Moving Forward
May 19, 2004
I'm moving to San Francisco.
That probably bears some explanation. As I'm sure all of you know, I work for Six Apart, which is based in the Bay Area, and they've been asking me for some time to make the jump to the west coast. But I love New York City, as I may have mentioned before, so this was something that I'd been reluctant to do, and I thought it might be worthwhile to explain how and why my position changed.
I should mention, since I'm sure people will ask, that I do expect to return to New York City, both because it's my home and because I have an obligation to the city I love. More on that in a few days. Today, I want to talk about what's motivated the move.
The past week has been really busy. We announced a new product, clarified the announcement, solicited feedback and did all of those things while dealing with an overwhelming response from thousands of users around the world.
But for me personally, this week was pretty rough. The new licenses and prices for Movable Type have been one of my main projects for the past few weeks and months, though of course we all had a hand in reviewing them. And the botched communications about them is something I feel a lot of personal responsibility for. Making mistakes on an extremely public scale is never fun, and doing it in a community that we've helped give a voice to is even worse. As Clay pointed out, people have an emotional attachment to these tools. To use the requisite automotive analogy, if Six Apart were a shiny new car, I feel like I was the person who put the first dent in it, and then a couple thousand people stood around pointing and saying "It's totalled!"
Inside Six Apart, though, I discovered a lot of very positive things. I found that not only do I have my dream job, I have a place where I can make, well, a pretty big mistake and the response is "This is something we can fix." or "What did you learn?". More importantly, I still work at a place that makes a difference. Though they might be saying "You messed up!", the reality is that thousands of people used tools we gave them and the TrackBack protocol that was invented by our co-founders to say how they felt. And we responded, much faster than I've ever seen any software company respond. I'm sure we'll be responding more.
We also got a lot of stuff right. People have wanted to sell services and products like customization or installation or plugins around Movable Type for a long time, and now they can. Web hosts have wanted to be able to license Movable Type for their users, and now they can. Businesses and end users wanted a simple ticket system where they could submit help requests and get an answer, and now they can. Now the list of people and companies that can benefit from Movable Type doesn't end with Six Apart.
But for me, what matters more is the parts internal to the company. The team members here are the best in the world at what they do, starting right from Ben and Mena themselves. I'm not the sort of person who's prone to breaking down at his desk, but when I finally lost it at some point well past midnight on Friday night, it was Mena herself who was still there, still checking in to make sure we were all okay.
And the development and support teams who saw all their hard work and preparation for this version get overshadowed by the response to the licenses didn't begrudge the business team for one minute. Our international offices chipped in, more than carrying their weight while we scrambled to recover. And our development community and a lot of long-time users were as supportive as they've been since the first day Movable Type launched, representing us better than we were even able to do ourselves, and explaining ideas or even, yes, buying licenses. It's easy to find friends when you're popular, but I found a company and community that stuck with me when things were confusing and screwed up.
So, I'm moving to San Francisco to be even more involved in Six Apart. We're doing all this work with developers and partners because there's still another 99.9% of people in the world who haven't heard what weblogs can do for them. I want to be part of spreading that message, and we're going to need help to do it. I'm also moving because I still honestly believe Six Apart makes the best weblog tools in the world, and we're going to be the the company that brings weblogs to a broad audience. Best of all, I'm glad to have made the decision before all the events of the last week, since nothing confirms a hunch like having it thoroughly tested by circumstance.
I think weblogs have already changed the world a little bit, and that's happened while we're only just getting started. So, thanks to everybody who's supported Six Apart and me, and thanks to everyone in Six Apart for being my motivation to make a public (re)commitment to the company. See you guys at the office.
(And any of you who want to join us in either California, Tokyo, or Paris, get in touch. It's a great place to work.)
8:48 PM
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23 TrackBacks
So Anil and Alaina are moving to San Francisco soon. I hate to be all me me me right... Read More
Anil on Movable Type pricing and Six Apart. It's refreshing and touching to see such honest, heart-felt communication.rn Read More
Moving Forward . Read More
Anil Dash is Moving Forward. And what an absolutely phenomenal post. Much love. Read More
As much as I enjoy being something of a 'jack-of-all-trades' in my computer experience Read More
Anil Dash: Moving Forward... Read More
Six Apart is run by people. People make mistakes. And, yes, not being clearer about MT 3.0's pricing plans, the... Read More
A remarkable posting by Anil Dash: But for me personally, this week was pretty rough. The new licenses and prices for Movable Type have been one of my main projects for the past few weeks and months, though of course Read More
Anil Dash has left the building. His building in New York City, that is. According to his weblog, he's "moving to San Francisco", which in our experience is an expression that can mean many things - sex change, nervous breakdown, or gold rush. In his c... Read More
Transparent business processes -- what a concept. Today, Anil Dash reveals that he's moving to San Francisco and was mostly responsible for the recent licensing dustup surrounding Six Apart's roll-out of Movable Type 3.0. To use t... Read More
Anil Dash: Moving Forward So, I'm moving to San Francisco to be even more involved in Six Apart. We're doing all this work with developers and partners because there's still another 99.9% of people in the world who haven't heard what weblogs can do for... Read More
In his latest post, Anil writes do I have my dream job, I have a place where I can make, well, a pretty big mistake and the response is "This is something we can fix." or "What did you learn?". Believe it or not, this learning from mist... Read More
Anil DashTo use the requisite automotive analogy, if Six Apart were a shiny new car, I feel like I was... Read More
Tal como explica Joi Ito, Anil Dash asume la responsabilidad de la tormenta generada por las licencias de Movable Type 3.0. En una entrada en su blog, Anil explica los difíciles momentos que ha vivido tanto él como Six Apart Read More
Clay Shirky has an interesting point in his response to the MT debacle in general: The dilemma for people who build communal tools is this: if you want something that hooks people emotionally, you cannot have rational users, and vice-versa.... Read More
Anil Dash: Moving Forward ...and also a lot on the the whole MT3.0 thing (also here)... ...this post, as far as I'm concerned, is the piece of "corporate communication" that won them over with me. it's brutally honest, takes ALL... Read More
Somewhat surprisingly I'm finding that partial employment agrees with me. While I'm not doing anything that I'm remotely interested in,... Read More
I'm involved with three Movable Type weblogs, and two will have to move, but one will upgrade. Whine about the details, sure, but a Personal Edition license is a good thing. Read More
Things are going to be a little messy around here today — I'm working with Jennifer to do some back-end... Read More
Joi mentions that Anil is taking some of the heat for the MT/6A situation. I really need to write something... Read More
Moving Forward Its great to know that some companies stil value their employee's.... Read More
I have pages of notes, written on Alex's couch yesterday noon whilst waiting for him to get moving, that I want to write here, which are the backlog of a too busy week worth of thoughts, but I am on... Read More
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know... I said they didn't get it when it came to licensing, and that I didn't see any option that would leave me feeling fine. But I changed my mind. Two things made me reconsider my... Read More
67 Comments
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- Earlier: How I am using Movable Type
- Next: The Sound of Despair
Rock. Well said and I think a lot of people will appreciate the words. And good luck on the west coast: get ready for lots of hugging.
Bravo on your decision, and welcome out West! You'll get used to the Californian Circumlocution. I still miss New York, land of No Foreplay. There, at least, they give it to you straight.
Another benefit, besides hugs and sunshine: no more Wingate.
All the best, Anil! I was in your position 4 years ago when I moved from New York to the West Coast for a job that I can only describe as my dream job as well. I still miss New York a lot and, like you, vow to return one day, but haven't regretted the move at all.
Being in the same office permanently as all (most?) of your co-workers was also a huge productivity boost for everyone involved.
Wow, big changes. Remember, you can take Anil out of the City, but you can't take the City out of Anil. (It's a New Funk Thing.)
It looks like PR BS to me.
Anil, wherever you live is lucky to have you there.
When I first moved to New York, I figured, if Anil can love the city so much, maybe I can learn to love it, too. You've introduced me to so many great people out here, and I can't thank you enough. No matter what, I'll always consider you a great friend. Nintendo Sunday won't ever be the same.
Good luck and godspeed, my favorite road warrior.
Very touching post. Congrats.
Best of luck in the job move, and bravo for capturing the 'real' side of being part of a software company. I work in technical publications, so everyone knows when we get something wrong - on that level I can commiserate - but it's pretty low-level stuff compared to the very public vitriol that has been spewing forth. Clay's point is a very good one, and one that more companies should take heed of, sounds like Six Apart do and sounds like it is a very interesting place to work.
It ain't as far as NYC -> Tokyo ;)
Good luck on the move!
Good luck on your move, Anil. Be careful, though. Too much time in SF and you might not want to move back. ;)
I gladly welcome you to the glorious City by the Bay :) Maybe you can help spark the blogger community here -- I've only been to one blogger get-together in SF and I don't think there has been one since.
Also, mail me if you want some tips on restaurants in the area ;)
Good luck Anil, your story has impressed me a lot. In case if you ever start up a office in Australia, I will be delighted to join you up.
Tejas
"Another benefit, besides hugs and sunshine: no more Wingate."
Who's talking about my home ? :-D
And this is not "Wingate" but "Beautiful Wingate" :-P
JY.
When the announcement came, I too threw my arms in the air, wailing and moaning and chewing the desk. Oh the angst. Oh the treachery. Oh the toothache. Then I put my arms down and shut up awhile. In the cold light of this Thursday morning, and thanks to the improved communication on the changes, I am calm and comfortable with what is happening.
Your post was nicely written Anil and showed the human side of the events and of Six Apart. Fundamentally the product is strong. That people care enough to get grumpy is victory in itself.
Good luck with the move. And can we have threaded comments please. :)
New York will miss you, and SF will be thrilled to have you. Best of luck to you, Anil.
Good luck on the move Anil. Wishing you all the best.
Grace means forgiving you when you fuck up. You need to give yourself that forgiveness, just as others do. But even if others do and you do not, you'll continue to have frustration.
Grace to you. Good luck moving! [I hate to move.]
Wrong city, right decision. Good luck in San Francisco. East 14th Street won't be the same without you.
Best of lucks in SF... and don't worry too much about our whining... you'll probably nail it with "License 1.1".
Give our regards to Ben, Mena, Ezra and the rest of the guys. We still love them despite your mistakes ;-)
Nobody ever leaves The City. Ve vill be vatching you, ve haf agents everywhere. Zat man at ze corner table mit-out ze fake smile? One of ours.
Best wishes Anil.
Wow -- very brave. I'm considering the same move myself, but am such a New Yorker that I'm afraid I might spontaneously combust out in SF. But -- I could use the change of pace. Best of luck.
Never thought I'd see the day! Welcome to the Left Coast. Now, WHO WANTS A HUG!?
Anil:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You touched me.
Moving has been a regular part of my life except a long stop at Camp HIll, PA.
At age 6, I moved out the house in Palas to Junagarh. Moved to Parlakimedi at 15, to Burla at 17, to Kharagpur at 21, to Purdue at 23, to Seattle at 27, to Columbus at 29 and to Harrisburg at 31.
After a long gap, I still moved to Sacramento at 61- a long journey.
You said it-it is the journey that matters.
I never doubted your future.
Good luck to you.
We love you.
Dad and Mom
NY's loss is SF's gain. Take Scott's advice to heart. I moved from NY to SF in 1986 expecting a short stay and a rapid return to the greatest city on earth. Sixteen years later I've only moved back east as far as Oakland.
On the other hand, I'm working on being bicoastal. Maybe you can help me figure that out.
The good news is that you're moving to another exorbitantly expensive place with lots of good energy. The bad news is that you can't walk out your door any time of day or night and count on finding things open nearby.
But you know all this. It's not like you're a stranger to the Barea, eh?
Hang in there with the maelstrom! Making mistakes in public is what it's all about, and learning from them is the only redemption available.
Anil's got you all fooled.
He's really moving to SF to avoid the NYC weather, visit Napa Valley, be closer to Disneyland, and to live under the governance of Schwarzenegger.
I hope I get a chance to thank you in person someday for your hard work and your committment to MT.
NYC's loss is SFO's gain. I hope you love San Francisco, and write about it with as much verve and passion as you write about New York.
So is there a goodbye party? I'd love to buy you a drink before you go.
I suppose I had better learn to pronounce your name correctly now. Darn it.
yay, since i'll be heading to stanford come september, i'm probably the only new yorker who thinks this rocks!
Anil,
This year at SXSWi, I was impressed with your friendly, but firm leadership style, be it in a panel discussion or getting kickball going and a large group of folk herded to lunch afterwards. Thank you for your honesty and humor in this post, as it solidifies your leadership skills in my book. And even the first dent can be dinged out...
SoCal waves happily to future NoCal!
smiles, jen ;o)
Congrats on the move! If I weren't so rooted in Chicago, I'd inquire about joining you; seems like 6A could use a PR man ongoing.
I am very sad about the reaction to your badly communicated rollout. It must be painful to have happen, because it has been painful to observe. It has even made me consider giving up blogging. Many of us know that you folks will make this whole thing right. Just make sure you get better, not bitter.
Hang in there and welcome to Northern California!
but NY is the media capital of the world! And you work for a media company, or is it a tech company...?
Mr. Dash,
(Senior.) Crap, I see the whole problem with Anil. You didn't stay long enough in CowTown, or you are referring to one-a the (what-we-here-tend-ta-feel) "lesser" of all the cities in U.S. named Columbus.
I was gonna respond, seriously, but may later. This being my understated-"British" way of saying, SURE we ALL know that NY and SF suck THE BIG ONE, but not as bad as you might think-feel, at first...
J. Toran, occasional "hugger"
The REAL Columbus in the "REAL" Ohio!
(aka.. etc. etc...;-)
(snort)
You know what you have to do when you get to California, right?
Right?!
No, before you post to your weblog.
No, no, before you wash Mena's car.
Yes, that's right. REGISTER TO VOTE.
It will be tough to think of you not in NYC as I think that you wear NYC well, or is it the other way around?
This was a great post that really speaks to finding the right place and its wonderful impact on one's life. I have been missing this passion in a workplace for quite some time. It is great to hear you have found this place with a spark as well as a heart.
All the best in your trek.
All the best to you Anil. I'm facinated to watch Six Apart grow into it's shoes and begin to feel its way forward. It's like watching a modern day Japanese TV drama unfold in realtime. Your post is forthright, sincere, and heartfelt; I'm certain that you are bound for great things, where ever you may be.
Now you'll have to change the description of your main page to read "This is where most people wind up when they Google "anal" and "San Francisco".
Good luck man, hope to see before you make your move.
If this means less posts about nyc I'm all for it.
Good luck with the move and thank you for opening up for yet another part of the human face of 6A.
Anil.
I've read your site for some time, and am somewhat disturbed that your move to San Francisco is actually a news item on a number of other sites. What's next, are we going to read about bloggers' bowel movements on Yahoo news?
You'll always be a New Yorker to me!
Great post. I *heart* you guys.
I'm fascinated that people would come to my site and complain (1) that I write about New York and (2) that other people link to my writing. I'd be glad to extend you both a full refund for the amount you've paid for the last 5 years of blog entries.
Anil, don't listen to those two people.
For every ONE of them, there are many others like us, who stand by you and wish you the best of luck. =)
And especially don't feel bad about writing about New York City... It's the best place on earth. =D
You will be welcomed here on the West Coast with open arms. :)
p.s. Nicole Lee, you forget the 3-person blogger thingy that was the opening of the Apple Store... ;D
Wow. That was supposed to be a humorous comment alluding to how the invasion of technology has allowed you to completely forego a private life behind places of employment and website publications, but apparantly it was quite misinterpreted.
Sorry, Bill. I've been a bit defensive of late. Didn't mean to flame you based on a misinterpretation.
Ahh, my trackback didn't work (first time I'd tried it in months) because I'm massaging all the data too much! Link: http://www.danielsjourney.com/blog/index.php?file=2004_05.xml&id=526
Anil, great post, redeemed the entire situation there, as far as I'm concerned. Best of luck with everything!
PS Did you grow up in Camp Hill??? I went to highschool at CD, '93, then split for Arizona and never went back.
You know the song "everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant (High Hopes}. You guys and gals at 6 Apart are moving the plant. Keep at it, hold your head up and get on with the job. We all scrape our knees a bit between learning to walk and running a marathon. Its the people who stick at itt that come out on top. Enjoy yourself in San Francisco and say hi to Trevor Hailey and Kath McLeod.
Good luck. Sorry to hear you'll be leaving.
btw. in the grand scheme of things, the 3.0 thing is a storm in a teacup. you guys still have plenty of god karma left in reserve, and anyone who disagrees is a fool.