Comments on: Should Some Startup CEOs Focus More On Their Startup?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

shame on them, and forman in particular for saying those things. It’s not just about being unprofessional; that way of thinking is poisonous to his company and everyone else around him.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

could not make it as a dating site, so copied some games and made a game site. there’s innovation for you.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

have you considered that without attacking, no one would ever visit mahalo?

By: Gabe Zichermann

Gabe Zichermann — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Allen:

Wow.

I didn’t see any of this traffic originally because, as a startup CEO myself, I’m a bit busy running rmbrME – and getting people to switch from paper business cards to mobile cards is time consuming. :) But I digress..

I’m shocked at the diatribe, frankly.

The most salient PR lesson I ever learned was actually taught to me by a drag queen. I remember her saying once “Don’t talk back to me m@#&#$. No matter what you say, I’m the one with the microphone.”

I think it’s apropos of a lesson for media relations, don’t you think? :) Perhaps I’ll write a post about that.

-Gabe

By: Jason Nazar

Jason Nazar — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Allen, you look like at badass in your burger king crown…

WAIT.. I mean you look like a dumbass….

WAIT, I really meant that you don’t deserve to be the burger king, your more of a hamburgler

WAIT… can I take all my comments back?

By: Damien Basile

Damien Basile — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

A professional comment should never follow with a personal attack, and on appearance? How is one thing relevant to the other. In no place at all did Mr. Stern attack Mr. Forman’s company, just the obvious disparity between what he was alotted versus the other presenters. The CEO as the face of the company should instill hope and encourage investors as well as clients through his actions. Mr. Forman should not have to defend his brand. It should be able to defend itself. In actuality he didn’t even do that- he just lashed out at someone making an astute observation. His comments were all ego-based (i.e. fat references, dating hot girls). A great CEO should not bring the attention to himself. A great CEO should let the brand shine, while doing all he can to be as non-intrusive to the company as possible.

Side note- If you believe in your comments you should stand up for them and post your name and information otherwise your evaluation carries no weight. It can be a good point but made moot nonetheless.

By: Damien Basile

Damien Basile — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have to say one thing- your product spoke for itself so much that I signed up for the premium service right afterwards. You were and are very eloquent. This is what a CEO should exemplify. The product should always speak for itself and the CEO should be the brand ambassador. Thank you sir, you have ingratiated yourself and your brand with me more.

By: Alex Williams

Alex Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bravo, Allen. An eloquent post is the sweetest form of reason. Nice job. Thanks for standing up for all of us out there who are embarrassed to see the kind of behavior that you highlight.

By: Sidharth

Sidharth — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Absolutely disgusting on Formans part to make it personal. You made a very valid point about preferential treatment . Forman should have had a better way to make his point.

By: Andrew Baron

Andrew Baron — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks Allen, Im an over defender ;)

By: Tim Marman *

Tim Marman * — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

(Shrug). I thought it was pretty clear that those comments were about things Jason had said, not a point that Allen was directly making.

By: Tim Marman *

Tim Marman * — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I find Charles’ comments disgusting and inexcusable. I guess if you can’t argue the point directly, you have to resort to ad hominem attacks.

That said, I can’t say that I’m totally surprised. I don’t know Charles personally, though it certainly seems like it’s all just part of his doucebag schtick. Fundamentally, I don’t understand it – it’s not exactly an image I aspire to create for myself – but to each their own. Being an asshole doesn’t preclude you from building a successful business, but it sure doesn’t make me root for him.

In any case, this was perhaps the best measured response I can think of. Glad to see you not resort to his bullshit ways. Bravo.

By: Tim Marman *

Tim Marman * — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Btw, why does IILWY make so much effin noise? What’s with those constant dings when somoene logs in, even when they’re not my “friends”? Meh.

By: Andrew Baron

Andrew Baron — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Allen, can you point out where I came off as a hater? I’m a critic, yes, and I will speak out about things that I don’t like. For instace, I think your business is mostly just riffing on the techneme stories that you find on a single page and that you don’t usually add very much useful information to the conversation, but that’s just me being a critic. I don’t hate you.

By: Andrew Baron

Andrew Baron — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Also, I don’t really consider myself or my business to be focused on SEO so I’d like to point out that I think you ate not a very effective writer either. In this case your example does not support your claim.