Another Post From MF: Putting Things In Perspective......
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Subject: Putting Things In Perspective..
Date: Thu, Jul 23, 1998 12:21 EDT
From: FKSmart
Message-id: <1998072316212700.MAA25848@ladder01.news.aol.com>
Just came back from Salt Lake City. Visited three very exciting private/public companies. Sorry to say, but I didn't have the time to visit Novell as well as another private company I've been following for some time now.
Here's a piece of the email I sent to the execs and money guys involved:
"Dear.......
"I get around quite alot in financial industry circles, among technologist, etc. - and it is a rare, but blessed experience to enjoy the kind of fusion of vision, energy and passion we all shared during our conversations on Monday and Tuesday.
Thank you for bringing me into your emerging world which I think holds great potential to not only make good systems/products that solve problems and make money, but - if properly integrated into this emerging, intelligent, digital IP global network - has the power to unleash a torrent of good in the world.
My mission and passion in life is twofold: 1) empower "the individual" as we 2) unbundle the enterprise. The energy that's being released into the fabric of human history right now is so incredible.
We are at an unbelieveable intersection in world history - not unlike the colonists where in when they discovered they had the power and right to break free from England and become the first world example of the common man breaking the back of political tyranny.
How this plays out will be very interesting, for world enterprises everywhere are both hugely at risk - for those who embrace the enterprise - and hugely leveraged for growth - for those who embrace the individual - all because of the internet.
The "status quo" enterprises the world over have the power to break the back of this newfound collective energy of individual freedom by supporting technology/systems that slow down or co-opt innovation wihile diverting it into a few selective channels within each verticle market. Are we going to end up with 2-3 national banks or broker dealers - quite possible if technology perverts/tranforms itself into a bunch of ropes, balls and chains?
The internet is fused with the power and energy of freedom, equality, truth and justice, but we need more people to embrace this "good energy" while this new global platform is being built out so that the world can enjoy a future where technology power players aren't allowed to construct funnells or dams along this new global river of freedom - dams which take energy away for the storage and maintenance of the same construct.
The other analogy would be train tracks. Let's make sure this global information network is really paved with "good actions" - thanks to Java - so we can all freely drive anywhere anytime while crossing over the old proprietary RR tracks - closed systems, windows. etc.
We have an incredible opportunity to "do good" in so many ways that are fundamentally integrated to doing good business and making money.
I look forward to sharing my energy, passion and insights going forward.
Thanks again, etc....."
Fred Smart"
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To continue....
What's really very exciting about today's landscape is the power of freedom, ingenuity and ideas that are flowing everywhere you look. Entirely new fields of freedom and opportunity are being plowed and planted for eventual harvest. More and more of the seeds being sown are not proprietary Windows or Wintel. Java is on the rise.
I have writing metaphorically before so I hope this stuff doesn't go down too hard. Even if you are one of the most selfish, grizzly cynical executives out there you can't ignore results. And the results are beginning to show up everywhere.
What am I talking about? The power of freedom in a world that, thanks to technology, finally can reflect, richochet, refine and produce the fluid fruits from human creative power within seconds, hours, days versus weeks, months and years.
Ideas are the "new currency" in this "new economy" where feedback loops no longer have to be exposed to committees, corporate politics and personal selfish agendas. What's really compelling about all this is that these creative feedback loops can survive and flower only in an environment where there is a shared vision among participants to "do what's right", "be open", "give back", "serve others", etc. As wild as it may sound in this day and
age, the time is not far off where your handshake and your word may once again be respected. More and more people will understand and respect these fundamental spiritual laws that govern us all from day to day.
The more I talk and meet with developers out there - and the executives and deal makers making the "leaps of faith" to support them - the more I sense this growing, driving, papaple sense of personal empowerment and individual freedom that's dying to be expressed - almost evangelically, fervently. What is form of expression is driving all of this excitement?? HELPING OTHERS...MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE..MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
Please, don't think I am parrotting Gilder or Rand, but capitalism is all about "serving others." This truth has never been sold to the general public for these flowery things get compartmentalized over in religions, within families, etc. Going forward, if a company is not acting from this essential mission - if their goal is simply to "make money", then I would hazard to say this company will be judged/spotted, sooner than what has been the case
in the past, for having the wrong motives or mission. We all know companies today that exhibit these selfish patterns. You can't change a leopard's spots.
I personally am committed to making a difference in the world in my own way. Each day I get more tools, more information, more contacts that help me continue painting this exciting new picture that I see for the world. What I saw and experienced out in Salt Lake was enlightening. What I gave back to the developers and executives who I met with was this firey message of freedom that is changing the world. These people caught this fire for they
were already nursing their own personal "fires"
Bill Gate's has not articulated this message of openness and freedom. He has bamboozled hundreds of thousands of very intelligent developers into thinking "its all right" to continue to code and develop behind "Closed Windows". Sure, the money is there, etc. etc. Each developer has a very narrowly defined focus of the world - you have to or else you won't be able to concentrate. When Gate's walks through - in front of - this narrow viewfinder he
waves money, seats the hook, lifts them up, pats them on the back - all without telling them where they've landed or what direction they are heading in.
Many of these developers - and they don't really know it - are simply constructing dams that redirect boats and block the energy flow in this expanding river of freedom. When Gates constructs each dam he makes a point to install turbines which feed the energy and power of this global river of information so he can go downstream to construct more dams, etc. Meanwhile, only the more robust of the existing cos. have the resources to portage their
boats out and down to the bottom of the canyon - regroup and move downstream. The little guys are left behind in Microsoft Lake # 123.
I'm convinced that the worldwide development community is gradually awakening to the realization that good, exicting work is all about focusing on the individual - for its the end game. In this analogy, this is about creating the small, nimble crafts, canoes, or boats that collectivitly allow individuals (empowered one-to-one) to ride this river of freedom in ways that collectively advance mankind to the "next higher level".
With the way Gates is playing this game, if you are a Microsoft developer you are NOT advancing this cause. You are simply constructing HIS dams that power HIS turbines that increase HIS power to control and restrict the "flow of individually-based freedom" in this world. He is spending his billions buying off the collective souls of executives that work in enterprises that don't fully appreciate the value of individual freedom and empowerment.
The enterprise is still AT RISK, but if Gates gets his way he can help more of the big guys preserve this trend of merging/submerging consolidation as more industries exercise their need for control which is a simple exstension of "his" need for control.
Hate to get more sappy, but there is a growing list of companies like Novell that have chosen to stand on the other end of the spectrum from Microsoft - for openness, empowerment, light, etc. Eric Schmidt HAS and continues to articulate this message. The Information Super-Highway of the 21st century will be a highway of FREEDOM that has the power - as I have articulated before - to flatten any proprietary, political or controlling entity that
stands in the way. To get back to my central point from a while back: Let The Tom Paines of the world UNITE!!!
Keep up the good work Eric. Wished I could have met you in person this week.
Good luck!
Note: I am working with interests aligned with me to raise from $30-40mm for one or more of the above companies which I can't mention.
Ida5683/FKSmart |
