Your Suspect

Well, I can proudly say that in less than 24 hours, and not without frustration and a few bouts of spilled beer, I managed to get Your Suspect 100% off of Drupal and off of Network Solutions, and onto the free WordPress.com system. I was shocked with out few resources there were available to me, so I had to get very creative. Here’s what I did:

1. I had to hack the Drupal system.module file to allow for more than 30 items per feed. I upped it to 999.
2. I ran a cron job just to be safe.
3. Saved my sites RSS feed locally, and verified that all the content was there, sans comments.
4. Created a hosted WordPress.org site with a third party company. I made sure that this hosting company allowed for a) monthly plans with no contract and b) a quick and easy way of getting a hosted WordPress site going.
5. I used the native WordPress Import feature to import a RSS 2.0 feed. It made it in without any issues, again, no comments.
6. Then, I used the native WordPress Export feature to export all this content as a WordPress file.
7. Here, are WordPress.org, I imported that file.
8. There are still some DNS issues and remnant Feedburner matters that I’m dealing with, but for all intents and purposes, I’m off Drupal, I’m off Network Solutions, and I’m on WordPress.com.
9. I manually updated each blog entry’s category and tags. That sucked, but it was necessary and well worth the effort.

This is a step in the right direction for this blog, easier to manage, more integration with a much larger blogging community, and just a whole lot less frustration.

So for all your rocket scientists out there, that’s how ya do it! Unfortunately, yes, it didn’t include comments, but I can live with that, I didn’t have that many comments to begin with.

I’m entirely fed up with hosting my own blog. When I first started this blog I had a geek moment - I wanted to control every aspect of it and perhaps grow it into something beyond a blog. I chose Drupal, and have been hosting it on Network Solutions. Well, today, I don’t care and I’m fed up with Network Solutions, and I’m fed up with FTP, and with Drupal module installation. Since creating the CitySquares Blog I’ve realized how unnecessary all this really is. The CitySquares blog is hosted on WordPress.com, which I love. I don’t need much more than that. So now, I feel like I’m stuck on this solution I chose, and I feel like I can’t migrate off of it. I just want to move my content (blog entries) and comments off of Drupal and into WordPress.com. There are lots of tips on how to migrate from the Drupal platform to the WordPress platform, but that still requires hosting it. I don’t want to host it. So if anyone has any ideas, recommendations, etc, I’m all ears. I’d also consider paying someone to help me with this kind of migration. Any recommendations or ideas?

Two of the most important and valuable lessons that I’ve learned over my past 10 years of entrepreneurial experience is the following: work on the business, not in the business, and do the right thing with your business. These simple concepts are actually quite difficult to consistently execute on and as far as I can see, they’re the difference between building a typical business and a great company.

At my previous company I frequently found myself dealing with A/P and A/R, collections, or dealing with technical challenges, project management, sub/contractor matters, and more. At the time I would have told you that I didn’t have a choice because “someone’s gotta do it and if it’s gonna get done right, it better be me.” Something else I found myself doing quite a bit of, which I greatly enjoyed, was working closely with customers. And it’s interesting how this concept of “working on the business, not in the business” can be somewhat confusing. To some, working with customers might be considered working in the business, and it can be, if the context is perhaps more operational and tactical than strategic. At CitySquares I frequently interact with customers. In fact, I have my own accounts that only I handle. These are my projects, if you will. I experiment with them and use them as case studies to learn more about their needs and keep my finger on the pulse of the local market. I also interact closely with community organizations like Somerville Local First, among others. This kind of finger-on-the-pulse approach is very much about working on the business.

Along my way over the last few years I discovered two books that made the biggest difference in my professional life. The first is called the “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael Gerber. It’s written well but with over-the-top case-and-point scenarios, but it definitely hammers the point home. This book was a sort of kick in the ass for me and it helped me, as Mr. Gerber might say, “stop baking pies and start building a pie company.” It’s essentially about the mindset of the founder (technician vs. manager vs. entrepreneur). And it was the E-Myth that helped me start CitySquares with the correct mindset, and I’m constantly reminding myself of this and working to improve upon it. The second book is called “Small Giants - Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big“ by Bo Burlingham. This book helped me see a bigger picture, one about being more than a business, one about being a responsible company, a company that gives a shit, that does the right thing by it’s customers, by it’s employees, by it’s community. It’s also about socially responsible business and that’s something that’s baked into the DNA at CitySquares. I highly recommend both of these books to any entrepreneur out there.

I guess my point here is that while some may tell you to “work more on the business and work less in the business” it’s a lot harder than it sounds. One can’t just wake up one day, 5 years into the business, and make her business grow, or change its culture, or its mission. It’s just doesn’t work like that. What she has is baked into the company’s DNA from day 1 and, in my opinion, it’s very difficult to change (although it can be done). If you’re an entrepreneur, or on your way to becoming one, make sure you understand these concepts, make sure you really get it and if you have any doubts about this be sure to pick up the E-Myth and Small Giants.

Finally be sure to buy these books at an independent bookstore! If you’re in the Boston area you can find a locally owned and independent bookstore at CitySquares.com. Really, get off your butt and visit one. Trust me, Amazon will survive.

It’s been over two years since we discovered WebInno and were subsequently invited by David Beisel to be a sidedish. Among other notable Boston area events, WebInno was probably the most exciting for us, and it really gave us the shot in the arm that we needed. We also met some fantastic people that evening, many of whom we stay in close contact with. In fact, we met one of our advisory board members at that first WebInno. Each time I attend a WebInno, I’m not only shocked by the spike in attendees each event seems to have but also by the genuinely good vibe in the room that lasts for hours.

My point here is that as a startup company, and as an untested business seeking an identity and a place in the Boston entrepreneurial and startup scene, WebInno was really just one of many pivotal networking events for us. As this blog continues to be about entrepreneurship, and my perspective from the trenches, I don’t want to forget about these events and opportunities. Furthermore, I really encourage other entrepreneurs to be sure they get out there - hit the streets, attend events, network, don’t be shy. It’s like anything, once you get some momentum and get into a rhythm it just gets easier.

Here are some events that I’ve either attended or would like to attend in the Boston area:

• WebInno - Cambridge, MA, about once every 3 months or so. Well worth it! And if you’re in the Internet space, check with David to see if you can a shot at a side dish or main dish. David’s very accommodating and open minded.
• MIT Enterprise Forum - Cambridge, MA. Hey, it’s MIT man, you know it’s gonna be interesting! I’ve been a member of the MIT Enterprise Forum for about two years now. While not all their events interest me, specifically the bio-tech stuff, they do host many very helpful and relevant events and networking opportunities. From big, globally broadcasted panels on angel investing and venture funding, to small networking opportunities where David Weinberger shares his perspective on the digital world, MIT Enterprise Forum is well worth your attention.
• MIT Entrepreneurship Center - Cambridge, MA. Are you an entrepreneur? Doesn’t really matter what industry you’re in - go to these events! Get involved! There’s a ton of value to be gained at this event. If you’re in the Boston area - don’t be a schmuck, take advantage of all the MIT has to offer!
• The Capital Network - Waltham, MA. An organization for entrepreneurs seeking funding. I had the honor of being on one of their recent panels and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. TCN offers some really powerful resources for entrepreneurs, and they really take their time to make sure you’re absorbing all that you can. It’s very much a dialogue at TCN.
• TechTuesday - An event hosted by the Mass Technology Leadership Council and growing in strength and numbers.

Here’s a bunch more (write-ups courtesy of Don Dodge, thanks Don!):

New England Angel Capital Conference - The Angel Investor groups of greater Boston meet once a quarter to review their best companies. Each group nominates companies to present. They are all looking for a round of funding that is bigger than any one Angel Group can handle. This meeting lets all the groups get a look at promising companies and pool their investment dollars.

Entrepreneurial Team Building - a panel of entrepreneurs that have built companies from the ground up and know the ins and outs of building great teams. What really makes a team come together? How can you be sure that you are bringing in the right folks? Who should be hired first, second, next? We’ll talk about teams at the senior management level and at the BOD level.

Entrepreneurial Series - Plain English Term Sheets - This is a webinar for startup entrepreneurs who want to understand the details of financing term sheets. What to ask for…and what to avoid.

MITX - Mass Innovation & Technology Exchange have lots of great events for technology based startups. The next session is “Building Social Applications and Widgets“.

The 128 Innovation Capital Group - The regular meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month at the Best Western Hotel on Totten Pond Road in Waltham. Every month an investor provides our formal program. After Q&A, our speaker generally remains to speak with audience members, one on one. After the meeting, a roster with the contact information of all attendees is made available to those who came to the meeting.

Nantucket Conference - The 2008 Nantucket Conference audience will consist of approximately 150 of New England’s top entrepreneurs, investors, and tech executives. Rather than sitting through a series of speeches and PowerPoint presentations, the audience will be engaged in a dialogue - and sometimes a heated debate - with Conference presenters.

Get out there! Spring is here, so you’re out of excuses!

Today’s New York Times had a brief but attention grabbing article on its cover page titled “In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Till They Drop.” Greg Sterling responded before the sun came up in Oakland, Om Malik also responded, and Michael Arrington is quoted in the article saying, “At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen. This is not sustainable.” It’s truly shocking to me sometimes how so many people I know, or know of, who are also so bright and intelligent, choose to work themselves to … well, to death. Don’t get me wrong, I’m including myself in at least the later half of that statement. I work 90% of the time I’m awake, and I, like Michael Arrington, have a sleeping disorder. I’ve been to neurologists for it and I’ve undergone sleep studies and the doctors ultimately conclude that I need to relax and get into a more consistent sleep schedule. So I’m guilty of it too. But I like to think that I’m getting better at it and that I do have some perspective.

Work can quite literally become one’s life, making the delineation between “work” and “life” nearly undetectable. Many of my own friends and family would say that CitySquares is Ben, and some might dare to say that Ben is CitySquares. Frankly, I find both of those assessments bordering on offensive, but I do understand their perspective.

What drives me might be different from what drives, say, Om Malik. What drives Om might be quite different from what drives Mike Arrington. And as an entrepreneur on my second business, and knowing many other entrepreneurs in varying stages, I can comfortably say that I know what drives me, but I cannot profess to know what drives them.

Over the past few year I’ve learned a good amount about balance too though. Sometimes a death in the family brings you back to earth, or the birth of a child - whatever it may be, but usually a major life event has a way of doing that - giving one perspective. I’d like to think that I don’t need a life event to remind me. Om Malik needed a heart attack to bring him back to earth. I’ve had some of my own personal wake-up-calls that I frequently use to keep my feet on the ground. I am constantly reminding myself that nothing is more important than family and health. And ironically, it’s precisely those two things that I’m working so hard for!

I’ve forced myself into a pattern of a fairly regular sleep schedule, which has significantly lessened the symptoms of my sleeping disorder. I’ve also learned to set time aside for the most important people in my life as well as time for myself. I’ve been practicing turning off the Blackberry, closing the lid on my laptop, taking a deep breath and just - letting go. But if I don’t practice balance, and it does take practice, than I start to forget why I’m doing all this, why I’m working so hard, why I choose this life - rather than this life choosing me.

This blog, Your Suspect, is most often about these very themes - these struggles between my own identity and Self, and my identity as an entrepreneur. I hope that this blog will tell a story one day, a story that I am living and that I plan on sharing with my own child.

I’m reminded of a line from John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy”, Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

How come no one ever told me how cool Mac’s were before now? I kid! I’m already getting “I told you so!” emails, and I’m not embarassed to say, “you were right!” After being extremely frightened about making “the switch” as they call it, I jumped in head first and did it. Thankfully I had help from Michael LeBarron, one of our web developers. He totally helped me get up speed. (thank you Michael!)

Less than 48 hours after buying my MacBook Pro I am now 100% converted and holy crap am I happy! I’m flying around the OS like I’ve been using it for years. I’m learning the nuances and I’ve customized it to my liking. I’m taking full advantage of Spaces too. I do need a couple Windows programs, specifically MS Money, Expensable, and Quickbooks and I just used Parallels to install XP, and with Parallels’ Coherence I can actually run any and all Microsoft programs within OS X as if it belonged there. They even put themselves in the dock. That’s just so brilliant!

But most importantly, I’m back to work. I’m moving around quickly, I’m not waiting for programs to open, close, files to save, etc, and I’m not fighting my computer - it plays nice, it works - it simply works. I got a ton done today. Heck, I had to do a little work in Illustrator and I was in and out in less than 4 minutes! On my Windows machine it would take 4 minutes just to open Illustrator - and that’s no exaggeration.

I can proudly say that I love Mac and I can honestly admit that this is long overdue for me. However, I will not be getting any tattoos, or face piercings, and I won’t be putting any stickers on my lid.

So, I think I can say I’m ready to convert to a Mac. I’m not 100% convinced because frankly I’m just frightened about it. But I think I’m going to talk myself into it in this blog entry. Here we go…

I’ve been using computers since the days of, well, since before there was a Windows, thanks to my Dad and his entry into the computer industry in the early 80’s. First I was using VMS on a DEC Rainbow and PDP 11. I was using MS-DOS, then I was using Windows 3.51, then Windows 95, then Windows 98. I was an MSCE in Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, then Windows 2000 and Active Directory. I upgraded to Windows XP, and now, I have Windows Vista.

I currently run Vista on a ThinkPad T60p. Vista is slightly sexier than XP - which isn’t saying much at all! All along the way over the past few years, especially the past 2 years, I’ve been growing more and more impatient with Windows and more and more intrigued and impressed by Mac OS and its flexibility to work with Windows, even in parallel. Most especially over the past couple years as Apple has clearly been doing some very new and impressive stuff, slowly encroaching on Microsoft’s enterprise market share - albeit totally puny. And I’ve always stuck to the same message of “but I need Windows for business - I just couldn’t convert.” Today, however, I had such a terrible and ironic meltdown that I think the Gods, as well as the stranger next to me on this train ride, are telling me it’s time to convert. Check this out…

Being that I run Vista on a ThinkPad T60p, I naturally have to reboot often. And it’s only been getting worse. But, being the Windows guy that I am, I tolerate it. I tolerate it like I tolerate back pain - I just accept it. It comes with the territory! So at 7:30 this morning I’m at Penn Station waiting for my train back to Boston, trying to get online. No go, and Outlook is freezing for some unknown reason, along with other apps like Winamp, for no apparent reason. So, whatever, I close the lid and stuff it into my bag and go back to my BlackBerry where I can actually be more productive. Imagine that - I’m more productive on my BlackBerry than I am on a $2000 laptop running Windows Vista. When I boarded the train and sat down at a table diagonal to another gentleman, I saw him reach into a manilla envelope and pull out his Mac Air. (OK, he didn’t really pull it out of an envelope). So I break out my massive, stealth black ThinkPad (powerful as she is) and plunk her down on the table. I crack it open and notice that Windows has decided to start fresh. OH - OK. Chalk it up to not putting it to sleep properly - because apparently closing the lid is just too much for Vista to handle properly. So I wait about 6 minutes for it to start this service, that service, that app, this app, yada yada. I kill the usual processes that otherwise would require me to reboot in short time, and then I’m on my way. Hah! Take that Mac guy with your shiny white glowing apple - staring at me with it’s, it’s stem.

I proceed to plug my Verizon Wireless PC card in, run VZAccess manager and attempt to get online, which works for about 10 minutes. Outlook is trying to connect, and I proceed to Firefox where I can catch up on some reading about some of the stuff I picked up at this week’s conference. I put my headphones on, start Winamp, and crank a little Soundgarden. I’m rockin now!

Then it all came to an end. Every app froze. I couldn’t click anything. But the mouse moved so that was a good sign! I know this pattern, I just have to wait. So I go to the snack car and get a cinnamon bun. Upon my return Windows was still frozen and all my apps were pale white. But the mouse still moved, hooray! But I can’t click the start menu. OK, fuck it - hard shutdown (an activity that always frightens me because it’s just SO not good for a hard disk). BIOS posts, Windows comes up, and I login. Suddently I see Windows Vista has decided to install IE again, along with many other programs. I can’t see anything but this install process - not even my tropical golf course wallpaper. Then Vista only confirmed what I feared was happening - it was rebuilding my Windows profile. All my personal settings were gone - just, gone! My startup items, gone, my wallpaper, gone, and then I clicked to my Documents folder - empty! My Music, empty! My Pictures, empty! Holy crap! (Thankfully I use Mozy Pro and I can get it all back if it’s really really gone)

I just had to stop for a minute and laugh. I just, laughed! Here’s this Mac guy with his sexy Air working away and looking so calm and collected, even smug, but - productive. And here’s me - not able to do a single thing - no work cuz Windows doesn’t want to play nice. I take off my headphones and I engage the enemy in a discussion, a diplomatic discussion. I want to know more about his culture, the state of his nation - Mac nation.

Turns out he’s a senior business consultant, and a technical one at that. He told me he was a diehard PC guy for many years - let me say that again - he was a diehard PC guy. Now, he’s using a Mac! I gave him some more airtime and let him sell me. And he just about closed the deal. We spoke for a good 15 minutes and he almost totally convinced me. He answered all sorts of my questions about dual booting, about the Intel processor, about the speed, the efficiency, the graphics, the this the that. What we concluded that there is nothing stopping me but fear. I feel like a kid who’s afraid to dive off a rock into a lake, while all my friends are there swimming and having fun, but I’m too much of a sally to jump in with them.

Then, I picked up my BlackBerry I notice my friend and advisor to CitySquares, Randy Parker (founder of Constant Contact), was on Google Talk. We get to talking about the same topics. And he too convinces me - puts all my concerns to rest, aside from just the emotional barriers. He emails me some articles about Leopard, about how fast Vista is on a Mac - how’s PC World actually says that the fastest machine they’ve ever run Windows on is a Mac!!!

After these conversations and collecting some of the data I need, on top of data points I’ve picked up on over the past couple years, I needed to just think about it all. Meanwhile I decided to reboot the laptop nice and proper like. When I did, my original profile came back, thank heavens! But some of my settings are gone and I can’t use my Aircard now. I don’t care. I’ve given up.

So here I am now, on the train, typing this entry into Windows Notepad because I’m afraid to use anything the else. And when my train pulls into South Station I think I’m doing it - I’m going to run to an Apple store and get some advice on converting from Windows, and running Windows in VMware or whatever, Parallels or something, that might even be built into Leopard (cuz you can do that on a Mac!). And if that doesn’t work - again, according to PC World Vista runs faster on a Mac!

So that’s it, I’m doing it. I’m making the plunge. And ya know, I’m excited. I’m ready to leave PC land and go to Mac land. The irony here, aside from my experience this morning with this friendly passenger and his Mac Air, is that until about a year or so ago I was a long time, loyal, passionate Windows Mobile guy (starting with my first HP iPaq). After growing frustrated with windows Mobile day after day, month after month, year after year, I converted to BlackBerry. I’ve never looked back. I love my BlackBerry Pearl!
I’ve always said, I’ll never get a Mac, yet here I am, about to get one. Ya know what’s most exciting about this folks? The most exciting thing about this is that now, I can get some work done. Apparently when you put a Mac to sleep, it goes to sleep. When you wake it up, it wakes up. When you boot it, it boots, fast. When you tell it to do something, it does it. Viruses on a Mac? Are you kidding? I am genuinely excited about getting back to work, and OK, on a very sexy Mac with it’s shiny glowing little apple.

To be continued…

I forgot to post this earlier, but better late than never! I will be at Search Engine Strategies New York this week, from Monday through Thursday. I look forward to seeing many friends and acquaintences, including:

Gib, Mike (and Fred?) from Localeze
Andrew Shotland from LocalSEOGuide
My friends from TurnHere
Ryan Sarver from Skyhook Wireless
Danny Moon from UpNext
Jason Calacanis from Mahalo and Calacanis.com - assuming he’ll speak to me!

I’m sure I’ll see, as well as meet, many others from around the way. I always enjoy these industry conferences - there’s always such great energy and fun, and of course overwhelming amounts of information. I’ve heard great things about the SES shows and this is actually my first.

I’ll be staying with a friend uptown and seeing some friends and family while in town too. It’ll be a tight schedule that’s for sure! If you’d like to meet up shoot me an email at my name at CitySquares.com.