Stuffleufagus

I sold a blog post today – literally.  Some time ago (I won’t get specific) I wrote a 32 word blog post that had a random (seemingly) phrase in it that recently caught someone’s interest.  The phrase was also the blog post title. 

It was a “catch phrase” that I just made up – but now, (some time later), a company is launching a product that uses the same catch-phrase I coined (some time ago).

Since the way my post used the phrase was contrary to the goals of the company, and since it was unique, and it had good “Google Juice”, the company very politely, and without any threat or fear of threat (they acknowledged that I had “coined the phrase” long before they had) offered to pay me to kill my blog post.  They just wanted “clear title” to the phrase – and they wanted to be found if someone searched for it.

I cannot go into specifics about the post (now deleted) or the terms.  But it was substantial enough that I elected to delete something that I alone created and controlled.  It would not buy a car, or allow me to retire.

Sure – that info is still “out there” somewhere – in Google Cache, for example.  But in a very short time the Google Juice I have for the phrase will be dead, and the new owners of the phrase will get top billing on the search results. 

Which is what they wanted.

I didn’t delete anything significant – there were not even any comments on the post.  It was, like many of my posts, just “something weird I thought of and posted”.

Did I sell out?  I sure did.  But I didn’t sell anyone else out, so I am comfortable with my decision.

Did I get rich – no.  Would I sell another post for money – I doubt it – this was a very unique situation.  You could not, for example, pay me to delete any of the negative posts that I have written about any company or service here.

Some of my most popular posts are ones that I either praise or punish some company that I think is worthy of my opinion about them.  I would never consider selling those posts.

If you are shocked by my actions go look through your blog history and tell me there isn’t a single insignificant post you wouldn’t sell to help put your child through college.  I am sure you have a meaningless post or two that nobody would ever miss.

I traded a useless, silly, and ignored post for a chance to get my kid through college.  Judge me if you wish.  I have no regrets.  

written by rob

written by rob

Celebrated my daughter’s 17th birthday today.  It was nice.  I made T-Bones (3/4 inch cut), baked potatoes and a fresh salad. For Lauren I made a beef tenderloin, since that’s her favorite.   People always ask me how I get steaks so tender and juicy.  Tender is easy - take them out of the ‘fridge about four hours before you are going to grill them.  Get them close to room temperature.  I don’t know why this works, but it does (the 3/4 inch steak helps, of course.  Thin steaks get chewy).  As for juicy, just make sure the grill is as hot as you can get it before you put the steaks on.  You can always turn the fire down after you’ve seared both sides of the steak.

Next - we’re just a few days from launching the project I have been working on since last May.  We launch in a limited Beta at CeBIT - where “ones and zeroes turn into billions”.  Let’s hope.  Anyway, the last minute bugs and feature crawl is kicking into high gear - so as you might imagine, I am busy!  It’s a good busy though.

The cool thing is that very, very soon I can start telling you what I’ve been working on, and a little bit about my boss/partner, and now friend.  I won’t be doing most of that here - we already have a blog for the new product - but I hope you won’t mind me linking and/or cross posting to that news.  What I do, and who I choose to work with, is a great part of who I am.

And as part of that effort, and news - I’ve already committed to giving 1%  of the current valuation of the company - not just 1% of my share of the company - to charity.  Sure, the valuation will perhaps change and eventually that 1% may be diluted.  But maybe not.  And even if it is, I think we are talking about a very cool contribution.  Details on the charity to come in the future, but it will be a charity that focuses on helping third world businesses start, and grow.

It hasn’t been easy, and it hasn’t always been fun.  But I absolutely love what I do.  That’s probably why I do it for 18 hours a day. 

And yes - I have had several requests from people asking me to describe exactly what it is I do.  Look for that post soon.  Its not a short answer.  It is actually pretty complicated

Ok, sorry for the jumbled post.  Time is short, bugs are many, and launch is immanent!

written by rob