New Year + New Attitude = New Website?!?

Earlier this year (ha) I posted on how so many of us use the "arbitrary" date of January 1st and the day to put into action all the things we put off the previous year. Ya know - the whole "new year, new attitude" type of thinking.

However arbitrary, as some folks noted, the "new year, new attitude" approach is a good thing - hey, if it takes an "arbitrary date" such as the coming of a new year to act on the changes we all want to make for ourselves, why not?

And while I scoff at New Years Resolutions because NO ONE ever keeps them - I vowed that this year would be the year we get something off the ground...

AND its happening. We've finalized the layout for Phase 1 of what will become EventSpy and we are excited!!!


As you all have heard a million times, we spent a lot of time spinning our wheels because once we decided what we wanted EventSpy to become, we were overwhelmed by the cost of what it woud take to make "our dreams a reality". We thought about Venture Capital money but quickly realized we weren't the best candidates - at this point in time. We thought about credit and quickly realized we weren't quite ready for that type of risk. We thought about self-financing - but the two of us combined didn't have $40K lying around to put into a business. AND we thought about friends and family - I can't speak for Sherna but past experiences have made me hesitant to rely on friends and family for business investments - at THIS point in time.

We fell into a downward spiral as we slowly lost interest as a result of money woes - we're girls and overemotional :sigh: AND THEN we started thinking differently. :::FINALLY:::


We're excited and we'll keep you posted as we cross the inchstones to our debut.

::thats it:::

---

Now Playing: Rodrigo y Gabriela - Tamacun


If you haven't heard of this duo, you need to get on it. Sure, its acoustic guitar music, but they're amazing, and their story is pretty cool too.

iPod + Cell Phone = iPhone

If you haven't heard, Apple wow'ed the world again with its iPhone cell phone announcement - hitting the shelves of a Cingular store (Why Cingular?!?!? I HATE Cingular) near you June, 2007.

The sucker ain't cheap - $499 - $599 depending on the storage and optional features which include:

1. 3.5" touch-screen with virtual keyboard
2. 2 megapixel camera
3. WIFI enabled
4. Runs OSX

MOTO RAZR - iPhone Announcement = Not-So-Cool-Anymore
... and before folks get hypersensitive (because we're entrepreneurs and we're babies), I have one.

What's interesting - all the Mac-afficianados out there who mocked up what they thought the iPhone would look like were DEAD WRONG.

Click here to see the What-Folks-Thought-the-iPhone-Would-Look-Like Gallery.

Whats the deal with GMAIL today?

This does not bode well for Google's attempt at convincing people to go with Google's online array of applications aimed at Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Random: More Venture Capitalists

Rather than trying to keep track of random notes scribbled on random pieces of paper and then make sense of the notes (if I can even locate the paper) 4 months later, why not use the EG blog as my note pad.

That being said - here's some venture capitalists to add to the list of folks who invest in internet companies (namely "Web 2.0" communities):

1. Idealab:
   Invested in companies like CitySearch (prior to being purchased by InterActive Corporation), Picasa (Google desktop image management program), NetZero, Tickets.com, WeddingChannel.com
   
   Token Web 2.0 Company: InsiderPages - the investment amount is unknown - what IS known is that based on increasing competition from companies like Yelp! they've been forced to reduce their staff. Proof that VC's invest in all companies.
   
   
2. Sequoia Capital:
   Invested in companies like Adbrite, Zappos, GreenDot and Xcieve.
   
   Token "Content" (Web 2.0) Company: InsiderPages. Proof that even though most folks would tell you that venture capital isn't a suitable source of funding for web 2.0 companies, they pour money into them like they do everything else.
   
   
3. Softbank Capital Partners:
   Invested in companies like Yahoo!, www.spg.com (starwood hotels preferred guest program), Diamond.com
   
   Token Web 2.0 Company: InsiderPages. Wow! What a trend here.
   
   
4. Mobius Venture Capital:
   Invested in companies like Yahoo!, Geocities, Eloan, Verisign, E-Trade and Judy'sBook
   
   Token Web 2.0 Company: Judy'sBook. Yet another example of a Venture Capital firm that invested in early stage "content" and "Consumer and Small Business Services" companies.
   

"Why'd you post this Nadi?"

Two reasons: because I've decided to keep a running list of venture capital firms on this blog. And because when Sherna and I first "started out" (with the blog) we were looking at funding resources and talked to a few people who told us that VC's weren't the way to go. AND I still agree with that - not because VC's don't invest in web 2.0 "Content" companies like people told us, because they do - because we're not asking for enough $$$ and aren't providing enough equity to interest a VC and because we're not at the right stage in the life-of-our-company for a VC.

:whew:

Do with it what you will...and

Happy New Year!!!

For 2007:

So I'm sitting at home "working" (with Dr. Phil in the background) and he's talking about New Year's Resolutions.

Top 10 New Years Resolutions that people don't stick with:

5. To go back to school.

4. To find a new job.

3. To start a business.

2. To get married - I had a friend who actually said this once. A single friend at that. Somethin tells me this one only applies to the ladies
:sigh:

And the number one resolution that people make that people NEVER stick with

1. To lose weight. ...and you thought ALL the 24 Hour Fitness and Bally's commercials were a coincidence.

Why'd I write this post? Because Dr. Phil said something that made sense - why do people place so much emphasis on this arbitrary date (the start of a new year) as the catalyst for change.

And why did I fall into that trap?

Recently my partner and I have lost the bug - not the desire to start a business - but are finding ourselves overwhelmed by figuring out what to do FIRST. And our paralysis-by-analysis has caused us to do NOTHING. And as the year came to a close, I found myself saying "2007 will be the year". WHY??? Why am I waiting for some day in the future to make IT happen? Why not right now?

Well...either way, my procrastination can't last much longer because 2007 is here.

Let's make it a good one. :)