by Gil Rosen
Filed under: web 2.0, freedom, Gil Bio, user experience, Craigs List
Live from the Globes Internet and Communication Conference, I just had the honor of hearing Craig Newmark - the man who started and still runs Craig’s list. What an amazing man!
During his talk he didn’t make any revolutionary statements, yet his clear, modest, focused and pleasant manner cut through the fuss, buzz and trash we hear all over. A few golden nuggets:
1. Feel and follow through
2. We take no advertising…no advertisers to make happy.
3. I’m the George Costanza of the internet
4. Listen and try hard to so something about it
5. I refused banner ads - didn’t feel right…I was happy and making enough money…
6. Twelve years later…I do full time customer service
7. We trust our community and they respond in a trustworthy way
8. Treat people in the site in the same way you want to be treated….
9. we don’t take money….we owe no debt.
That’s it. I realize now that reading these statements doesn’t seem like a big deal but the “Craig Package” the way he speaks and delivers is admirable. If you think about it, this is a perfect analogy to the success of his site. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, its totally simple, totally honest…and hugely successful. Makes you think!
Gil Rosen
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19 Comments so far
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re:”It doesn’t seem like a big deal, its totally simple, *totally honest* [my emphasis]…and hugely successful. Makes you think!”
Hi, Gil!
yes, it should!
Delia
P.S. you may want to check out Andrew’s Clark recent article in the Guardian…
http://business.guardian.co.uk/onamerica/story/0,,2103881,00.html
P.P.S. take care! D.
06.20.07 @ 2:57 pmHi Delia,
I read the article and it hasn’t changed my mind. I didn’t expect him to be a total ‘Mahatma Ghandi’. I just like his manner and sensibility. If he can keep up that ‘act’ while still making millions, I applaud him.
06.21.07 @ 7:24 amGil,
Well, you *did* say “totally honest” in your original post (that’s why you got a comment from me).
As to his “manner and sensibility” it may all be an “act” as you say 
…
And pocketing millions after millions… year after year after year… (money that should have been spent on customer service and improvements) is not a virtue as far as I can see…
But if you’ve got your mind made up, you’ve got your mind made up…
Delia
P.S. anyways, take care! D.
06.21.07 @ 2:18 pmSo what’s your grudge with him? Some years ago I moved away from NY and sold most of my stuff through CL…down to a $5 toaster….SWEET
not a grudge… if you want more detail, feel free to check out my craigslist criticism blog (it appears to have motivated some people to really look into things such as Craig’s honesty — Mark Rose, for instance: http://www.cnewmark.com/2007/06/death_is_my_exi.html#comments)
Delia
P.S. but if you are JUST trilled that, at this point, craigslist is free for the purposes you want to use it… you may just want to …forget about looking into things… don’t worry, be happy! sort of thing … D.
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it also bloody works well. I sold a car, furniture, appliances and found sublease rentals all using this incredible site when I lived states side. Too bad I missed his talk at the conference.
06.20.07 @ 5:59 am