tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post8853938777032390033..comments2024-03-26T00:25:34.026-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Merge. Be happy. Go under.Paul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-71463420755635358382012-10-26T12:11:49.120-04:002012-10-26T12:11:49.120-04:00Merging is to be expected from large companies, bu...Merging is to be expected from large companies, but it's actually the exact opposite of how they should be moving-- splitting up, into smaller business units with more agility and less overhead. But if you do that, you the senior executive are essentially putting yourself out of a job and giving up your large salary and nice life, so instead you pursue this stalling tactic.<br /><br />The better example would by AOL, with its foolish idea of nurturing community journalism through Patch.com. Small, local journalism can thrive quite well on its own, but as soon as you saddle that local unit with revenue demands to pay corporate's overhead and salary, it starts to die on the vine. Corporate's next step is to merge those local units-- which AOL has done-- to cut costs locally. But the reality is that nobody needs the top layer. Same thing here, just a somewhat different industry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-79054614127890082572012-10-26T11:43:24.285-04:002012-10-26T11:43:24.285-04:00From Google+:
Thanks for sharing your own story r...From Google+:<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your own story regarding publishers. I guess it is pretty obvious what 'their' goal is in re-publishing your book. Tim Cooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-39900490739105542972012-10-26T09:47:38.565-04:002012-10-26T09:47:38.565-04:00Thanks, Paul. I think this really points to the co...Thanks, Paul. I think this really points to the conundrum we're all in with most vocations these days: unique talent or skill is not sufficient; you also have to be a very capable project manager. My little ADD brain makes me a relatively lousy project manager, so for <i>some</i> efforts, the king's ransom of handing over most of the spoils in exchange for guidance and wrangling is worth it. <br /><br />It also requires an ability to self fund through the duration (and to be willing to suffer a total loss) or to have a very understanding patron - a spouse or parent - who is willing to keep you afloat during the process. <br /><br />For someone wanting to focus on just being a great writer, that may prove a losing proposition. The same has been true on the music side for some time now. I always marveled at the talent of those I shared the stage with at Boston open mikes, wondering why someone so incredibly gifted wasn't already Tracey Chapman famous. Then I realized that they weren't very good at promotion or balancing their checkbooks - they were too good at the one ingredient and not good enough at the fundamentals of the business.<br /><br />I wonder if JK Rowling could have pulled it all off on her own or if the next Rowling can make it through self publishing. For me, as with many others with creative passions, I've concluded that it's good to have a day job.Ross Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14133264758384138110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-16478758406328171022012-10-26T08:20:37.720-04:002012-10-26T08:20:37.720-04:00Nice piece on self-publishing. Having just started...Nice piece on self-publishing. Having just started with my book Living in Cancer: A Journey, I enjoy the independence and freedom that it entails and, as you note, one can engage the services one needs to make it more 'professional'. Still learning the marketing side and congrats on doing so well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com