Hiatus

With the bad economy casting a long, dark shadow over so many initiatives the blog is on hiatus for awhile, as I continue to talk to folks at startups and in the media business and seek a clear strategic path out of the doldrums. Conversations these days tend to focus more on problems than on opportunities. While there are plenty of promising ideas in the hopper, the risk/reward balance is profoundly altered from just a few months ago. For now, the riskiness of the overall business climate makes even small investment or product risks untenable. Even in healthy companies, cash flow is a challenge. Many businesses are focusing on tried-and-true options such as pricing and operational efficiency, shelving more ambitious plans until better times.

History tells us that the stressful conditions and inversion of the status quo in downturns can give rise to notable pioneers. With a critical mass of great technologies and creative thinkers primed to unleash the next round of the media revolution, I’m optimistic about the future. While businesses may seem to be hibernating or (worse) going into reactive mode, from what I’m hearing the wheels are starting to turn as people come to grips with the new environment and the magnitude of innovation required to break free. The blog will be back soon with fresh reports from the front lines.