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Journalism of Courage
A wild world where the rules are still being made
Every other page in a newspaper carries something about the Internet. Do you sometimes wonder what this world is about? Who are the people who populate it? How do they create so much wealth? How do they go about it? And, an interesting question: is there a connection between the pace of change and the sharing of wealth? My experience of the past year as an Internet entrepreneur says, yes.
For 20 years before that, I had been a print journalist. In that world, companies were family owned. They were proud of their heritage, and placid in it. There was change, of course, but far slower than in the world outside. That is why, when the TV boom came, a whole new set of companies captured pole position. They embraced change while print companies found it an inconvenience.
Since things are always hot, entrepreneurs need all the allies they can find. Whereas companies in older businesses are isolationists 8212; they want to keep everything to themselves, even their share capital 8212; on the net there is a constant search for collaborators. Net companies which compete bitterly in one area may cooperate in another. This behaviour is fed by their understanding of their strengths and inadequacies.
In some ways, a person is oriented towards sharing from the moment hedecides to start up a net company. He knows he will have to sell some of his shares to a venture capitalist who will take the risk and fund the company. Chances are, he will also have to distribute shares among his employees to link their income to the company8217;s success. Shares may, in some cases, also be distributed among the company8217;s suppliers to ensure their involvement.Is there a larger moral in this story? I think so, and it is this: it is insecurity that brings out the best in people.
The writer runs agencyfaqs.com, an advertising, media and marketing site
