Gavin Baker

Today I’m announcing that Abunga.com, LLC is closing. Eight months ago this probably would have been news, but with today’s economy it’s basically the status quo especially for ecommerce technology startups. The reasons we’re closing would fill a couple pages, but primarily it’s because of money and traction. We ran out of the first before we got enough of the second.

I’m fortunate that I’m taking with me the experiences, wisdom and the “next time” lessons. The things that I look back on and say “Next time I’ll…” Over time I’ll start sharing those experiences and lessons with you so that you can learn from my mistakes. Putting them into words will also help me embedded in my mind as well, so stay tuned for those.

As for what I’m up to next, it’s up in the air. I’m looking at a mix of opportunities: I’ve begun to have discussions with a few companies here locally in Knoxville that I admire to see what joining their team looks like, I’ve got a couple exciting side projects I’m working (to be announced soon), and I’m also looking into consulting with companies that could use some help figuring out how to use technology the best in their business (contact me).  And of course exploring new start up ideas – I don’t think I can get the entrepreneurship and startup fever out of my blood so I’m definitely leaning that way.

And with any of those opportunities, I’m excited to bring what I learned while at Abunga and what I’ve learned from some of my earlier ventures and leadership roles.

As to what will happen to Abunga, time will tell. We’re looking to sell or license the technology and most of all want it in the hands of someone that can do some good with it. If you’re interested please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Thanks to the growing tech community in Knoxville and to Knoxville Overground. Special thanks to my crew that provided push back, feedback, and etc. you name it they gave it: Alex Lavidge, Chad Parizman, Scott Adcox, Greg Compton, Casey Peters, Ted Stank, Matt Heisig, Adam Slack, Chad Ridner and Patrick Hunt. You guys listened to ideas and provided more direction, input and connections then I deserve. I’m humbled by how frequently you provided your helping hands along the way.

Thanks to Lee Martin for the vision and for sharing your wisdom and knowledge to steer me back on track when needed. Thanks Steve Slack, Adam Slack and J.R. Slack for entrusting me with your baby and for your continual support, encouragement and ideas along the way.

Thanks most of all to the team that made it happen, this goes without saying but you guys all gave long and hard hours to give Abunga it’s best shot and I appreciate it. We wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without you. Thank you, Mike Walker, Jason Howard, Steve Jackson, Kerri Karel, Colleen Steiner, and our beloved interns.

To our committed customers, you guys were great – and we just couldn’t turn the corner – thanks for your support.

It’s now time to look forward, I’m excited to see where God takes me what is around the next bend.

I have this quote (picture above) by Bruce Nussbaum on my wall. I put it up about a year and a half ago and I still believe it’s true. This isn’t a post on a radical new idea, but rather recalling it as a reminder. Here’s the quote:

Social media is upending relationships between customers and corporations, brand owners and brand creators, consumers and producers, centralized authority and anarchistic periphery and-pay attention here-designers and their audiences. People want to design their own experiences, or at least have a big voice in it. With Web 2.0 technology and blogs, they get that voice. People are increasingly designing their own shoes and clothes, their own screen pages, their own interfaces, their own homes. And when they’re not, they want designers and managers to really understand what they have to say. Nike is changing the way it designs and manufactures because of social networking. So are dozens of other companies. Yes, we will always have our brilliant geniuses who intuit their audiences and create wonderful experiences for them. Ive and Jobs at Apple. Bang & Olufsen and its incredible designers and designs. But even Apple is getting hit very hard on the sustainability issue because it isn’t listening to its social networks. Brands have ideologies. They stand for things. People believe in those things. When the culture of Apples’ customers changes, as it is happening today, it has to move with it. You, as designers, can’t just do ethnology anymore. You have to join with those you’re observing to be in their culture and create with them.

The sections I’ve highlighted above and will discuss below are:

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I ran across this excellent video yesterday while checking out some post designthinking.ideo.com IDEO’s blog.  The video is of Tim Brown, CEO IDEO answering 5 Questions at BusinessWeek.  He talks a bit about IDEO and then shifts to talk about design thinking.  He breaks design thinking down into 3 1/2 keys which I’ve listed below.

Check out the video and then I challenge you to think of 3 1/2 ways to change what you do.

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Do not seek praise.  Seek criticism.

- Paul Arden

Fueled by that quote, I want to strengthen some areas in my life that I’m not a 10/10.  My goal isn’t to become well-rounded, I just want to make improvements in this area. I’d rather be freaking awesome at a couple things, then just ok at 48. I firmly believe that leaders do not do everything well, and the ones that try, end up burnt out and worse, but that’s a topic for a later post.

I want to be a better public speaker.

The why is a bit more complicated – but I know I’m not currently good at speaking in front of people and I want to get better at communicating and this is one part of me improving. (more…)