TechWinter

I have been on and off the radar for most of the last 12 months.  Made my excuses but really there are no excuses per-say I have just been busy, but worse I have had too many little things going on and it has just made my focus slip and as any serious long-term blogger knows blogging consistently and creatively it is all about focus.

Focus and perseverance are the key to a good blog or website.   Those who know me only or mostly through my website must think I packed up and hibernated these last few months but really I just decided at 30 to do a Masters in Marketing.  I then (foolishly) made many commitments on my time and by the time September hit I was so exhausted I wanted to just sleep.

Do you know the type of exhaustion I mean?  Not the type where you go to sleep super late night after night from  partying, playing games or whatever else your like, but from sheer brute over-effort into too many things.  Finally it took its toll and I just stopped.

No one has ever said burnt out because well if you know me you know I am not burnt out, I am still active but I have just cut back dramatically to recharge really.  This year (2008) in May (1-29) I will have finished my Masters and it is from that point that my energy should pick up and this late summer you can finally expect some consistency from me.  As I have noticed much of the blogosphere has grown since I left it oh so long ago (sarcasm mixed with irony) but hopefully my voice will still keep some interested and we can have a chat now and again.

Recently I found out Blognation went down and that is really sad as I know Sami really wanted to do something like that and get his own cohesive and profitable network up but apparently in the time I have been gone it has both up and come down.  Although I know absolutely nothing about the situation I think its sad.  If you know about what happened please drop me a line as I looked a bit and couldn’t find much truth or transparency on the issue.

TechCrunch has really grown!  I remember when it was just about 5-6,000 readers and I was one of the few that knew about them - yes thousands is just a few in Internet speak.  I would write an article about something they said and refer to them and readers would say “hey roger where did you find this site?”.  Good for Arlington and sorry Sami for mentioning his success and your struggles for it as I know you two didn’t part ways as friends, but I am not talking about anyone on a personal level here.  Have you heard of TechCrunch?  If no you should check it out - techcrunch.com

UStream.TV and other video sites of that like have really grown but it definitely seems like UStream.TV will be the YouTube of that category.  I spoke with Brad last year and although he was a challenge to get much future looking information out of he did seem bright, keen, and thoughtful about our conversation.  Definitely a smart entrepreneur in my books and probably a big reason why UStream is doing well I would guess.

Everyone has been talking about YouTube still.  I thought YouTube was doing well nearly 2 years ago but then Google bought them and they did better and I do recall thinking wow they have done well but how much more can they grow, well based on what I have been reading of late YouTube just seems to be getting bigger and bigger.   According to an NYT article I read 74million uniques watch over a dozen videos each in November 2007.  Crazy numbers when you think YouTube didn’t even exist 2.5 years ago and that the established media players continue to worry about where YouTube will go when everyone’s cards finally hit the table (Poker analogy) and everyone shows their hand.

Awww well I could go on but the point is lots has changed and I am hoping that since in the next few weeks I will begin working on my dissertation I should have lots to say additionally I may be advising for the second time in the creation of a marketing book.  I am really excited about that last part as its a bit of an ego boost.  Silly I know but it is, just like when someone you look up to notices you I guess.

Anyway I have to go, its almost dinner time here in the UK (7pm) and its my night to make dinner so I better get cracking.  Be good everyone and hopefully we can catch up again soon.