I guess its probably past time to kill enercient. I think the biggest problem was that people just didn't get it. I just wanted to take wireless sensors, put them in a few buildings, monitor equipment data, and eventually manage energy use.
I didn't really think it was that complicated. The problem was that at the end of the day people just wanted us to just do heating and air conditioning work.
The economy didn't help much either. We couldn't get investors and we couldn't get anyone who would let us beta test at their site.
I think the thing that really killed it for me, is the realization that 3 years ago this was all new and exciting, whereas now there are companied rolling out a new product like this everyday.
Showing posts with label enercient. Show all posts
Showing posts with label enercient. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Enercient...um, yeah- about that
Friday, September 04, 2009
Enercient Updates
I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I'd hit a few highs and lows from the last couple months- so here's the update.
Last year, after reading GTD, and the 4HWW- I decided I needed to diversify my income portfolio. I took on a consulting gig last August that actually lasted for a year. Some of the things I learned from it are:
1. Set an end-date for the contract. My feeling is that the customer is going to want to set some pretty lofty goals for completion- and as a consultant you don't have much influence over how much work the customer is going to do, or what changes they will make based on your recommendations. So when you write a consulting agreement, write it with an end date. This way you can do what you promised, and leave it up to the customer to implement the changes and make the improvements you recommended.
2. Make the things that you are going to deliver very clear. You are there to help them improve something, change something, implement something, etc. So create a clear and definite list of your deliverables and deliver them.
3. Don't give away freebies just because you're excited to sign on a customer. It will be tempting to act like a member of the team when you are in a customer's office, and start picking up slack- just remember you don't actually work there. Give them what you promised, and don't pick up their problems. Let the phone ring. Let that person who comes in with questions ask someone else. Be polite, and don't let the building burn down- but remember you are there to accomplish a list of tasks related to an agreement. You're not there to be supplemental staffing for every crisis that comes along.
Enercient has had its highs and lows- The strides we've made in development have been amazing, and the list of vendors and trade agreements we've made is almost staggering, but I have to admit there are times when this thing feels like a very expensive, time consuming hobby.
I know that we are making progress, and I know that things are going to pick up soon, I'd just like to have a little money in my pocket at some point that isn't earmarked for something else.
We're trying to buy a house in Frederick, and we haven't been in business for 2 years, so that's been a real adventure in rejection...I keep telling myself the stupid Col. Sanders story.
Finally, on the positive side, We moved into our new office in Clarksville this week, and it feels good to be able to say "at my office" again. Since I left Amtek, a bunch of my "stuff" has been sitting in boxes in the basement, and it felt like a part of my life had a big unknown black hole- "Where's my...oh yeah- it's with my office stuff"
Enercient has it's bright moments, We still have a great opportunity with some investors in Baltimore, and we're going to get a blurb in the Baltimore Sun in a couple weeks. We have a few commercial contracts for the "local office" and our proto
type is almost done. here's a peek
Things are going to get crazy as we approach the beginning of next year, because I've stacked the deck so I guess I should be grateful for the quiet right now.
More updates to follow...
Last year, after reading GTD, and the 4HWW- I decided I needed to diversify my income portfolio. I took on a consulting gig last August that actually lasted for a year. Some of the things I learned from it are:
1. Set an end-date for the contract. My feeling is that the customer is going to want to set some pretty lofty goals for completion- and as a consultant you don't have much influence over how much work the customer is going to do, or what changes they will make based on your recommendations. So when you write a consulting agreement, write it with an end date. This way you can do what you promised, and leave it up to the customer to implement the changes and make the improvements you recommended.
2. Make the things that you are going to deliver very clear. You are there to help them improve something, change something, implement something, etc. So create a clear and definite list of your deliverables and deliver them.
3. Don't give away freebies just because you're excited to sign on a customer. It will be tempting to act like a member of the team when you are in a customer's office, and start picking up slack- just remember you don't actually work there. Give them what you promised, and don't pick up their problems. Let the phone ring. Let that person who comes in with questions ask someone else. Be polite, and don't let the building burn down- but remember you are there to accomplish a list of tasks related to an agreement. You're not there to be supplemental staffing for every crisis that comes along.
Enercient has had its highs and lows- The strides we've made in development have been amazing, and the list of vendors and trade agreements we've made is almost staggering, but I have to admit there are times when this thing feels like a very expensive, time consuming hobby.
I know that we are making progress, and I know that things are going to pick up soon, I'd just like to have a little money in my pocket at some point that isn't earmarked for something else.
We're trying to buy a house in Frederick, and we haven't been in business for 2 years, so that's been a real adventure in rejection...I keep telling myself the stupid Col. Sanders story.
Finally, on the positive side, We moved into our new office in Clarksville this week, and it feels good to be able to say "at my office" again. Since I left Amtek, a bunch of my "stuff" has been sitting in boxes in the basement, and it felt like a part of my life had a big unknown black hole- "Where's my...oh yeah- it's with my office stuff"
Enercient has it's bright moments, We still have a great opportunity with some investors in Baltimore, and we're going to get a blurb in the Baltimore Sun in a couple weeks. We have a few commercial contracts for the "local office" and our proto
type is almost done. here's a peekThings are going to get crazy as we approach the beginning of next year, because I've stacked the deck so I guess I should be grateful for the quiet right now.
More updates to follow...
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