Dear friends,
I’ve got some exciting news: Exceptional has been acquired, we’ve shut down Contrast, and we’re now working full-time on our new company, Intercom.
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Contrast was a failure in that it didn’t become the biggest and best consulting firm in the world. It was a success in that it helped us discover our disinterest in such a goal, gave us the education of a lifetime, and eventually, the means to start a new business of our dreams.
Our experience with Contrast was typical of all new business owners—our happiness plotted over time looks like a shitty roller-coaster. From late 2007 when I founded the company until the summer of last year when we shut it down:
- * we’ve been broke and missed payroll, and rich and partied at the Wynn,
- * we received threatening lawyers’ letters and paid a few settlements, and buy-out offers and cashed a few big checks,
- * we heard criticism for some mediocre work, and praise for some ground-breaking masterpieces,
- * we were hired by dumbasses and dicks, and geniuses and gents,
- * I fell out with my early partners, and in with new partners for life.
Many of these not untypical experiences make consulting very hard. Not everyone’s cut out for it. For a lot of people I know, it is, in short, not fun.
But I’d like to give would-be internet entrepreneurs some advice: consult! It will make or break you. And those who survive it will be ready and able to compete in a business they’re actually passionate about.
* * *
People who know me to a reasonable degree will have heard me babble about my “formula for success”—our outcome was the result of some combination of luck and hard work over a long period of time at something we’re good at. The luck component includes the fact that the guy I asked for advice about finding a buyer for Exceptional is the one who decided to buy it. No English words can describe the unique brilliance of Jonathan Siegel, so I’ll just say this instead: the team he’s put together are a perfect match for Exceptional and they’re going to shake up the software developer services market in ways we never could. (Expect some announcements from them soon.)
* * *
On behalf of Des, Ciaran, David and myself, I’d like to sincerely thank you for your support over the years. You helped us keep our chins up when our spirits were down. We owe so much of our achievements to our family and friends, at home and abroad. We hope you’ll join us for the next 4 to 40 years on our next adventure.
Eoghan