Today is the last of my final days at Sole Technology. I’ve left for a couple of different reasons, the main being the ironic twist that this skateboarding company is the most corporate of gigs I’ve ever experienced.
Our web department has had tons of freedom in guiding all the brands online, deciding what was best, and executing the way we knew best. It was tons of fun applying technologies that usually only exist in nerd communities to practical use in a non nerd setting.
With that said, there’s some major projects that needed to be started and completed quickly. Namely, ecommerce. Despite our team being more than willing and able to get the job done and presenting how to do so, upper management creates pie charts on how to approach the project. That leaves us to hack together something somewhat useful, posing as not so good, ecommerce. A year later, the pie chart has some new slices on it, but no action has been taken. I understand that Sole is not an internet company, they’re a traditional business with a traditional business model, but that’s no excuse for being excrutiatingly slow to action.
Part of the problem is that the people involved in that pie chart aren’t educated when it comes to the web. Therefore, they’re easily taken advantage of by industry hacks dropping old buzz words such as eStrategy, database marketing and mobile technology. The fact that these bottom feeders are able to get face time with decision makers makes matters worse and slows things to a crawl.
Sole Technology needs to turn to their web department first, they’re the experts.
We have some great, talented people. I hope they continue to get things done and do a better job of influencing decision makers than I ever could. For gods sake though, start your work day at 10am, at least! It’s been a lot of fun, and I’ll miss it lots, but it’s time for something else.
QUITTER!
Sweet! You deserve a smarter company. What are you going to do with your time now?
Bill, I think you’re more on point than I’ve ever seen you. I’ve realized a lot of these things myself, but I’m still optimistic about being able to turn the tide. It’s too bad you won’t be there anymore when it happens.
You’re gonna be missed.
P.S. How about 10:15? Haha…
That’s the spirit Foxxyz! Stay positive! Don’t let this bitter hater quitter bring you down!
I Love them buzz words. They can make anything more expensive.
Working for a completely different company in a completely different field after freelancing with more completely different companies doing web development and design work…
Unfortunately this scenario is typical of large companies or companies on the rise with in house teams. Project failure almost has to happen until they finally listen to the “professionals”.
Hope the next thing pans out. So are you staying West Coast?
True that Polski - We’re doing another 6 months or so out here, then Susan and I will be heading back east.