After PubSub… a holiday!
March 7th, 2006
Whew. It’s official. I’ve now separated from PubSub. The company is about to go into its next phase and we’ve been slowly cutting the cords over the last few weeks. When I co-founded the company, the objective was always to build it to a certain point and then leave to do my next venture. After four years (internet years, no less), that time has come. I must admit I thought this point would come a year ago, but when building companies, I’ve learned that everything takes a year longer than you think.
It’s been by far one of the most privileged experiences of my career. The opportunity to bring such an incredible technology to the internet is truly rare and I feel very very lucky (and proud) for the part I’ve played in it.
I’ve often used the turtle analogy for new companies. A sea turtle lays about 200 eggs and leaves. Some number of those hatch and the new turtlettes (?) scramble to the water, all the while getting eaten by animals or getting lost. An even smaller number get to the water and start swimming through the surf, getting eaten by birds or smashed on rocks by the surf. Some even get through that and start diving into deep water, getting snapped up by fish etc. A very very small number get to the bottom and become very big turtles.
Companies follow much the same path, with very few big turtles. I think PubSub is just about to reach the bottom and become a very big turtle. Me? I’m like a bodyguard during those early stages, trying to protect the baby turtle against all those odds.
And no, I don’t exactly know what my next (ad)venture will be… but stay tuned. Whatever it is, I’m first taking a vacation – I haven’t had more than a 3-day weekend off since 2002, so I’m long overdue!
Oh, my email has changed and the best place to now reach me is my first name @ this domain. Please update your address books accordingly.
Entry Filed under: Blogging, Internet & Technology
20 Comments Add your own
1. fergus burns | March 7th, 2006 at 7:24 pm
best of luck – you certainly need a break
keep in touch
regards
fergus
2. Marc’s Voice »&hellip | March 7th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
[...] Salim Ismail has left PubSub. Looks like PubSub is closing their next round. [...]
3. Ashish | March 7th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Ooh – this came as a surprise to me, Salim. All the best for the vacation and whatever you plan to do next
4. Marc’s Voice »&hellip | March 7th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
[...] I had lunch with one of my favorite old timer A-lister technology geek dudes today – Dave Winer. We talk about Ray Ozzie, Salim, Technorati layoffs and all sorts of stuff. [...]
5. christina lopes | March 7th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
have fun with the vacation and good luck on nex project.
6. Sean Bohan | March 8th, 2006 at 12:31 am
Enjoy the vacation – you definitely earned it. Hope to see you at the next NY tech meetup.
When you get back into town lets grab a drink with Ace after work.
-Sean
7. Nicole Jenson | March 8th, 2006 at 2:39 am
Salim, for me you were the heart and soul of PubSub and articulated it better than anyone else.
I hope you’ve left it in good hands… let’s catch up for a coffee when you’re next in town. Nicole.
8. Richard | March 8th, 2006 at 3:23 am
Best of luck with your new ventures, Salim. It was a pleasure meeting you in Seattle with (some of) my Bryght colleagues for dinner. Your description of PubSub and obvious passion for it really got me thinking about its potential. And enjoy your deserved vacation!
9. Open The Dialogue&hellip | March 8th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Salim Ismail leaves PubSub
Early this a.m., I was informed (by the man himself) that Salim Ismail was leaving PubSub, the feed-based measurement / monitoring tool he’s been in on since 2002 as co-founder. I wanted to wish him good luck in whatever endeavor…
10. Mike Van Ness | March 8th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
PubSub totally rocks – must be something great going on. Salim, have a great vacation – let me know when you’re back in Toronto and let’s have a beer!
11. Buzz Bruggeman | March 8th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Good luck…have fun, write often…come to Seattle, and use ActiveWords..
12. Salim | March 8th, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Buzz! I do use ActiveWords… great product. In fact, I ought to review it using the structured blogging plugin! S.
13. Dean Landsman | March 9th, 2006 at 12:35 am
PubSub without you? Hard to imagine! After your rest, the next venture you grab a hold of will be fortunate to have your involvement.
I never noticed any pink shirts, btw.
Maybe I can join you, Sean, and Ace. For one night we could surely conquer the world.
Rest up, enjoy some relaxation, then go about doing your thing in the next incarnation of “Salim’s Ventures.”
14. Mir | March 9th, 2006 at 9:42 am
comes as a surprise to me. anyways best of luck. will always remember the great time I had working with you, bob, duncan n the rest of the team. cheers
15. prakash | March 11th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Good Luck Salim
16. Sanjiv | March 17th, 2006 at 4:31 am
Hey Salim, Good luck from us at the PubSub India office. Go enjoy that well deserved holiday and wish you the very best for your future endeavors. Take care!
17. jeremiah owyang | March 22nd, 2006 at 11:56 pm
Best wishes Salim, i’m sure you’ll start another great company –again!
Jeremiah
18. Rogers Blog - The middle &hellip | March 23rd, 2006 at 2:19 am
[...] Rogers Blog – The middle is shrinking (mainstream vs. blogs)Rogers BlogFamilie, Freunde, Sachen…2006-03-23The middle is shrinking (mainstream vs. blogs) Von roger @ 08:04 [ Mondomedia ] As Salim leaves Pubsub, this post is for him and will quote him extensively:) He explains his leave that much better here and I really love the turtle analogy for start-up companies. And then I found the (Yet) Another kerfuffle between blogs and mainstream media post I wanted to quote it all: Graph from Mary Meeker’s October 2004 report (authored by the ultra-bright Benjamin Dorr at Morgan Stanley Research) The graph shows that a news event goes through three phases: – discovery (breaking news) – reporting by mainstream media (including ratification, fact-checking, etc) – post-event commentary Blogs started in that last category. However, as more journalists self-publish and more discovery is taking place via blogs (think Flickr), the middle is shrinking, causing some to say that mainstream media is dead. I prefer Scott Karp’s rebuttal, which presents a different view. My own take on it is that yes, mainstream media will get squeezed on both sides, but the curve will stretch vertically higher. More and more discovery will take place via blogs and all that discovery will require editorial fact-checking and ratification, thus you still need mainstream media. A second role for media is trusted commentary about what’s happening rather than just reporting (think early Dan Rather). Of course, related to all this is the fact that reporting/journalism isn’t objective anymore, having been bought by monster media. That has skewed everything and ought to be dealt with in another missive.
19. James McNally | March 31st, 2006 at 8:42 am
Salim, it was nice chatting with you at the GTABloggers Event last night. First you tell me you’re with PubSub, then I come here and you’re leaving PubSub! Anyhow, best of luck with your next venture and hope you get back to Toronto again soon. Cheers!
20. Bookmarks about Pubsub&hellip | December 13th, 2008 at 6:45 am
[...] – bookmarked by 3 members originally found by kallenielsen on 2008-12-03 After PubSub… a holiday! http://salimismail.com/?p=22 – bookmarked by 5 members originally found by soulwonderful on [...]
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