Cleaning up from the MediaStorm
I liked this picture of me.
I've gotten so much email that I'm just struggling mentally. It's all catching up now. I stayed at work until 4:30 a.m. (hey, no senioritis here!) and was back here at 9:30 a.m. for an interview with our new Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Alex Gounares (he just came off of a two-year-stint as Bill Gates technical assistant).
If you had any doubts whether the company was going to press on with blogging and customer conversations, have no doubt. Alex says the company is going to accelerate its usage of blogging. He says that they are seeing so many good things come out of the blogging movement inside the company that they'd be stupid to try to slow it down.
He also showed me the new ThinkWeek site. Now, for the first time, every employee can visit the site and vote for their favorite ThinkWeek papers. Oh, and they can see what Bill and other people thought about the papers.
I just realized I'm having the most weird experiences ever since I told everyone I quit. Not only did he give me one of the best interviews I've ever gotten but after the camera is off he gave me some personal business advice about things to look for in the video space.
Would you let an employee who announced to the world that he was leaving walk around your executive offices with a camcorder? I'm not sure many companies in the world would.
Oh, and he invited me back to work at Microsoft just in case my new gig didn't work out, but added "next time, though, we're gonna ask you some coding questions in your interview."
I joked back "they should have done that when they hired me the first time."
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Well, while I'm in blog lock, I'm still digging out and still giving interviews. Tomorrow morning I'll be on BBC Radio.
Today Mary Jo Foley gave me my first "exit interview." Hers was easy. Charles Torre is planning to do one and he asks really tough questions, not looking forward to that!
Ed Brill, of IBM, notes that corporate blogs are often best used to talk to internal audiences. I totally agree. There's something about putting an idea in public that gets it considered a lot more strongly than just writing an email to a contained group of people. Anyway, Ed is taking stock of how many IBM employees read his blog.
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Lots of media on my leaving.
Beet.TV was the one who broke my news (that'll teach me not to tell a few bloggers about what I was doing. Heheh.) and they have a bunch of video from VLoggercon, and some news from Google's video team as well.
I'm on Geek Entertainment TV.
Scott Beale has great photos, as usual, of VLoggerCon.
Xolo.TV has a video interview with me.
I'm on BeachWalks with Rox (she does a show every day from a beach in Hawaii — sadly I wasn't in Hawaii for this one).
Leo Laporte, on This Week in Tech, says he has the last podcast I've done before I quit my job.
Any other video interviews? Leave a link in the comments here.
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Inside Microsoft asks if I'll still be at a bunch of conferences. Yes, definitely. One of my first plans is to travel the world with John Furrier and get out of the echo chamber of Silicon Valley.
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Vik tells how I snatched him from Google.
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I love Thomas Hawk. His photos are inspiring.
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Rick Schaut gave me some advice that led, in part, to my decision.
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But, I do have my detractors. Among them is Shmula and some of his commenters who think I'm possibly not sincere. Bill Trippe thinks I'm not terribly interesting (he's right) and that my value just declined a whole lot (hope not, but he's probably right there too).
James Fee says "I'm unsubscribing."
Update: I totally forgot about Rocketboom. My son and I are on Rocketboom with Amanda. Now you know why I really quit Microsoft — I wanted to see Amanda again!
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June 13th, 2006 at 3:33 pm
Meh. You dont’ take a job because of what other people think.
You take the job because it will make you happier, and let you do more of what you want.
Everything else is inconsequential.
June 13th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
John, no, but other people’s perspectives, particularly when they have more experience than you do, are worth listening to and considering. Rick’s was.
June 13th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Thanks for posting that Robert.
I will check out every interview.
June 13th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Which BBC radio station will you be on tommorrow?
I’ll be tuning in to Radio 4 and BBC world as usual on my journey across Koeln, Germany.
Good luck.
Steve / Chippy.
June 13th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
:)) Good picture with exit sign on it :D
Good luck for ur new job.
Praveen
June 13th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Congrats Rob ,,, on your lifestream
I emailed you a few weeks ago , but never mind
I found an article in the local Niagara Falls Newspaper about Corporate Blogging and it had mentioned you in several paragraphs ,,
Would you be interested in the article ?
I could mail it it too you ,,
Best Wishes
John Piercy
June 13th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Good luck in the new role and yep please let us know which BBC Radio you are talking on - there are lots of BBC channels and programmes…
ps What do you think to Microsoft buying out Podtech to get you back :-)
June 13th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
@7 Why in the world would MS want to buy Podtech? What technology would they be buying? Moreover, why would they buy a company with a yet unproven business model?
June 13th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
I think English Cut is on BBC Radio 4 this Thursday… I get a quick mention…
So when is MS hiring The Hughtrain? Sheesh!Q
June 13th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
John,
Good advice doesn’t consist of telling people what to do. Good advice consists of telling them things that help them figure out what to do for themselves.
Robert,
I’m honestly flattered that my advice played a role. And, I have to admit to having felt a ping of trepidation before sending it off to you with the full knowledge of what the result might well have been. In the end, though, if you care about people, you still have to do what you can to help them work things out.
June 13th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Hey Robby,
I knew you wouldn’t last up here (Seattle) very long! One thing about Geeks…when you live in San Jose the few times you do get outdoors it is usually nice out. Here….not so much…case in point, it’s been raining for five days now! Someday I’m sure I’ll move back to the Bay Area…well, maybe not. We’ve talked about a BBQ since you moved up here…you’ll have to tell me when you’re leaving so we can actually get one done!
June 13th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
[...] i think most of the people who find this to be shocking or surprising are missing the big picture here. people like robert scoble are, very much like myself, early adopters of technology. the very reason why scoble is so well-known is because he started out in the world of corporate blogging well before it was commonplace. he saw a whole new way for microsoft to reach out to their customers, as well as the rest of the industry, and continue to evolve their product offerings by gathering much more “realtime” feedback. this is, in my opinion, invaluable to any company… but the fact that a large company like microsoft just “gets it” when it comes to blogging is only going to continue to help them. as scoble said in his blog today, microsoft’s executives know and understand the importance of constant innovation — and not just in their products, but in the way that they communicate with their customers and thereby evolve those products. [...]
June 13th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Congrats on the new gig! You’ve left an indelible mark at Microsoft. I am sure they are discussing ways to fill the void. It is generally true that an employee’s worth is appraised in hindsight… otherwise negotiating your own raise wouldn’t be so difficult! Heh. I’m being autobiographical.
Anyhow, I applaud you for taking this leap. Just let me know where to subscribe, and I’m there!
June 14th, 2006 at 2:36 am
Haha love the photo, I see you have your “I am not Matt Cutts” T-Shirt on! :)
June 14th, 2006 at 2:43 am
You look a bit like philip seymour hoffman with your glasses on
June 14th, 2006 at 2:59 am
I have just one question for you Robert. Where should I go for MS news now? I’m serious. I can’t go to the offical press releases, they’re boring as hell. Does MS have a contingency plan?
June 14th, 2006 at 5:05 am
Like robert mentioned, there are more than 3,000 Microsoft Bloggers out there and it’s growing each day in every country, so I’m sure you will find something out there, if not then theres always the unoficial blogs, like mine! ;)
With blogs like that youll get an overview of what Microsoft is doing, and sometimes youll find better information than the official MS Blogs! :)
Your choice.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:31 am
In all true sincerity, wish you the best of luck, even if a bubble (which it most assuredly is), you will have tons of fun playing with Video’isms and doing PRish wonky type of things, just keep that short-sell finger all trigger-happy (and get a Steadicam).
BUT if Hollywood/LA or Burbank/NYC calls, leave the techie start-ups behind in a dizzy headspin, and put me on speed dial. Use your celebrity-power to like meet JJ Abrams. ;)
Didyah see Sonic Foundry’s Mediasite™, their new Podcastingish tool? Sonic has always done good stuff, and speaking of Sonic, Sony’s new Cinescore kicks (Go Sony go), all Acidish without the hassle. Also ITP Research kicked up Video Comments, which is a WordPress Plugin for, guess what…commenting on Videos. Also Paula A. Kerger of PBS, is going serious full-speed-ahead on VOD, per John Boland’s appt. And more and more podish news out there, news bubble for sure too. Reminds me of the Wired 1995 era, where every dot.com was hailed as the second coming, and everyone was worshipping at the Church of the Early Adopters. (Woulda emailed the newsbits, but seems it will be weeks before you come up for air).
PS - What NLE you use? Also Final Draft AV is kicking “podcast planner”, btw. Should look into that, I much perfer the pure Final Draft, but warmed to AV for some Videography work of late, plus the ad agencies (pox on them) like AV over real screenplayish style.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:46 am
Gotta love that picture! :)
It’s kindda Ironic if you consider that your “stats” screen capture posted a few entry below featured Firefox :)
June 14th, 2006 at 8:29 am
Unfortunately, the picture did not open in my PC. I have just one request for you. Please give some time and attention to making blogging popular. Blogging gave you so much fame and perhpas fortune. So, if you can give some to the blogging community too.
June 14th, 2006 at 8:39 am
WOW, your head must be spinning. I am totally pumped for your success. Ride the wave while it lasts, (just dont leave the surfboard behind). It seems that in reading your posts Its like I bask a little in your fortune. Yes, the picture says to me you are without malice, guile or arrogance. Well done and keep blogging. Mick http://rockwatching.wordpress.com
June 14th, 2006 at 9:23 am
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
that is just SO MUCH more terrifying than “red tape”!
June 14th, 2006 at 9:55 am
…wishing the very best of luck to you in your new gig/venture, Scobleizer. (Remember us when you’re famous.)
June 14th, 2006 at 10:11 am
I watched some of the Rocketboom interview — does Northern Voice sell those “Bloggable” shirts, or do you have to actually show up to get one?
June 14th, 2006 at 10:25 am
I guess your wrapped up with microsoft? I hope everything works out for you.
Phil
June 14th, 2006 at 10:46 am
Garrett: I don’t know. I had to show up to get one.
Realestateceo: My last day at Microsoft is June 30.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:07 am
One name Robert - Leonard Nimoy.
He went on to work in a couple of shows, but he was/is forever known as Spock, from the planet Vulcan.
I’ll be interested to see if you have become so closely tied to Microsoft that you’ll never be known as anything else.
Either way, I’m very happy for you! It sounds like you’ll be very happy in the direction you’ve decided to set out in.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Robert,
It’s funny you mentioned about coding questions … because, funnily enough, it always seems tougher to get into big companies when you are looking for non code-developer kind of gigs. I mean, what would be the direct path to someone who knew his technology but didn’t want a coding job?!
During graduation, I heard this from numerous friends who were in job hunting mode (me, I just did the startup thingy!)
Lets take an example … someone has a successful startup, it grows, matures, and outside directors/managers are given control and/or it gets merged/sold. How can someone with this resume even approach one of the software biggies for a job. Not through the /jobs part of the website for sure … that only deals with one kind of serious job … programming!
June 14th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Just got this one……
http://redmondmag.com/news/article.asp?editorialsid=7522
June 16th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
I saw the “Cutts” on your shirt and thought, “No way… does that say what I think it says?”
Hehe, nice shirt.
June 17th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
[...] The world was shaken by the loss of a General at Microsoft this week. It was stunned by the loss of a man who was cutting edge, who had pioneered changes at the company when change was needed. That man was Bill Gates Robert Scoble. [...]
June 18th, 2006 at 12:49 am
[...] The week past has witnessed blogosphere’s shock-horror-all-is-lost reactions to Robert Scoble’s announcement that he will leave Microsoft to join Podcast. This was greeted by a mixture of true emotion and disbelief that the voice of Microsoft would go and do such a thing. There was a spattering of some “so what who cares”. [...]
June 20th, 2006 at 3:57 am
[...] Original post by Robert Scoble Escrito en Uncategorized, Scoble family [...]
June 21st, 2006 at 7:43 am
[...] Scoble Can You Do Me a Favor? Message to Robert Scoble: Can you please do me a favor? As a fellow TabletPC fan, employee (for the moment) of Microsoft and all-around blogging pro – please go over to the TabletPC team, program manager, whomever and whack them in the head for me. When it was launched I was very happy to see the TabletPC team start blogging. The thought of news and views from the horse’s mouth really had me excited. Then – nothing. Three posts in six months? Wow. I know they are busy – so am I. But to me that is inexcusable. Get serious or remove the blog. Unsubscribed. Published Wednesday, June 21, 2006 11:39 AM by ntpro [...]