Saturday Odd Bits Roundup: Google Rocks (But You Knew That)
by Miki Saxon
I’m a Google fan because most of their corporate MAP (mindset, attitude, philosophy™) agrees with the stuff I believe. Not very scientific, but I’m allowed.
The links today are to some interesting Google bits, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
First is a great McKinsey interview with Eric Schmidt (may require free registration). It doesn’t matter that it was in November, the information that he shares makes it great reading anytime.
An article in December’s Wall Street Journal Online brings you up to date on what Google was doing to deal with the economic chaos that more than halved their stock price.
A more recent article in the NY Times talks with Jeff Huber, senior vp of engineering, about how and why Google chooses the products it kills. Useful information that you can use evaluating your own projects.
I found the write-up on the changing of the guard at Google.org, the company’s non-profit and why they are changing their philanthropic approach.
It took many years and several product maulings before people reacted to Microsoft—the original 500 pound canary. But Justice is sniffing around and concern is rising,
“You almost feel sorry for Google,” said Danny Sullivan, editor in chief of Search Engine Land. “They’re doing a good job and people are turning to them. But when they pass 70 percent share, people are going to be uncomfortable about Google becoming a monopoly.”
Some might say that between the sinking stock price, monopoly worries and the economic debacle that Google, or any stock, isn’t the place to be.
But you know what? It might come as a surprise to investors who can’t see three inches in front of their face, but a company is a whole lot more than what a short-sighted trader who only cares about a quarterly set of numbers knows. Google is for the long term, as are many others—my only regret is that I don’t have the resources to invest.
Image credit: flickr
