A Personal Blog
Archive for March, 2004
Eric Rudder Answers Email Too!
Mar 29th
Apparently Steve Ballmer isn’t the only one to answer Email. Eric Rudder, a very senior VP at Microsoft (as I understand it he’s in charge of more than 20,000 staff members); recently answered an email.
The backstory on this is that Robert Scoble blogged, Eric responded in his comments:
I really did want to show it was OK to blog.
I know there are many who agree with Doug, and who get on my case about not spending enough time posting. But I need to make a tradeoff in terms of either me personally posting, or encouraging the 20,000 people in the Server and Tools Business to spend more time interacting with the community, and I have chosen to do the latter.
I still do chats on TechNet, post to the occasional newsgroup, and spend time with MVP’s and the like — but I am sure there are folks that would like to see me post more. I promise to give it a shot if I can free up some time elsewhere.
Robert responded quite succintly, but I felt a need to chime in (don’t I always). I’ve talked to many executives and mainly I believe the challenge of blogging is a perspective thing. Most people think of it much like writing articles or a book: something that actually takes time. I don’t view it that way at all. Here’s my email to him:
Eric,
I agree. In truth (again, feel free to skip this); I had tried blogging 3 times before. Each time I over-extended myself. I ended up starting a group blog to gain confidence and to get around the expectation of frequent posting. I eventually got up the confidence to take over and step out on my own.
Either way, enjoy the journey. It’s a great learning experience, improves your writing and will definitely help you get in touch with the community again.
Don’t worry about the frequent posting, most of us are already subscribed to your feed anyways.
Have a great day,
Jeremy
And here is his response, much longer than Steve’s. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ;-)
Thanks for the encouragement … I will try to spend some more time on this.
I want to set expectations low, and then surpass them!
-eric
Seth to Visit Ensight
Mar 29th
Seth Godin will be visiting Ensight, as well as 9 other blogs, in May for the 3rd installment of the Business Blog Book Tour.
I’m actually hoping to have the redesign up for the stop here on May 10th.
The book for May? Free Prize Inside: The Next Big Marketing Idea
I Won the Netherlands Lottery!
Mar 29th
Whoo!
Batch No:6858/NL Our Ref: NE-NL/255457004/04 Our Ref: NE-NL/0627/04 Attention:
RE: BONUS LOTTERY PROMOTION PRIZE AWARDS WINNING NOTIFICATION We are pleased to inform you of the announcement today, 29th of March, 2004 of winners of the BONUS PROMOTION LOTTERY NETHERLANDS /INTERNATIONAL, PROGRAMS held on 26 March, 2004. Your email address attached to ticket number 023-56678230954, drew the lucky numbers 16-25-27-32-35-43-42, batch number 6858/NL and consequently won the lottery in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved of a lump sum pay out of EURO 250.OOO (TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND EURO) in credited to file LOTTERY REF NO. SGIL/763276/03. This is from total prize money of EURO 20,000,000.00 shared among the seventeen international winners in categories C with serial number: IL/FLW/12-C033721192.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn form 25,000 company email addresses and 30,000,000 individual email addresses from Australia, Africa, New Zealand, America, Europe, North America and Asia as part of International Promotions Program, which is conducted annually. CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now in custody of a financial Security company insured in your FILE REFERENCE. Due to the mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep this award strictly from public notice until your Claim has been processed and your money remitted to your account. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants of this program. This lottery program was promoted by our group of philanthropist headed by the Netherlands government. We hope with a part of you prize, you Will participate in our end of year high stakes EURO 5,000,000 million International Lottery. To begin your claim, please contact your file/claim Officer:
Customer Service Unit, Inter-Continental Trust, Finance & Security Tel No:+31-613933620,+31-645938191 Fax No:,+31-205241470 Email:oliverpaul@mail2world.com Contact person: Mr. Oliver PAUL
Please be informed that NON RESIDENCE of THE NETHERLANDS will be required to make a NON DEDUCTABLE advance payment of processment and legal documentation charges of 700.00 Euros to enable our legal department acquire Naturalization papers from the Court prior to award payment policy as required by the paying Financial Security Company. Please be aware that your Paying Authority will Effect Payment Swiftly upon satisfactory Report, Verifications and validation provided by our Processing Agent; that would be designated to your file. For due processment and remittance of your winning prize to your designated account of your choice. Remember, all prize money must be claimed not later than 27th April 2004. After this date, all funds will be returned as unclaimed. NOTE: In order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please remember to quote your reference and batch numbers in every one of your correspondences with your agent. Furthermore, should there be any change of your address, do inform your claims agent as soon as possible. Congratulations once again from our team of staff and thank you for being part of our promotional program. Note: Anybody under the age of 18 is AUTOMATICALY DISQUALIFIED..
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
CHARLES LOUIS, Director. International Promotions Unit, Netherlands NATIONAL LOTTERY, Units 2A & 2B, Olympic Way, Sefton Business Park, Aintree Amsterdam,
Now why would I keep this a secret? Everyone should know!!! I’ll be sending my 700 Euro cheque, for my 250,000 Euro prize tonight!
I’m sure someone can confirm this as false for me, right? ;-)
Gates Thinks…. Duh?
Mar 29th
Bill Gates recently had a “Think Week”. Read some of his down-to-earth thoughts on the future of computing, networking, security, etc.
Console Wars Thoughts: Post GDC
Mar 29th
Well, the Game Developer’s Conference has come and gone. While there weren’t a lot of really huge things to say from Microsoft, perhaps that’s a good thing. Sony has essentially said they’ll be milking the PS2 through the end of the decade.
Interesting strategy? Yeah.
