February 07, 2006
Not Funny
If we're going to use this blog to promote good news, then we also need to use it to discuss our mistakes. We pride ourselves on being very entrepreneurial, and we pride ourselves on being open, democratic, and human, by which we mean that we let everybody attack projects and work in the manner they think best. Last night, we sent out an unsolicited email simultaneously to about 90 people who aren't FeedBurner publishers. It was wrong to send such a solicitation; both the tone and act of sending the note for this purpose was wrong. Obviously, sending unsolicited email is not our style.
Great companies have a culture that the people within the company can be proud of. Companies react to mistakes in two ways - either you can create lists of rules and regulations, or you can work hard to make sure everybody "gets" the culture and let people be more entrepreneurial. We prefer the latter approach because it's a lot more fun if it works. It's also far more stressful when it doesn't. We are very quick to promote our own success around here when we sign deals and work with great customers, so we have to look ourselves in the eye and challenge ourselves when we screw up.
If you were one of the 90 folks that received an unsolicited email from us last night, mea culpa. I know a bunch of you personally, which makes it all the more amusing....not amusing like a New Yorker cartoon, but rather, amusing as in "not funny".
Comments
I am actually more insulted that I did *not* get an e-mail. Damn you and your elitist mailing lists. :)
Dick
Well done on having the courage to admit that this was a mistake. I also see that Rick Klau VP Business development at FB has posted similar -though less apologetic- comments on a few blogs who reported the email. I guess Eric Olson, who's name appears at the end of the FB email must be feeling sick to his stomach this morning but he should take some solace from the fact that the buck stops at the top -the FB executive team need to swallow their medicine and get on with things-
Chris
Hey, for what it's worth, I forgive ya. What's the world coming to? I'm starting to understand what it means to be born in exile in a Biblical sense. Events like these are, in my opinion, non-events. It's like we forget what life is really like for people who are just wondering where their next meal is coming from and our dramas over "90 unsolicited emails" becomes a luxury.
Anyways, check out my trackback, Dick. Because if you didn't use your real name, you're possibly going away for a while. Sorry...but it's true. ;-)
Sam Freedom
Sam Freedom's Internet Marketing Controversy Blog
There are two kinds of mistakes. Good and bad.
The definition of a bad mistake is one which teaches you nothing.
Wow, for a company to come out and admit they did something wrong...that is truly impressive in this day and age of non responsibility. I respect your company that much more.
