SHARED EXPERIENCE OF DOG LADY.
In his Microsoft Farewell posting, Robert Scoble said that, over time, he got fewer complaints from within Microsoft about even his more outrageous writing.
Gretchen Ledgard, the Microsoft Dog Lady, in her long-delayed farewell, left a different testimony.
Though much-loved by "the people", her wildest, baddest, most exciting screed immediately drew ire from the top in the form of negative rumours which hung in the air for weeks on end.
Why the difference? I drew two conclusions. One, Scoble, as the most famous corporate blogger in the world, was too powerful to criticize.
The Microchick was (along with the Ma'am) one of the most famous corporate recruiting bloggers in the world but, then, someone is also the most famous fish pedlar, as well, and no one would report the demise of either in the front pages.
I also suspected that the Moongal might be a little too sensitive. She cried when her story was manhandled by CNET and immediately feared for her job. I didn't think Scoble would have cried.
But, in fact, he has -- to quote Shally Elvis Steckerl -- apparently opened his kimono about this very topic. For today, he left this reply to Gretchen.
Actually Steve Ballmer wrote me a nice note saying he'll miss me. But I felt the same "cut-off-ness" that you did, even though I was getting more and more upper-level meetings lately.
Unfortunately, he didn't explain why this was so, so I'm stuck again with my own imagination. And here it is.
When you are too hot too handle, people might be friendly and respectful but you don't get that really friendly sit-down shoes-off I-trust-you rapport.
That's pretty significant. The top corporate blogger didn't feel completely welcome in what seems to be the company with the most advanced corporate blogging culture in the world. What can anyone else expect?
Hat Tips: Marketing Headhunter, Marketing Pilgrim
