Mulling over pieces of the ActiveWords puzzle…

As those who know me well realize, I spend most of my waking hours evangelizing ActiveWords. I refer to this effort as the ActiveWords Odyssey. I feel like I am someone with great technology, who is trying to find his way home. Perhaps like the classical Ulysses of Homeric tradition.

Along the way there have been many perils, and no assurance that I will get home, or perhaps to use a baseball metaphor to hit one out of the park, touch all the bases and reach home plate in front of cheering fans. I worry sometimes that I will be the Willy Loman of software evangelists.

My great friend Robert Scoble was interviewed in the last few days by Steve Rubel.

Steve’s piece is excellent, and I think what is up on the web, is the first part of a multi-part interview. Sometimes I think that guys like Robert, and perhaps me, are so far out on the early adopter edge that people think we are crazy.

I don’t think so, and I think it is only a matter of time before others catch up.

When they do, the world will be a changed place.

This morning, ActiveWords got a great review in The Age in Melbourne, AU. Charles Wright read about ActiveWords because of a piece that Jeremy Wagstaff wrote about ActiveWords in the Wall St. Journal. Jeremy read about ActiveWords in a blog. I think maybe Robert’s.

So, the net effect of blogging has been a great piece about ActiveWords by Jeremy in the Wall St. Journal, a great piece by Charles in the Age, a ton of downloads of ActiveWords in Asia and Australia, and further validation that blogging is a very, very powerful means by which little companies can get there technology in front of people all over the world.

At ActiveWords, we cherish great write ups, and we have had a ton!

In Charles’ piece, he writes:

“ActiveWords is a genuine catalyst for change. “

What a great compliment!

I was recently asked who the typical ActiveWords user is, and my response again was:

a. Smart people,
b. Who are self organized,
c. Who want to get things done,
d. And who don’t tell their friends about new technology, because they are tired of being tech support!

I am curious as to how we get past that last hurdle……

Comments

[Amy Wohl]

The best way to deal with your last problem (people who love the product but won't recommend it because they can't afford to spend more time providing technical support) is to build products that need little or no technical support. That's why we ALL recommend Google -- it doesn't need any.

[Rick Blaiklock]

Man - did you peg me correctly. Especially on item (d).
I'm tired of being unpaid support, so it's easier to keep my mouth shut.
...R

[hamad]

that last hurdle - i would attest to that. can't stop myself though.... and the first comment - also very right but when do we realize it? in our lifetime?