Confessions of a SAAS entrepreneur

Telecom, Developers and Innovation

Every 2-3 years I sit down and put my thoughts down about the industry I’m part of. I do it primarily to crystalize what I’ve learnt, and what I believe in. In 2006 I wrote about the unmet needs of SMBs in the communications space and that thinking eventually led to Ringio. In 2008 I focused on how the long tail of voice applications could become a Plan B for Telecom. Today I look at what telecom companies could do to improve their future.

Telecommunications matters

What do you call an organization that knows who I am, where I am, who I talk to, what I buy, what I like and how I spend my time? No, you silly, not the CIA. I’m talking about my telecom provider!

What industry other than telecom has the ability to reach almost 100% of the population with its products, services and marketing, transact with that population wherever they are, and do it reliably and cost effectively?

Yet, despite all these unique advantages, telcos are playing defense when it comes to many of their products, and are seeing global Internet giants emerge as formidable competitors.

Look it up yourself – LIUY

From: Sam To: the inner circle of people in my life Hello dear person, I like you. I enjoy your company. I respect and possibly admire you. But please don’t confuse that with a willingness to be your SECRETARY. If you need to find a phone number, how to get to x location, a bank [...]

How to construct your pitch

Watch me pitch Ringio in 60 seconds: Let’s start by saying that: English is my 3rd language I’m an introvert Before Ringio I spent 10 years in a windowless office writing specs…. not what you would call an accomplished communicator. So…. if I can do it, YOU can do it too! The basic structure of [...]

Shared Vision

Team building is about creating a forward looking story of what you’re out to do, and you’re telling the story over and over, drilling it into each person’s heads, fleshing out their role in the story, until the team has a shared vision. Then you go out and model it in your behavior, and you remind people about it when conflict arises, or when things look dark, or when you deviate.