Constituo, ergo sum

I used to think that blogs were just, "Myspace for adults", a place for adults to show off what they know.  Lately, I think it is your resume, updated constantly by you and your network, much the same way Wikipedia updates itself.  So why do we blog?

Fred Wilson has a fantastic post explaining why he blogs.  It captures very well why, I do it too.  It is highly relevant for VCs.  Here is the part that resonates with me:

"But most of all, I am getting to know entrepreneurs of all kinds via my blog. Entrepreneurs in India, Australia, England, China, Silicon Valley, and of course, New York.

They read my blog. Correct me when I am wrong. Pound the table when they agree with me. I get to know them. And they get to know me. And when it comes time for them to raise money, they come to me. But only if they think what they are doing will be interesting to me. And how do they know that? Because they read my blog where I talk incessantly about what is interesting to me.
So my blog acts as an amplifier and a filter. I see many more opportunities, but they are also way more relevant. It makes me a better investor. "

VC's have to lead with their ideas.  They can no longer sit back and pontificate, spill their wisdom about the subject AFTER the entrepreneur is done with his or her pitch.  They have to do it before they take the meeting.  They have to get out there out on a limb.  Why do they have to?  Because those who do, will force the others to do it.  Let's face it, there is not all that much that differentiates VCs.  Many entrepreneurs I meet already know a lot about me and what I think about issues important to them before they meet me.  Same is true apparently for Fred Wilson.  It goes the other way too. I often find myself reading the "company blog" of a potential investment.  There is usually good information there.

I suspect what's true for VC's to be true in all professions.  You have to get yourself be known, and lead with your ideas.  Where do you stand?  Most professionals will have to have a blog.  It will soon go from being a nice to a have to a must have.  Because your blog is your resume 2.0.  It answers the question; "what have you done lately?"

Constituo, ergo sum.  I read that in Wired Magazine.  It means "I post, therefore I am".  I bet it's not  too far from the truth.

Fred Wilson's entire post can be found here.

Comments

[Kevin Dewalt]

Awesome point, Baris. I totally agree.

Unfortunately many people are in employment situations where they don't always have the freedom to publicly talk about what they do or what interests them.

I suspect that quite soon every entrepreneur will need a blog as well.

[Baris Karadogan]

Kevin,

You are right and there is a fantastic story on the cover of the last New York Times Magazine about how the government intelligence agencies are trying to use blogs and wikis to gather better information and collaborate better. They are very much experiencing the issue you touch on. Not easy to be open source in the intelligence community even though there are benefits of such collaboration.

The link is here

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/magazine/03intelligence.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Kevin Dewalt]

I think many people in companies also cannot blog. Most of the places I worked control their message very carefully. Just as you cannot start giving interviews to reporters on behalf of the company, many companies will want to monitor/control anything you publicly say that could be construed as reflecting the company's position.

A chip design engineer probably wants to blog about the latest in chip technology and use her knowledge to build her personal network. Hard to imagine that Intel would allow its employees to do this. Even if the company doesn't specifically forbid it, many employees will be totally uncomfortable speaking about it.

Even Google allegedly fired someone for blogging:
http://news.com.com/Google+blogger+has+left+the+building/2100-1038_3-5567863.html

VC firms are very different in this regard. I expect that companies will start coming out with "policies" relating to employee blogging.

It is pretty unfortunate because ultimately the companies will lose a great opportunity to broaden their employees' horizons.

[Small Business Answering service]

Yeah, they are very much experiencing the issue you touch on. Not easy to be open source in the intelligence community even though there are benefits of such collaboration.

Ben Cliff