Tech Potential: What Am I Doing Here Writing a Technology Blog?
From Gary Moulton, 7/19/2010 3:40:03 PM
In an attempt at full disclosure, I'd say I'm what the best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell would call a "middle guy." If I understand his “middle guy” definition correctly, a "middle guy" works in the world versus seclusion in an ivory tower.
Nevertheless, it would be appropriate for me to say, I’m just one of many Microsoft company "mediums."
So, what am I "channeling" you ask? Positive technology experiences. I believe that products sell themselves when they create positive experiences and customers know about them.
Of course, neither creating positive experiences, nor informing customers, is as straightforward or as easy to achieve as may be imagined. As a result, I think I might know, because of my job at Microsoft, some of the positive experiences with technology that you might not know about.
Delving a little bit deeper, I think Gladwell means a “middle guy” works in the “real world” that is to say, as close to potential customers as possible. At the same time, I'd say I am a "middle guy" because even though I'm absolutely fascinated with technology and believe I have the greatest job in the company, I couldn't build one of our products, I certainly couldn't run the company and I don’t sell anything--literally.
Let me take the Windows 7 operating system as a Microsoft product example of what I mean by me being a “middle guy.” I'm in the middle between the product planners, the product and program managers, the developers and testers who have worked on the product since the day after Windows Vista launched and the company’s sales force and the Microsoft executives and managers who generate revenue, make all the decisions, get the bills paid and keep our shareholders happy.
The above paragraph begs the question: What does a product manager like Moulton, “middle guy” or not, really do at Microsoft? The answer is: I try to insure our products, programs and services can be used by individuals 50+. I literally and figuratively try to represent Microsoft customers who are fifty years of age or older to my fellow employees on either side of me.
So does all this make me an ideal blogger? Probably not…, or at least not automatically one, but job title, employer (and corporate responsibility) aside, only time will tell. Here’s to reaching our technology potential together.
The opinions and views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of Microsoft.