Out with the old, in with the new!

Now that I’m firmly in 2008, a quick update. Please feel free to skip this post if it’s too narcissistic for your tastes :) :

As far as I know, the Channel 9 MicroISV Show is dead. Michael is doing a great job for Microsoft on Microsoft Software + Services Blueprints, but that’s been taking 110% of his time. Also, given who owned the show, there were more than a few topics/interviews I could not do. I expect to be launch a new independent microISV podcast later this quarter, and have already started to round up interviews for it.

Development of Project X – my new online microISV application for microISVs – is moving along. Like one of my writing/programming heros, Mike Gunderloy, I too have gotten on the Ruby on Rails bandwagon, using development of Project X as a way of learning Rails.

Last year after several great conversations at both the Software Industry Conference and the European Software Conference I got loud and clear I needed to find a much more affordable way of delivering value to my market than “traditional” consulting.

While I will still be doing one-to-one consulting, especially for startups who need to implement product or company blogs, I expect Project X will become a much better way I can answer the question of how can I can help microISVs succeed in 2008.

The other way is through a series of very reasonably priced ebooks digging deep into things successful microISVs need to know and act on. The first – working title, The USP Pattern, is almost done and will go out late this week to about a half dozen developers, writers and microISVs whose opinion I respect. Once they’ve helped me debug it, expect to see a sample section (and buy now button! :) ) here. I hope to tackle one important subject, research what works, interview people who can provide insight and experience and make it worth your while on a monthly basis.

Speaking of Mike, as of today I join Mike writing and reporting for Web Worker Daily. WWD is on a mission – provide the information, news and insight the growing legends of web workers – be they microISVs, web designers, internet entrepreneurs or post-”knowledge worker” salarypeople – need to be more productive, more connect and more successful. So, if you happen to know of a good desktop app or web service for people who spend most of their waking hours working on the line, definitely drop me a line!


  1. Nick Bradbury
    Nick Bradbury01-07-2008

    Congrats, Bob – WWD is a great site, and it’ll be even better with you on board.

  2. Judi Sohn
    Judi Sohn01-08-2008

    I agree, Nick! I’ve admired Bob’s work for years and it’s both an honor and privilege to be working with him at WWD now.

  3. Matthew Cornell
    Matthew Cornell01-10-2008

    Great stuff, and congratulations. Good inspiration for a relative newbie self-employed person like me.

  4. Joel Marcey
    Joel Marcey01-14-2008

    I wait with eager anticipation for Project X!! :-)