The first post

---

What to write on the first post of a new blog:

1. A scathing indictment of the current political environment
2. Detailed descriptions of silly things my cat did this weekend (I don’t have a cat)
3. Lament on the effects [and causes] of the current economic crisis (with potential trackback to 1)
4. Discuss my current relationship status and solicit advice
5. Show a picture and go “freestyle”

[ 5 please ]

The “trap”, the “snare” (the “reality?”):

After recently quitting my job to become a full time “entrepreneur” I was sent a picture that was taken by former colleagues. It came with a sub-title that read ” …. devised a plan to lure you back”.

I know I was not supposed to get all philosophical about the meaning of the picture or conjure up any analogies, but I couldn’t help it. I started thinking about the simplicity of the meaning: we can lure someone in with something they need and/or want.

I started thinking “what do I personally put in that box to ‘lure’ service from companies?” [Reframed] “What am I providing that gives incentive to businesses to provide their service to me?” Time for transparency; this scared me. I recently quit a great job in order to start a new company and had yet to really think through this fundamental exchange with customers: consumers provide X and companies find it valuable enough to return in kind with Y (in goods or services).

What is X?

In many cases “X” is money

Common case. A customer puts money out and businesses provide services in exchange for it.

In some cases “X” is time

[ Ex: Google, Pandora.com ]

A customer looks at advertisements, or provides opinions, or simply exists in an area and thus the company can sell that advertising space, opinion or presence to other companies for ……. money. In return the customer gets the advantage of the service .. (without direct cost)

In some cases “X” is data (even MY data)

[ Ex: PriceGrabber.com ]

A customer uses a program and/or service that is offered as “free”, but the company has to “keep the lights on”. Data is aggregated, at times anonymized and sold to other users/services for …… money. In some businesses this is considered a viable model of sustainability.

---

This may be a confusing analogy, but I believe that we (as consumers) have a significant amount of power in how we “vote” with our resources. We choose to pay money or provide time or provide opinion or provide audience or provide data; and in turn we utilize the services of companies and organizations. The key here is that we get to choose how we “pay” for our goods and services. We are empowered and we have choices.

So, here I stand on the precipice of launching a new company and a simple picture (sent as a joke) has me questioning the fundamental underpinnings of the web application software world. What works? What sustains? What am I willing to put under that box to attract goods and services? I think we should all ask that question more often in our increasingly connected world.

---