Jeb Banner http://www.jebbanner.com thoughts on life, tech and biz posterous.com Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:12:06 -0800 9 Questions To Ask Before Starting A Business http://www.jebbanner.com/9-questions-to-ask-before-starting-a-business http://www.jebbanner.com/9-questions-to-ask-before-starting-a-business
Had an informational interview with an IUPUI student this week. He was back in school and looking to start his own business when he "got out". He was interviewing different business owners, trying to get the lay of the land, see if he was cut out for it. I started saying a bunch of stuff and forgot to say some other stuff. So I thought I'd collect this into a blog if for no other reason than to have a better answer next time I'm asked. 

If you can answer yes to all of these questions then I think you are ready to start your own business. Of course I couldn't answer yes to most of these when I started my first, or even second business, so don't let me get in your way! These are things that I struggle with continually. Keep in mind that these questions aren't focused on your business model but on your disposition to run a business.

1. Can you have hard conversations? By this I mean- can you tell your business partner that you think they aren't carrying their weight? Can you tell a client they need to pay you more money? Can you fire someone?

2. Can you manage expectations? Do you have a habit of over-promising and under-delivering? Do you do what you say? 

3. Can you walk away? From a deal, from a partnership, from your own company- whatever thing that needs to be left behind in order to grow. You must always be willing to put everything on the table, go all in.

4. Can you delegate? Are you willing to let others fail even when it makes you look bad? Are you willing to give people time to grow? Can you suppress your control freak instincts?

5. Can you handle stress? Starting a business is exciting but also extremely stressful. Can your marriage/relationship handle cash flow issues? Can your health handle it?

6. Can you be honest with yourself? Do you tell yourself lies about the business? Sales leads, investment, staff issues, etc. Most business problems stem from good people lying to themselves about their business. That leads to them lying to everyone else which creates a real mess. Optimism is an effective fuel but reality always wins. 

7. Are you willing to do whatever it takes? Change your business model, change your name, scrap an internal project that you worked on for a year, work 80 hour weeks when needed to get things done.

8. Do you have a high risk tolerance? Chances are you will have to take risks running a company that were unthinkable as an employee. A high tolerance for risk is needed to start, and run, a successful business. If you have a low risk tolerance then maybe you are best off as an employee. 

9. Can you let your ego take a back seat? Many business owners can answer yes to the questions above but their oversized ego limits their potential. They can't take critical feedback from their team or customers, they only like their own ideas, they have trouble sharing the spotlight. It's hard to walk the line between confidence and ego, something I struggle with regularly.

Any other questions that I missed?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:32:17 -0800 Thoughts on Cultural Maturity and ROWE http://www.jebbanner.com/thoughts-on-cultural-maturity-and-rowe http://www.jebbanner.com/thoughts-on-cultural-maturity-and-rowe This post is inspired by some of the comments around my SmallBox post on our new core value "Freedom". I wanted to post a blog that went deeper into my thinking on cultural maturity and specifically my fascination/fear around ROWE. ROWE stands for Results Only Work Environment. Here's a quick definition from CultureRx's GoRowe.com website:

"Work Environment is a management strategy where employees are evaluated on performance, not presence. In a ROWE, people focus on results and only results – increasing the organization’s performance while cultivating the right environment for people to manage all the demands in their lives...including work."

I have been flirting with ROWE related ideas for the last year. My business buddy Michael Reynolds is a big proponent of ROWE and has successfully implemented it at his company SpinWeb. But I have struggled with adopting ROWE at SmallBox. I had some legitimate concerns including the fear that our team culture would suffer. What if everyone started working remotely? What if people abused the freedom? I didn't want to extend freedoms that I would rescind later.

At the core of my concerns was my fear that the SmallBox team wasn't cultural mature enough to handle real freedom. Of course, with freedom comes responsibilities and accountability but it still scared me. But I realized, as we wrapped up 2011, that we were ready. We had the right team and our culture was mature enough to handle it. As a company we had got through out teenage years and were entering adulthood. We could be trusted with something as radical as freedom. 

So as much as I love the idea of ROWE I don't think it's for every organization. It's not for organizations that are still, culturally, in their adolescent or teen years. ROWE is for adults and let's face it, not every culture is operating at an adult level. Most are still hanging out in High School mode- gossiping, in-fighting, pettiness. It requires a team where every team member can hold the other accountable. From intern to CEO. 

We weren't ready to extend these freedoms a year ago but I think we are now. Let's see how it goes! 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:28:00 -0800 Factory Week Video and Profile on Verge http://www.jebbanner.com/factory-week-video-and-profile-on-verge http://www.jebbanner.com/factory-week-video-and-profile-on-verge

Don't usually post promotional stuff on this blog but I'm really proud of my SmallBox team and the work we did last week for our 2nd Factory Week.


Here's a great video that the Verge production team made as well as a link to an article that talks about the week and how other companies can join in next time, or on their own, to bring the awesomeness of a Factory Week to their team. Next Factory Week is currently planned for late July. 

Also, the video gives you a great sneak peak of the Speakeasy co-working tech space which is opening in February. It's a project I've been working on, with many others, for the last year and I'm really excited to see it launch. More on that later. 


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:25:00 -0800 When Code Becomes a Commodity #codeyear http://www.jebbanner.com/when-code-becomes-a-commodity-codeyear http://www.jebbanner.com/when-code-becomes-a-commodity-codeyear

Right now there is a serious shortage of coders. Especially the good ones. They are in high demand. NY City Mayor Bloomberg is getting behind #codeyear, an effort to increase code literacy. Seems smart on the surface and it may pay off in the short term but it ignores what code really is- code is about making it easier to do and build things. So it's really just a matter of time before code becomes so good that almost no-one ever needs to use it.

I believe in the near future, 5-10 years at most, anyone who can talk will be able to build websites and applications without knowing code. At that point code will be a commodity and design will become even more front and center in terms of value added. We are crossing over into an age of design since the tech age gave us such great design tools. Just as autoworkers who saw themselves replaced by robots, we will soon see the same maturation in the coding community. It might get ugly. It will definitely be interesting since it will turn anyone with access into a potential application creator.

Consider how far code, particularly on the web, has gone in the last 10 years and then consider Moore's Law. The faster we build machines that then enable us to build better machines the sooner we arrive at intelligent machines that can code for us. So once the coders build this machine, which I think is inevitable, then they will have essentially coded themselves out of a job. New platforms like Ruby On Rails are early steps in this direction.

So how does a coder stay relevant? Become a designer who knows how to talk to machines. English will be the only language needed before long.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:55:48 -0800 Kids Second http://www.jebbanner.com/kids-second http://www.jebbanner.com/kids-second
I love my kids but I don't believe in putting kids first. In our culture parents often feel like everything they do must be "for the kids". But what kind of example are we setting for our kids by living a stressful, unfulfilled life so that they can live a "better" life? I believe in putting my relationship with Jenny, my wife, first. If that isn't the foundation then the kids suffer. I believe that many good people are in unhappy marriages, even with spouses they love, because they are putting the kids' needs above their own. They have lost contact with friends, rarely go out and when they do they only have one topic of conversation- their kids. 

I don't believe we were put on this earth just to procreate. I believe we were put here to create. That doesn't stop with our children. Really they are just a reminder of how powerful creation is! 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:33:00 -0800 Very Vinyl Xmas 2011: Liner Notes & Videos http://www.jebbanner.com/87278767 http://www.jebbanner.com/87278767

For the last 6 years I have made an annual mix of my favorite songs from the past year- usually a combination of new and vintage finds. Since I'm something of a vinyl enthusiast I also transfer these songs from vinyl to preserve, as much as possible, how they sound on record. To be honest, once you transfer analog back to digital it takes a hit along the way but I still enjoy the sound even if, as Neil Young notes, digital is only a "picture" of analog sound. It's still a really good picture.

For audiophiles and nerds my set up is Denon DP-30L turntable with a Grado Blue1 cartridge through a Macintosh 4100 to Presonus Firestudio Project then into my Mac Book Pro with Logic for editing and mastering. Nothing too fancy but it sounds good to my ears. The videos below are only for reference and don't use my transfers.

If you are interested in getting a copy of the mix on CD you can send me your address using my wife's new website AddyMe.com- she just launched this and it's a great way to collect mailing addresses for Holiday cards and stuff like this. Go to addyme.com/jebbanner before 12/28/2011 and I will send you a CD. It includes a print out of these notes and, most of the time, hand drawn art by my daughters. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Jeb

1.    “Raconte Moi Une Histoire”- M83 (2011): why not start off with a song featuring a young kid telling a story about a psychotropic frog?! This M83 album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is my favorite new release from 2011 and this is possibly the most idiosyncratic song on it. But in many ways “Raconte” serves as the double album’s hub- an innocent, psychedelic world where we all happily hop and jump around. Hurry Up is one of those dense sonic records that change with repeated listens and seem to reveal themselves over time.

2.     “On Whose Authority”- Nada Surf (2008): their album, Lucky, was released in 2008 but I didn’t listen to it until this year so I’m including it. It’s something of a concept album- accepting one’s adulthood, albeit begrudgingly. This song nails it- “on whose authority? I have none over me.” Realizing that you have lost control over your own life- that it has become a collection of habits- is a powerful wake up call.

3.     “Santa Fe”- Beirut (2011): in many ways I’m still not sure what I think of this band. Sometimes it’s the best thing I could imagine hearing and then they can sound a little, I guess, haughty. Oh well. I love this track and I think they have something good going on overall. Ok, the keyboard part makes it, and the vocal melody, and the horns are well done. What is this song about? I have no idea really.

4.     “Bad Weather”- Mike Adams at his Honest Weight (2011): love this song, love this album. Mike is a Bloomington guy and has played in a bunch of bands down there. So he went off and made a record by himself and I am glad he did. Last release to be on Secret Canadian’s recently shuttered St Ives vinyl-only imprint, unfortunately. This is the first track and it sets the tone for the record. Mike struggles with faith in a very honest, human way. Too often, and justifiably, “Christian” is a negative addition to “rock”. This doesn’t fall into those thin traps. This is healing, self soothing, music. Headphones in bed music.


5.     “I Wish I Could Fly”- Blue (1973): this album came from an interesting collection, a woman who called herself “Gypsy”. She had a bunch of records in a house she was selling on the West side. Side note- I’ve bought three collections over the past year originally owned by women. I find that interesting. There aren’t many female record collectors. The ratio has to be 95/5 in my experience. Too bad cause us record geeks could use some female perspective in our dude-verse. This song comes from their first album, they had a few others, around 1972. It feels like a natural bridge between middle period Beach Boys and the pre-Disco BeeGees. It also goes up as more evidence around my theory that it’s hard to find a bad sounding album from the early 70s. Test it.

6.     “Share The Red”- Steve Malkmus and the Jicks (2011): ok this is the Mr Malkmus you hoped would resurface at some point. “You have no idea what sets you apart, and still you’re winning.” We all know that person. Or maybe we are that person- not completely sure why we have had whatever success we have had. Was it chance or was our hand on the wheel the whole time? And yeah, “40 with a kid, living on the grid” hits close to the home these days. Steve Malkmus is making some fine Dad Rock.

7.     “Brave Awakening”- Terry Reid (1977): remember Gypsy? Well she also had a Terry Reid record River that I really liked. Then I got this one- Seed Of Memory- and I was hooked. If you look Terry up you will quickly discover that he made a career out of turning people down. Jimmy Page asked him to be in Led Zeppelin. He politely passed and recommended Robert Plant. Later he was asked to be in Deep Purple and, perhaps more wisely, also turned them down. Meanwhile he went and made some great music that almost no-one heard. This is one of those songs that made me stop and pay attention. The lyrics are wonderful. His voice is incredible. Cheat sheet- it’s about the decline of the coal mining industry. This song feels so relevant- a generation unprepared for the future (or even the near present), lacking the skills and disposition needed in a new reality, a new economy. That is the “brave awakening” brought by rapid technology advances and it ain’t slowing down anytime soon thanks to Moore’s Law.

8.     “My Love Is Like A River”- Girls (2011): this is an interesting song from a strong album- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In many ways there isn’t an original note to be found. Girls are masters at wholesale musical theft. The progression, the playing, even the production seems referential. But, it works. That’s what I love about music- It either works or it doesn’t. No other rules apply. It’s the only truth I know about music.


9.     “A Crime”- Sharon Van Etton (2010): I first heard Sharon at SXSW this year. John Strohm, who knows a thing, turned me on to her. We watched her play in a small bar. She has the voice, the kind that makes you stop and listen. This song takes me back to the emotional extremes of my teens and 20s. Although I miss that intensity I also remember- it wasn’t much fun at the time.

 

10.   “Bizness”- Tune Yards (2011): definitely gets my award for most interesting new artist of 2011. I realize she was around before but she really figured it out with this album. It’s a fully realized audio-vision. It feels urban and militaristic without losing the feminine vibe. If only MIA put out albums this good anymore. I keep wondering what this song is about- “I’m addicted yeah, don’t take my life away.” Drugs? Work? Society? A lover?

11.   “6 O’Clock News”- Larry Norman (1972): where do I start with this guy/song? I first heard this record- Only Visiting This Planet- when I was in junior high. Outside of some Beatles records I mostly had Christian rock to listen to and this qualified, thankfully. Larry was the original Jesus Freak. He was a wild dude. If you want to waste an evening, start looking him up on Wikipedia. Of particular interest will be his relationship with Randy Stonehill (his prodigy). Pretty seedy stuff for Xian rock stars. Also, check out those guitars. Tell me if you figure out how to get that sound. Wish this song didn’t still resonate thematically.

 

12.   “Stepping Stones”- Ramases (1974): this may be the most psychedelic song I’ve ever put on a mix but I can’t help myself. I just love it. Brief background; Ramases was an HVAC guy from Northern England that had a vision of Ramases while driving (hello St Paul) that he was the reincarnation of the same Egyptian god/king Ramases. Ok, that’s all well and good, right? Then the vision told him to he needed to spread the revelation via music. So he convinced his wife, Sel, to go along with it and they proceeded to make some incredible, and strange, music. This album Glass Top Coffin must have been an expensive one to make. Thankfully it was the 70s and record labels were relatively flush with cash. Almost every song features elaborate arrangements- strings, harps, etc. But it all…works. After a while you start wondering- maybe he really was channeling some thing or one? This has been my favorite overall album this year and possibly the most overlooked album from the early 1970s.

13.   “Thought Ballune”- Unknown Mortal Orchestra (2011): this album was all I could listen to for about 4 weeks. You can almost imagine finding this song on a 45 in your cool uncle’s garage and playing it over and over while you imagined, in a pre-Google world, what kind of people and place could make something so amazing. It’s the best kind of music there is- children’s music. “I’m a smiling alligator.”

14.   “Lightworks”- Atlas Sound (2011): this is Bradford Cox’s (main guy in Deerhunter) side project. I loved 2008’s “Microcastle” and to some degree I’ve been waiting for him to do something better. I think it’s possible. This new album has moments that come close and this track is a good example. I think Bradford Cox is the most consistently interesting guy out there right now. He’s starting to grow up and perfect his craft. I get it, but I miss the rough brilliance from a few years ago. Like Mike Adams, you get the feeling that Bradford is making music to heal personal wounds. Never a bad thing.

15.   “King Lear”- Morrissey (1993): I love this album Kill Uncle and have been looking for it on vinyl for ages. It’s crazy scarce and I didn’t want to pay eBay prices. Turns out a business friend, John Wechsler, inherited some framed albums. I was going through them and there was Morrissey! I offered money, I faintly begged and John kindly gifted me the record. I owe him dinner or some very good drinks. This song is classic Morrissey- “You didn’t even phone me, cause it’s not your style- to dial.”

16.   “Holocene”- Bon Iver (2011): like many Bon Iver fans I had some conflicted feelings about this album when it came out. The 80s thing can sometimes feel gimmicky. But the first half of this record is solid and often transcendent. Lyrics come, go and change with repeated listens. The album actually comes with lyrics but I have intentionally ignored them. I like the Cocteau Twins approach to vocals here- focus on the right melody and feel and let the words come. Anyway, the important lines are repeated- “and at once I knew, I was not magnificent”. The big come down never sounded so good.

17.   “Tea Lights”- Lower Dens (2010): Kenny Childers turned me on to this band. Like Girls, there isn’t much original going on here. Blend some Mazzy Star with Galaxy 500 via the obligatory Velvet Underground and you pretty much have this band. But, a great song always shines through. This melody has been stuck in my head many times. Now it can be stuck in yours. You are welcome.

18.   “County Line”- Cass McCombs (2011): this was my first introduction to Cass McCombs. Maybe it will be yours as well. A good place to start. This song, and much of Wit’s End feels like it could be contemporaneous with Nashville Skyline. Cass seems to be a man out of time. Like many of his songs, it is wonderfully cryptic. Just a sketch of a story, enough to layer a hundred interpretations. “I feel so blind, I can’t make out the passing road signs.” The county line looms- opportunity and danger, desire and fear. Mostly it feels inevitable. We are all heading towards our own, personal county lines.

 


 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:39:00 -0800 Think Kit: Getting Lost http://www.jebbanner.com/think-kit-getting-lost http://www.jebbanner.com/think-kit-getting-lost
I miss getting lost. It used to be one of my favorite things to do. Now it seems almost impossible. One of my favorite memories from college was when a friend led me around blindfolded until they found an obscure corner of Bloomington, unmasked me and I was suddenly lost in a town I thought I knew like the back of my hand. 

When I was 16 I went overseas to stay in England for the summer. The second day I was there I went out to explore London. This was my first time abroad. I wandered until I was lost. I then realized I didn't have the address, a map, or phone number of the family I was staying with. Jet-lagged I walked around London for hours, amazed at the picturesque world I'd stumbled into before finally finding my way back home. The next day I wrote a letter to my family describing the experience. My Dad still references that letter regularly as a highlight from my teenage years.

Getting lost can be terrifying but most great experiences have some element of terror in their undercurrent. Maybe some day I will take my kids and drop them in the middle of a foreign city and see how they do. I'm glad my parents did. We all need to get lost once in a while.

part of SmallBox's Think Kit

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:14:00 -0800 Roads vs Rails http://www.jebbanner.com/roads-vs-rails http://www.jebbanner.com/roads-vs-rails

I am no fan of the current educational system. Knowledge is valued over creativity. When these kids get out of college and enter the work force their employers are then tasked with rewiring them to be problem solvers and risk takers.

Kids are conditioned to running on rails- "take these classes, do well, get a degree and a job awaits". Increasingly that model is breaking down. As Daniel Pink noted in "A Whole New Mind" computers and cheap labor are shifting value from knowledge to creativity. The educational system doesn't seem to get it. Their tests mostly measure knowledge- a commodity at this point. To some degree this is understandable since creativity is hard to measure. 

So these kids leave school and suddenly find themselves driving on roads- "where do I go!?". I often see this with interns and recent grads. They are very risk averse, they want to know what they need to do to succeed. They still want to know- what will be on the test? The problem is that there is no book and no test. Every day they have to figure it out. 

It's difficult to transition from professors to bosses. Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that there are many similarities between the two. They both provide leadership, support and, to some degree, friendship. But being a student is very different from being an employee. An effective employee has to be proactive, owning their role in the company. Kids coming out of college are, on the whole, not ready for this. When they look at their bosses they still see professors. 

I think every student should be involved with running a business before they leave college. Regardless of their intended vocation this is an invaluable experience. Some colleges (Purdue for instance) are working aggressively towards offering more students the opportunity to try their hand at business. This experience will begin to shift students off the rails and on to the roads while still giving them the needed safety net. 

Our competitive advantage, as a country, has been our creativity. We are a nation of problem solvers. If we have any hopes of staying on top we need to encourage creativity. We need to remember that one great idea is worth countless hours of work and gigs of memory. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:01:03 -0700 Finding Talent http://www.jebbanner.com/finding-talent http://www.jebbanner.com/finding-talent Last night's Verge event at the Kessler/Fall Creek mansion (you know the one with Dolphin statues) was epic. Both Mayor Ballard and Melina Kennedy (Dem candidate) were in attendance, 200+ of Indy's best nerds mingled, local SaaS companies demonstrated their wares, Scotty's food and Upland beer was plentiful. A good time was had by all and host Chad Folkening, master domainer,  made us all feel at home in his insanely large estate. 

But what stuck with me the most was something that David Becker said about finding talent during his short but powerful speech. David is a local serial entrepreneur who has had great success across multiple ventures. He told a short story about how he spotted a hostess at a local restaurant that had great people skills. He offered her a job and she rose through his ranks to become a VP. The noisy Verge crowd was surprisingly quiet- it hit home.

David's point is to spot these rough talents and place an early bet. Sure, they might not know much about your industry but knowledge can be gained, talent is something you either have or don't have. If you can develop this person into a valuable resource then the benefits are mutual and the loyalty is deep.

I've seen this in my life as well. Many of the people I have hired came from unusual sources- I met Karl Hofstetter at one of my garage sales when he was still in high school, I met Dan Fahrner when he was playing drums in a band, I met our incredibly bright high school intern John Fernkas through my hair dresser. I have also been on the other side of this- getting hired by Dan Ripley in 1998 based on nothing more than his gut feeling that I had some talent. Within 3 years we were business partners in Indiana's first online auction house, Antique Helper.

In my experience I think you will have more success finding quality talent in your daily interactions than in a stack of resumes. Thank you David for the confirmation and reminder. Talent is all around us, we just need to look for it.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:33:00 -0700 Reconsidering Mayor Ballard http://www.jebbanner.com/reconsidering-mayor-ballard http://www.jebbanner.com/reconsidering-mayor-ballard

I find myself in an awkward situation. I have been an early Melina Kennedy supporter. I co-sponsored a fundraising event for her at iMOCA a few months back. I think she would be an excellent mayor of Indianapolis. I love her passion for the arts and small businesses. I still plan on voting for her. But lately I have been reconsidering our current mayor. 

Like many Indy residents I was shocked when Greg Ballard beat out Bart Peterson in 2007. He won mostly on the hot topic of property taxes. The voters were all riled up over that for about 2 weeks and misdirected their anger towards Peterson. I think most observers would agree that it was a perfect storm that no-one saw coming. Ballard became the accidental mayor. 

When it comes to national politics I tend to vote Democratic. The current national Republican party scares the shit out of me. The Tea Party has pushed them into a ideological corner where the earth isn't warming, "intellectuals" are mocked, all regulations are worthless and government of any shape or form is intrinsically evil. It's a party that would throw Reagan out on his ass if he walked through the door today. Governing is about compromise and that's a language the Tea, er, I mean, Republican Party doesn't speak. 

But Indiana Republicans are cut from a different cloth. Sure they skew right on social stuff but can often find middle ground. They get that government isn't intrinsically evil- it's a mix of good and bad just like us- maybe because we are government! 

In the 2008 election I was a strong supporter of Obama and Mitch Daniels. I had yard signs for both in my yard which amused, and confused, my new neighbors. "What's up with those youngsters?" I remain a fan of both politicians and was very disappointed to see Daniels not pursue the presidency. I don't think he would have won but I do think he would have elevated the conversation. 

When Ballard took over as Mayor I feared for the worst. He was a complete unknown with almost no experience governing. But he has been surprisingly competent. The police debacle could have been handled better and I'm sure his detractors can put together a long list but (as David Hoppe noted in this week's Nuvo) he has kept the ship running, and running pretty well, during some stormy weather. 

Greg Ballard is a shy, introverted guy. He is not a politician by nature. He is straight forward, speaks his mind and focuses more on action than talking points. It's an approach that resonates with me and others. Could he do better on communicating vision? Sure, but actions speak louder than words.

Ballard has done a great job of building a forward looking team that cares about Indianapolis. I have worked closely with Deputy Mayor Michael Huber on several ideas/ventures. I am consistently impressed by Huber. He is a hard worker with great instincts who knows how to connect the right people to get things done. He also has great taste in music which doesn't hurt.

Melina Kennedy is an excellent politician. She remembers names, makes eye contact, using talking points and has a great vision for this city. But she needs to step up her game to win this one. Ballard is figuring out this Mayor thing and only looks stronger as we head into the last lap.

So I have a hard choice to make but it feels good to know that either way the election goes, Indianapolis wins. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:57:00 -0700 Overcorrecting http://www.jebbanner.com/overcorrecting http://www.jebbanner.com/overcorrecting
About 2 years ago we took on a project that changed our business. We should not have taken on this highly custom project- we were out of our depth, it was poorly scoped and we didn't have the budget or timeline to do it right.  The client had been patient, understanding and even accommodating on additional funds. This wasn't a case of a client from hell. It was us over-promising and under-delivering. It was a mistake on every level. It was also entirely my mistake. I screwed up big time. 

After burning about 1000 hours and pushing one of our senior team members to brink of sanity we decided we had to walk away from the project even though it was near the finish line. We just couldn't meet the client's expectations. It was devastating emotionally and financially. We had never before, or after, been unable to complete a project. So we did all we could to hand the project off smoothly to the next team.

As I walked away in shock from the wreckage I swore "no more custom work for clients!"

What followed was 6 months of saying no to custom web application work. We refocused the company towards web marketing services and focusing on improvements to our CMS. We were so stunned by our first real failure as a company we didn't know what else to do. 

During this time we ignored the fact that we are really good at executing the right custom web projects. We've been doing these since we started the company. With this one glaring failure blinding me I ignored all our successes and heavily overcorrected. 

Looking back at the experience it was probably the best thing that has happened to me professionally. I learned a lot about managing expectations, laying the right foundation for success, creating a client experience and leading the team. I'm not the same person that took on that project. We aren't the same company. It changed everything.

As we have started taking on custom web projects the past year I've seen the team regain confidence and do great work. I've also seen how this learning experience has been institutionalized across the company. I wish we could have learned it in a less painful way for the client and ourselves- especially the client- but the lesson has been learned and the overcorrection has been corrected. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:52:34 -0700 Vess and Jan http://www.jebbanner.com/vess-and-jan http://www.jebbanner.com/vess-and-jan
My first job when I moved to Indy in 1998 was fixing up Vess Ruhtenberg's dad's house. Vess is a well known local musician, producer and overall aesthete with an obsession for architecture. His list of projects is too long to go into here. Google him. 

So how I talked Vess into paying me to do this I'm still not sure. I didn't know much about fixing up houses but I knew something about working on old cars. His father's 1960 MG A was sitting in the garage in a state of disrepair. One of my favorite memories is the eureka moment we had when we hand cranked the MG to life for the first time in decades after a lot of work. Yes, hand cranked.

While working on this project and hanging out with Vess I got to know more about his father and grandfather, Jan. Both were architects and from what Vess was uncovering it sounded like his grandfather might have been special. I hadn't yet begun my career in antiques and auctions so the significance of the fact that my work table at the house was a prototype of Mies van der Rohe's Tugendhat Table didn't really register at the time. Tugen-what? 

As Vess discovered more and more about his grandfather- Jan Ruhtenberg- it became clear that Jan was no minor modernist. He had worked close with Mies on the Barcelona collection in the late 1920s. In fact he may have even been an important collaborator on Mies' most famous piece- the Barcelona chair. Vess uncovered 2 early variations on the chair from his grandfather's collection that provides some evidence that Jan could have even originated the design. Jan also worked and lived with Phillip Johnson. Vess uncovered letters from Mies and Phillip Johnson revealing that his grandfather was thick with the most important designers of the time. But until recently history has not been kind to Jan. 

Last month Indianapolis Monthly ran a great story on Jan including a good accounting of Vess' quest to finally give his grandfather the respect he deserves. 

This Friday, September 2nd, Blackline Studios in the Murphy Building in Fountain Square (Indy) will host a exhibit of Jan's work. Here's more info on the event. I highly recommend you attend. 

Details: Reception, 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Blackline Studio for Architecture, 1043 Virginia Ave., Studio 211, free, (317) 803-7900, www.blacklinestudio.net

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:46:00 -0700 Idea: Start Up Bowl http://www.jebbanner.com/idea-start-up-bowl http://www.jebbanner.com/idea-start-up-bowl

Here's an idea I've been working on for the last 6 months. I have decided to "open source" the idea in hopes that in openly sharing this idea it will increase the likelihood of it happening.

In short- I don't have the time to champion this idea but I do believe in it and want to see it happen. I will happily serve on the committee and also dedicate some SmallBox resources to making it happen.

Keep in mind that what I've outlined here is not meant to be carved in stone. It's an idea and whomever picks it up and runs with it should be free to do with it what they want. Also, I own StartUpBowl.com and would be happy to hand that over to a reputable organization or individual. I have a more complete brief as well I can send. Just hit me up at jeb@smallboxweb.com and I will send it over. 

Start Up Bowl:

The Idea

Ten start-up teams will compete over the 10 days leading up to the 2012 Super Bowl to win prizes.

The Objective

To change the brand of Indianapolis- not only a great sports & convention town, but also the perfect place to start a business. To highlight Indianapolis’ growing start-up scene. To attract regional, national, and possibly international, talent to compete in a 10-day start-up contest. To have national, local and industry press take notice of the event. To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, foster creativity, celebrate risk taking, and have fun. To start new businesses that will attract and retain talent that will add to our local economy and community.

The Rules

Ten teams are selected from a pool of applicants. Each team must meet the following criteria: maximum 6 members, no more than $100K cash invested to date. Goal is to attract bootstrapped start up applicants. Any team can apply regardless of geography. One team will be eliminated per day. Judging could be based on a number of factors, including online/text voting, competing teams (Survivor style) and industry/investor judges. Final 2 teams present to a panel of celebrity investors, including local investors. Team wishing to redeem contest prizes must remain in Indiana for a minimum of one year.

The Prizes

Prizes are still to be determined as it will depend on funds/resources available. Overall objective is to compensate selected teams with an incremental increase over the course of the contest. The more days a team survives, the greater their prize. Prizes will most likely be a mix of cash, investment and resources. Current plan is to announce contest before announcing prizes since we do not expect them to be finalized until later. Some prizes may be contingent on recipient start-up team remaining in Indiana for a yet to be determined period of time (i.e. 1-2 years) after contest.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:22:00 -0700 Where Have All The Good Conversations Gone? http://www.jebbanner.com/where-have-all-the-good-conversations-gone http://www.jebbanner.com/where-have-all-the-good-conversations-gone

Lately I've noticed that I don't get into as many deep, passionate debates online. As Social has matured it feels like meaning is taking a hit. Maybe we should blame transparency- the days of hiding behind a persona are all but past. Everybody knows who everybody is. There are few trolls left roaming the villages of the web.  I remember lamenting the trolls of yesteryear, wishing everyone could be the same online as they are in "real" life. So as we have emerged from the shadows and embraced transparency I feel we have also started to get too polite with each other. Feelings, which weren't much of a concern in the early days of the Web, now matter again. This seems to have created a Social Web where everyone is talking, fewer are listening and even less are conversing. 


I started a music community website in 2007 using the Ning platform (still running at musicalfamilytree.net). This was a complimentary site to musicalfamilytree.com which is an MP3 archive of Indiana music from the last 30+ years (still going strong). When I first added the Musical Family Tree community it was incredibly vibrant. We had deep and meaningful conversations about everything, not just music. Some members identities were (and are) nicknames. Some of members have very "legit" careers and they felt more willing to talk about their rock'n'roll days more comfortably behind a mask. This had the byproduct of creating a community where there was some accountability but enough rabble rousers to keep things interesting.

Over time Facebook came to dominate Social and the conversations on Musical Family Tree started to die out. Facebook, as we all know, is about transparency whether you want it or not. Facebook is not a place for nicknames and trolls. Everyone is working under their real name and many of us have now been "friended" by actual friends (from all points in life), family (hey Mom!) and business associates. Real, honest conversations don't thrive in this community pool. Even if you are willing to stick your neck out on an idea or issue, many of your friends will hid in the shadows since they know their comments will be read by everyone they have ever known. Same with commenting on blogs since they are often tied into Facebook, Twitter etc. Many blogs still let you post anonymously but more and more these posts are moderated (ie deleted) by the blogger. Although I still have great conversations on the comment section of blog posts it seems more often people sit on their feedback, afraid to step on toes or just too busy to bother engaging.

Maybe we should embrace transparency but clearly we aren't ready for that yet.

So as I look around at my different hang out spots on the web I can only think of one place where I am having regular vibrant conversations- Turntable.fm. For the unacquainted this is a new (awesome) website where you can take turns DJing in a "room". Check it out. Some of Turntable's Social features include letting you create an alter ego, show you who is in the room and doesn't keep a record (to my knowledge) of the chat conversation. If you enter a room it doesn't even show a history of the conversation. You only see what is said after you joined the room. The conversations on Turntable are often very honest and fun. Sure, you end up figuring out who most of the people are (not everyone uses an alter ego) but there is still the sense that what is said on Turntable stays on Turntable. If you hang in the right rooms you get more than a small amount of music biz gossip. It is the only place on the Web right now that feels a lot like a late night kitchen conversation at a party- minus the booze. 

So as Social matures I hope we create more of these "kitchens" like Turntable. The reality is that we don't want everything we say to be broadcast to everyone we know and their sister. I believe some conversations are meant to go into the ether, forever eluding Google's grasp. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:59:36 -0700 Sprinting (revisiting the Heroic Worker) http://www.jebbanner.com/sprinting-revisiting-the-heroic-worker http://www.jebbanner.com/sprinting-revisiting-the-heroic-worker A while back I posted a blog about "heroic workers". These are the well intentioned folks that work 12+ hour days for days on end. Companies becoming addicted to them like a drug and dysfunction abounds. I want to return to this idea with a twist. I do believe there are times when we all need to sprint and essentially become that heroic worker for a week or two since opportunities arise and stuff needs to get done. 

Let's follow this running theme (not that I know much about running beyond being chased). In a long race, which is life/work/etc, we need to find and keep a workable pace. One that doesn't completely exhaust us physically and emotionally. But there are times we need to pick up speed and sprint. The challenge is working in such a way to lay the foundation during that sprint that allows you to quickly and smoothly return to that sustainable pace- not getting stuck in heroic worker mode. We all have the potential, and I think need, to feel heroic from time to time. Finding the balance between meeting that need and living a healthy, fulfilling life is the trick.  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:13:21 -0700 Quality is fixed, Quantity is variable http://www.jebbanner.com/quality-is-fixed-quantity-is-variable http://www.jebbanner.com/quality-is-fixed-quantity-is-variable "Fast, Good, Cheap- pick two"

no thanks.

This classic agency statement assumes that quality is a variable. In the past I accepted this logic- sure we can do something fast but it may not be as good!

I would excuse an outcome thinking "well we had to do it quickly".

What I was really doing was signaling, unwittingly- "hey, what we really care about is money, pay us and we will do something poorly if you want it done quickly."

That creates an inconsistent product which then creates market confusion. Even worse it creates culture issues- Who are we? What do we believe in? Where is the bar set?

I'm not saying that everyone should use the same measurement for quality. Our measure of quality may be lower or higher than other firms. There is space in almost every market for different quality products. What I'm advocating is to know your standards and stick to them which will mean passing on "cheap, fast" work when it can't meet your standard of "good".

So now when a client approaches us looking for quick turnaround we never put quality on the table. It's non-negotiable. Instead we negotiate around the quantity of the engagement which mostly comes down to two things- the scope of the project (features and content) and client engagement ("you will need to say 'yes' often and quickly to meet your deadline").

This focus on a consistent quality product has really changed the way we work. It has created better outcomes. It has improved the client experience. It has given the team something to be proud about. It has enabled us to hold each other accountable.

Do we always bat 1000? Heck, no. There is still much to be improved. But I'm ok with that. Perfection is, and should be, always out of reach. The goal is to keep reaching.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:43:00 -0700 Connecting the Indie Rock and Tech scenes http://www.jebbanner.com/connecting-the-indie-rock-and-tech-scenes http://www.jebbanner.com/connecting-the-indie-rock-and-tech-scenes

There was a great article at NPR.org about the goings on in Omaha, Nebraska. 

As many of you know Omaha has been a rising star in the tech/start up scene over the last few years. Big Omaha, a yearly event that this limited to about 600 people and attracts some of the best and brightest tech stars as speakers and attendees. I haven't gone but many friends have and they all rave about the experience. But back to this NPR article. 

The gist of this article can be summed up in this excerpt:

"While I was there, I met several architects and web designers who all said they moved back to Omaha, at least in part, because of this club (Indie Rock club The Slowdown) and the movie theater (Film Streams) next door."

I know my buddy Rebecca Ryan from Next Generation Consulting wouldn't be too surprised. This is what she, and others like Richard Florida, have been preaching for years. "Cool" cities attract and retain top talent. What makes a city cool? There is nothing, that I can think of, cooler than Indie Rock. I'm talking Pitchfork.com stuff here. If you have a city that has venues where Pitchfork bands regularly play then you basically have the foundation for a cool city. 

Here in Indy we have seen a local promotion company start to actively fill that void - MOKBPresents.com. This is an offshoot of MyOldKentuckyBlog.com, which is actually very much an Indiana blog but started by Kentucky native Craig "Dodge" Lile (who coincidentally works for Raidious a web content company here in Indy) when he moved to Indy in the early 2000s. Running the blog and a Sirius radio show lead naturally to booking shows. MOKB Presents brings a wide diversity of mostly Indie Rock acts to Indy. About 50 shows a year. I don't think you can find any entity that is changing Indy's national brand (at least for 20 somethings) as much as MOKB. Think of all the bands that come play Indy and then go tell everyone else about what a great experience, hopefully, they had here. Think of all the fans that see Indianapolis show up again and again on tour schedules, YouTube videos, etc. Word is getting out. Indie's coolness increases with every MOKB show. There are others doing great work in this area but I'm singling MOKB out since they are the clear leaders. How many of you reading this article know about MOKB? Did you go to a show this year? Chances are they were the promoters.

At the same time we are seeing a huge boom in the tech scene here. Monthly Verge meetings fill up almost immediately. Start Up Weekends are becoming regular, very successful events. New tech companies are popping up everywhere like mushrooms. Develop Indy and Tech Point are noticing and doing what they can, often behind the scenes, to help create the right conditions. 

Many of these tech startups are populated with 20 something kids that have grown up on Indie Rock. MGMT, Sufjan Stevens, My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Arcade Fire, etc. These tech "kids" love music almost as much as code. 

So you have a bunch of fans on one side that want to go to shows (local and national acts) and on the other side you have bands (local and national) that need tech help and fans. When you start to bring these two scenes you have some amazing synergies. This is what Omaha is witnessing and it is an affordable, effective tactic that Indianapolis should pursue as well. 

How do we do this? 

We need venues and we need audiences. Mostly audiences. Tech companies need to consider sponsoring bands, helping them with their tech and marketing needs. If Exact Target, for instance, wants to attract and retain top talent then they why not send out of state prospects a mix of local music? Why not sponsor a showcase at the Vogue? There are endless creative ways to cross-pollinate and collaborate between the tech and music scenes. So let's tear down the wall and start making it happen. Connecting the Indie Rock and Tech scenes will create new jobs and grow our economy. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Wed, 18 May 2011 07:59:08 -0700 Screens, Screens Everywhere! http://www.jebbanner.com/screens-screens-everywhere http://www.jebbanner.com/screens-screens-everywhere I just went to the post office. The clerk and I never met eyes. We spent the entire time looking at our respective screens. 

Same thing when I go to the grocery. If I don't pay in cash there is almost no human interactive whatsoever. Sometimes they don't even say hi or thanks.

I wrote a post a year ago about my experience of going off the grid at SXSW- Connectivity vs Serendipity. In brief my eyes were opened up to how much our eyes are constantly focused on screens. I became convinced that we have been trading down for a more connected but often inferior experiences. Trading a huge wide 3D world for a small 3" screen.

Maybe screens are transitional objects, to be replaced with fully augmented reality via my contacts, glasses or, gasp!, brain implants. 

But as we transition I worry that we are forgetting our manners and humanity. When we arrive at this promised, augmented land will we be living richer lives or just busier lives? I fear the latter and hope for the former. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Fri, 13 May 2011 12:55:00 -0700 Please & Thank You opening in Louisville http://www.jebbanner.com/please-and-thank-you-opening-in-louisville http://www.jebbanner.com/please-and-thank-you-opening-in-louisville

My once Indy still buddy Jason Pierce (former manager of Luna Music) has been in Louisville for a while. His design firm MPerfect does great, opinionated design. Now he is opening a very cool coffee/treats/record shop called Please & Thank You in Louisville. Jason Yoder and I helped populate some of his record inventory. 

Looks like it's time to for a Louisville visit soon! If anyone is down there in L'ville please stop by and say hey to Jason, have some coffee and pick up a record or three.

Img_0942 Img_0948
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner Tue, 03 May 2011 05:58:00 -0700 Seeking Scarcity in an Infinite Digital World http://www.jebbanner.com/seeking-scarcity-in-an-infinite-digital-world http://www.jebbanner.com/seeking-scarcity-in-an-infinite-digital-world
There is a big difference between renting and owning. It changes the way you connect to an object. It changes the impact that object has on your life.

Owners care for their objects. Renters have little vested interest in the objects they use. They use and abuse and move on. Think of a rental vs little old lady car. Which one do you want to buy?

I believe that digital technology, including the Web, is enabling a rental mindset.  This rental mindset is insidious. It is changing how we value the content we create and consume. We, myself very much included, toss content out almost at random with little thought to where it lands. No-one is saving letters in a box. No-one is saving anything. Why bother when It doesn't seem real? Is it Google's job to gather and sort all the scraps of our lives? Do we really want to trust third parties to manage our memories and experiences?

When you physically possess something you know it's real. But in the digital world ownership is a fuzzy thing. Every digital object exists in unreal, infinite abundance. It's like a tree that grows two apples for every one you pick. There is not a limit to how many times something can exist once it enters the digital realm. This reality makes digital content feel disposable and worthless.

Scarcity enables meaningful ownership. Human beings are wired for supply and demand.  I've seen this during my time in the antique/auction world. I see it, all too often, among record collectors. We want the thing we can't have. The saddest day for a collector is the day they finish their collection. They've scaled the mountain, seen the view and seek a new challenge. 

When scarcity vanishes, meaning begins to erode. The digital world is akin to the Bonneville Salt Flats. Almost no elevation or friction. No mountains to climb or views to see. 

How do we create scarcity in the digital world? Do we tie it back to the physical world? Do we move content into gated communities, like the NY Times has done with its recent paywall? How do we create mountains and views? Do we really want everything at our fingertips all the time? I believe that a world with instant access to endless digital content may bring more noise than meaning into our lives. Regardless, the experiment has begun.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/681280/Photo_on_2010-07-23_at_11.43.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sifs1OaKx5T Jeb Banner Jeb Jeb Banner