Welcome to the beta of the new saila.com. Send in your bugs.
Smells like Seattle
Almost exactly five months ago , I started my first major foray into the world of self-employment and began working with a series of exceptional clients to develop web applications and advise about online strategy. The quality, and quantity, of work surprised me, and I savoured every moment of it.
Yet, as the savvy may have already surmised, I’m referring to this work in the past tense.
Although I still have some projects to wrap-up, by the holiday season, my time as a self-employed Web guy will have, unexpectedly (but happily), ended. In the new year, I will be moving to Seattle to take a position with a forward-thinking media company, and a pioneer in online news: MSNBC.com.
The company has been undergoing some incredible changes over the past while — including the dramatic new redesign and the purchase of Newsvine — so the opportunity to be involved in the future plans was too good to refuse. (Ironic Moment: the day the MSNBC/Newsvine deal closed I was actually in Seattle and was planning to meet-up with some of the Blue Flavor guys, and coincidentally with MikeD and the MSNBC.com crew. Alas, plans were dashed by my car and my decision not to get an iPhone.)
My role will be, in part, to work with the team to continue the evolution, carrying the new design to all parts of the site, and helping MSNBC.com learn from Newsvine’s tremendous online efforts. But a job is only as good as the people one works with, and judging by the time I spent with them in Vancouver, Seattle, and even Toronto, this is very much worth a move across the continent.
Yet, as great as Seattle will be, Toronto will always be “home,” and I’ll truy miss my little portion of it. In my remaining weeks as a Torontonian, you may see me in some my favourite haunts but you most definitely can find me on December 1st to December 2nd at 201 Niagara St. for the “Smells Like Seattle” farewell party — if you’re in Toronto that night, it’d be great to see you. And for those of you on the left coast, I hope to be (iPhone-enabled and) seeing/meeting you soon enough, too.
(P.S.: Have any Seattle tips? Let me know as there’s a good possibility I’ll be starting a new blog about my adventures there.)
Jim Ray:
Craig, we’re excited to have you on board, sir, and to have you and Lee partying in Seattle with us. In fact, can you get here yesterday?
Nov. 14 2007 at 4:25 PM EST
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Greg:
Glad to see you heading off to bigger and better things, sad to see you go...It’s gonna be a blast though! Rest up!
Nov. 14 2007 at 8:59 PM EST
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Jeff Croft:
Congrats, Craig! I can say with a great deal of certainty that you’re joining a great team full of great people at a great company. You will no doubt enjoy it and gain a lot being there—and add a lot, too.
And, having just moved to Seattle myself, I think you’re coming to a great city, too. Looking forward to meeting you in person and hanging out!
Nov. 14 2007 at 11:13 PM EST
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Jeff Croft:
Doh! Sorry about the triple post! Please delete! Delete! :)
Nov. 14 2007 at 11:16 PM EST
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Stephanie:
I hear Seattle smells like fish ;)
And take your rain coat.
Nov. 14 2007 at 11:37 PM EST
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Ben Spaulding:
Congratulations Craig. Self-employment has always sounded appealing, though I've not tried it yet. For some reason I have always imagined myself feeling like you -- glad that I had tried it but happy that it was over.
Good luck!
Nov. 15 2007 at 1:19 AM EST
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Craig Saila:
@Jim Ray: that was the plan, but now it looks like we’ll be swinging by in a couple of weeks. Once the new year comes…good times.
@Jeff Croft: looking forward to meeting you in person, as well (and the triple posts are deleted — there’s a reason its still beta)
@Greg & @Ben Spaulding: thanks for the well wishes.
@Stephanie: I'm hoping there’s also a hint of roasted coffee!
Nov. 15 2007 at 9:04 AM EST
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Nick Finck:
Kick ass! :D Congrats Craig! Welcome to the emerald city! :D
I am excited to have another fellow Digital Web contributor here in town. This is going to rock!
Nov. 15 2007 at 1:20 PM EST
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Keith:
This is great news! Welcome to Seattle Craig!
Nov. 15 2007 at 1:58 PM EST
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Tiff:
Rad! Seconding Jim Ray’s “get here yesterday”.
And Seattle smells like soggy hiking boots and woolen socks, not fish.
Nov. 15 2007 at 5:36 PM EST
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Craig Saila:
@Tiff: dunno if that’s much better
Nov. 15 2007 at 6:01 PM EST
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Tom Watson:
Welcome!
Nov. 15 2007 at 6:52 PM EST
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Jonathan Snook:
Let me just be the first to say, f’n hell. Yet another Canuck leaving the Great White North. Don’t make me come after you and drag you back!
Seriously, congrats and best of luck in Seattle!
Nov. 15 2007 at 9:32 PM EST
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Joe:
Welcome. Actually it’s only Tacoma that smells. Go see the mermaid at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.
Nov. 16 2007 at 4:15 AM EST
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Richard John:
Wow mate! Shocker shocker.
Congrats on the new job and I can’t believe you’re leaving Hog town.
Should be a fun time on the west coast and yet ANOTHER person to visit when I make it to Seattle… which I think - from London - is literally 1/2 way round the world!
Nov. 18 2007 at 6:41 PM EST
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Derek Featherstone:
Craig - congrats, and best wishes. I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m headed out to Van for Web Directions North.
Have loads of fun, my friend!
Nov. 18 2007 at 8:38 PM EST
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Leila Boujnane:
Hey Craig, congrats and good luck and see you Saturday!
Nov. 28 2007 at 6:55 PM EST
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geoperdis:
Et tu, Craig?
Just kidding I am sure you’ll go on to great things in Seattle and beyond.
See you at the sendoff tonight. Don’t worry I won’t have a knife on me 8-)
Dec. 1 2007 at 9:29 AM EST
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