Month: December 2011

This week I was really touched by an entrepreneur that completely opened up to me.

I was touched because i felt like he trusted me completely and he shared with me information that will remain in my vault.

I also know that he has done right by me personally and professionally.

And for all of these reasons I’m forever in his corner. Ill do whatever it takes to make this work. We got a good two way relationship going.

But this week it also became clear to me that some of the relationships I’m in are simply one way. I give, they take.

I like giving. Especially when I’m helping. And when the other side appreciates it. That’s all I need.

But in this case I don’t think the other side appreciates it. And that ugly truth is now clear and painful. I’ve gotten enough back channel that the picture has been painted.

The only way I know how to deal with it in this case is to live and learn. I’m resolute to find better relationships in 2012.

I just finished reading the Steve Jobs biography.

He was a complicated genius. #understatement

One thing in particular (amongst several other items) is his view about Google Android.

It was clear that he looked at Android as enemy #1. Steve looked at Android as a direct rip off – look and feel, and functionality (multitouch). He wanted to see Android wiped off the face of the planet. Ultimately he felt like it was stealing from the original.

I’ve talked to a number of folks that build proprietary software and many of them feel similar. They think that open source desktops, database, operating systems, browsers, etc are basically clones of their proprietary counterparts but with a “radical” business model attached.

I’ve been thinking about this notion for awhile. Is it true?

There is something so powerful about the open source movement. The idea that a community can come together on a global basis and design, build and ship code is absolutely amazing.

In some ways i think about Linux the way I think about Wikipedia. How is it possible that the community could come together and make something so incredible.

But that comparison isn’t perfect. I don’t think Wikipedia is just an open source alternative to Encyclapedia Britanica. It’s a vastly different experience (breath, depth and real time).

I think we need to aim even higher with open source movement. It’s not just about an open source version of Photoshop or Windows or MS Office. It has to be bigger and more ambitious than free and open. It has to be better.

Those open source projects that do this are the one that blow me away.

(please excuse typos and lack of links. wrote this on my phone)