, but if you are really passionate about your space selling to a company that sells 2x4s is a sure way to get marginalized and become irrelevant. I have spent time in companies big and small.  I have created new features, new marketplaces, worked with partners and developed products.  In order to become a great company sales, marketing, development and executive sponsorship need to be in sync. I can understand that a small product can be absorbed into a bigger offering and accelerate because of that acquisition, but

Before I get into the New Year resolutions for 2012 let’s recap how I have done with my 2011 resolutions.  Thankfully they are easily found on my blog: http://www.mikebz.com/2011/01/new-years-resolutions-2011.html  How did I do?  I had just five things on my list: dribbling better in soccer, dropping my body fat percentage below 10%, taking jiu-jitsu classes, take meditation classes and go on a Zen retreat. I actually did pretty well.  I have been consistently going to meditate at the San Francisco Zen Center and even went on a retreat to Green Gulch farm.  The jiu-jitsu ended up getting punted on.  Body fat percentage is stuck stubbornly at around 12% and won’t go below 10%.  Soccer got taken off the list because I just can’t find a good soccer league close to my house.  Instead I picked up tennis, I think it’s a fair trade. Now on to my 2012 list: - Consistently take Yoga and work on the flexibility of my body - Figure out a good travel diet so that my time on the road