Bootstrapped Startup Saves Over $100K By Dropping IE | TechCrunch

Working in the technology industry for the past 11 years I have seen the pain IE causes.  Good to see a company not support IE and succeed doing it.

Bootstrapped Startup Saves Over $100K By Dropping IE | TechCrunch.

Okay Maybe I Like Reading

I picked up The Thank You Economy by Gary Vanerchuck on Friday afternoon and had it finished last night.  It was just another book I just could not put down.  Gary is very authentic and real and that is what draws me to his books and anything he posts online.  Here is a list of the main take away points from the book.

• CARE!!
• Erase lines in the sand
• Instill a culture of caring
• Allow customers to help shape your brand
• Speak the customers language
• Be the first to market
• Build community
• Good intent
• Use shock and awe to get people talking
• Quality over quantity
• Engage with customers
• Do not be afraid to crawl before you run

All this seems like DUH! but there are so many companies out there that are not doing it.  I can proudly say that I work for a company that can answer yes to almost every point on that list.  That company is Cherwell Software.  Vance, Tim and Arlen started the company from the ground up. Doing what is right for the customer and actively listening to what the customer wants and making a product that suits there needs.  How can they do this?  They did not seek venture capitalist money to get the company going. So they only answer to customers!!  Cherwell also really cares about there employees.  No one is micro managed and everyone gets there job done plus some.  The attitude is this is a work place that you will stay at until your retire.

As I start up my small side ventures I am taking in all this information from Gary and also the culture at Cherwell.  I am good at computer and customer service so I have started up Peak View Computers.  I also have decided that when I do retire that I would be a mechanic.  So why not start planning for retirement now.  I am also starting up Vdubs and Jeeps.  As that last point states “Do not be afraid to crawl before you run”, I am starting Vdubs and Jeeps at a crawl.  Right now I have seven books on my desk on the history of Jeeps and the Volkswagen bug.  I would call it building the foundation so I can engage with my customers and speak there language when the time comes.

Thank you for reading my post.  If you have any comments or questions or just want to say hi, please feel free to do so.

Robby