I Saw Phil Burns and He’s Alive
I know this isn’t normally news, but in this case it is. I saw a homeless man Phil Burns at the SEO class at Corporate Alliance. I would link to his blog but I’m in a rush to prepare for Affiliate Summit this weekend. Plus I’m not exactly sure if he actually blogs anymore. You just don’t see much of Phil Burns these days (like me, but worse). There he was in a ragtag TagJungle t-shirt and jeans.
His phone has been turned off - but he carries two (one is prepaid). They both go off a few times. The woman from BusinessQ magazine asks him about a column he writes for them. I try to get pitch an affiliate marketing article to her; doesn’t work. It looks like sleep is something Phil needs more of. Phil shows me pages and pages of search engine rankings for different keywords (yes, put the keyword in your URL, title tag, and H1 tag, that is the key to ranking above the big boys like MSNBC and CNN).
There are three women total, including the editor and me, in the room of about 30. Working from home for the past two plus months, this is the social event of my life. I sometimes go a few days without seeing another human’s face except through my sliding glass door. I see Buck from TNI and he says they miss me. Michael Eager, Matt Anderson, and other friends are there too. It’s a reunion.
All I know is that if I were a filmmaker I’d be getting this down. Documentary filmmakers missed the Provo Labs story already (drat) but this one is still in the making. Someone grab a camera and follow this.
So in conclusion, this is all I have to say: If Phil Burns doesn’t succeed as an entrepreneur he’ll die a martyr for the cause.
Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between guts and insanity. I hope he succeeds. In the meantime it makes good blog fodder. Why oh why wasn’t I born a business columnist? I know Jordy hates that about me, but I truly love the personalities and knowing what makes people tick in business. Endlessly fascinating — at least from a distance.
[disclaimer: this is supposed to be poking fun...Phil is my friend]
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7 Responses to “I Saw Phil Burns and He’s Alive”
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January 19th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I too saw Phil last week at Corp Alliance meeting, he was at my table…he told me he hadn’t slept in 4 days(?) he had been pitching to angel investors and that his Tag Jungle site was overloaded and that they were working on that…Phil and I chatted about blogging, Utah Blogger Conf (March?), Start Up Princess a bit and he was proud of me, said it was “very popular”, (blush)
He’s one of the reasons I started the blog in the first place actually, he and Paul Allen (and you, Janet, of course! You told me back in 2004 that I should have one and I didn’t ever think I would…now I’m addicted.) Who knew that we’d all be obsessed with start ups? I also wish Phil and the crew the best, and sweet dreams!
For the record here’s his blog:
http://www.phil801.com/wpblog/
January 19th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Kelly,
Thanks for commenting and giving me the new URL for Phil’s blog. Phil is such a character. I’m so glad you blog because you have a great perspective on the world of women entrepreneurs. There’s always room for more women business bloggers ;). Can’t wait to see your new blog design!
Janet
January 20th, 2007 at 9:14 am
What a cluster. Seriously, I can’t believe what has happened in the last year. I wish I could have recorded all of this. Life is strange.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:20 am
[...] Janet Meiners: I Saw Phil Burns and He’s Alive - “Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between guts and insanity. I hope he succeeds.“ [...]
February 4th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Janet, this is really quite funny
It was good to see you that day, I’m glad I ran into you. I don’t come out very often anymore. For any who were concerned about Janet ripping on me, thanks for sticking up for me - but Janet is indeed a friend. Kelly, it was good to see you last month as well! And Chris - I REALLY don’t know what cluster you’re referring to - life has never been better than since the Provo Labs debacle. I am totally loving what I’m doing and have absolutely no doubt that everything will work out wonderfully. Yeah, I’m ALL in on this thing and it worries some of my friends but I’m excited to be here! We have so much new stuff about to come out it’s mind-boggling. Janet is right - I’m either going to succeed or burn out a martyr in this.
February 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Thank God you still have a sense of humor — even if you’ve lost your mind
I actually hope your wife believes in it as strong as you do. After all, she’s got to starve along with you (and the kids!). You should put a donation button on the blog, feed the starving entrepreneur.
Did you know that even your worst enemies were sticking up for you? They must really like you deep down. Very comforting. Yes, your my favorite person to rip on. Have to keep up the mystique you know…
Thanks for writing, I know you don’t get to very often. Maybe I’ll see you at Jeff Barr’s speech? I can’t make the geek dinner. It ought to be quite a reunion at Provo Labs…
Janet
July 18th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
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