I tried to fight the good fight to a long time and build a world class software business in Wollongong. Sure, it has been done before (Infocomp<http://www.infocomp.com>is a good example, they revolutionised the way the superannuation industry is run from a back of house perspective), but it is bloody hard work. I spent more than a decade doing it, so you can hardly call me someone biased to the desire to just go to a "big smoke" following some sort of mindless path to mecca.
But I moved to San Fran in August this year to take AffinityLive<http://www.affinitylive.com>to a global market, and it was the best thing I could have done. Our product vision, our market impact, our partnerships, our investor network and so so so so many more things are so much further advanced than they would have been if we'd stayed in Australia, much less Wollongong. More reflections on the experience at http://www.geoffmcqueen.com/2011/08/09/on-moving-to-the-valley/. You don't lose your originality by being here. You're not expected to fit into a cultural mould here. These things might be true of people having to move into other pursuits in other places in the world, but that argument doesn't hold water in tech in Silicon Valley, one of the most international places in the world. FWIW, I think the answer isn't to bemoan the departure of our best and brightest. Instead, they should go with our blessing and a firm reminder that they're expected to return the favours that helped them get to a position where they could make the leap and become successful by helping those who come after them. The best thing we can do for the AU industry is have a strong network of supporters here in the Valley - where the big game is played - that can support those who come over to play the big game. Additionally, a strong alumni of folks who've played the big game and returned to Australia - Matt Barry, Dean McEvoy, team Pollenizer, team Atlassian, David Jones, Niki Scevak and many others - is essential to help people in AU think globally from the outset. My vision is for the free flow of people and ideas - and perhaps, even one day, capital - between Australia and Silicon Valley, and I think this should be the aim of industry development in Australia. The Israelis do it exceptionally well, and there's no reason we can't do it too. Anything that tries to erect barriers to people coming out of AU, whether they be real or cultural in nature with an expectation that this "protects" the industry by keeping smart people close is foolhardy, naive and defeatist. On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 19:26, simran <sim...@dn.gs> wrote: > I'm not against people being aspirational about different things... but i > am surprised that we "look up" to the way things are done in the US... > > I think when you likened staying in Australia as being a big fish in a > small pond... well, that to me says it all... i think i understand > completely (although i'm sure you'll disagree :), that because you have > made the move, you are very positively disposed about it... but Australia > is not a small pond... it's a different pond... it's a centre of excellence > for different things, in a different context... innovation that can come > out from here, CANNOT come by going to the US... and although i wish Niki > all the best... we have lost the opportunity of having her innovate her... > she will no doubt do great, but what she would have done here would have > been different... and this social hysteria towards "going to the big smoke" > as they say, is a fascade and actually loses us real talent for superficial > perceived (but unreal) gain... > > The australian actor arguments holds even more true than ever... you > implied that going there makes them better... i say, it does not do any > such things... it makes them more "american"... and if that is synonymous > with better for you (as it seems to be, and perhaps the same is true for a > lot of people) then... in that case, those few see them as better actors... > to me, they lose their originality, their actual talent and become part of > a different mash! > > I have seen too many "Indians" going to India recently after 35-40 years > overseas to try to "fix" india... they take all their [mostly englis] > retail culture and stuff it down india's throat [albeit with some mods], > and then wonder why the local community does not understand they are doing > them a huge favour and buy all their products!!! I suspect, people who go > to the US will do the same if they do come back... there will be > exceptions... and i believe i know two of those at least, but as a > generalisation, the masses will bring americanism here... they will write > code that accepts lines like: > #ifdef COLOR > not > #ifdef COLOUR > > and they will mash the cultures... not a bad thing... just a thing! i am > grateful though that many are choosing not to leave - i myself left, and > after having come back, have realised just how beautiful things are here... > and i don't want to preserve them, but i want to help progress them... > progress them towards a better australia, not a better state of america! > > Niki did indicate that she would be an aussie with a US visa... i wonder > if time will prove that she will be a US gal with an aussie visa... for all > our sakes, i hope she is right :) > > > On Tue, Nov 22, 2011 at 6:02 AM, Andrew Roberts > <andrew.robe...@ephox.com>wrote: > >> As an Aussie who moved to the US I would say that the more encouragement >> and support we can give for Australian entrepreneurs to move here the >> better. I appreciate the patriotism to keep the best and brightest at home, >> but I think it is misguided. >> >> The San Francisco Bay Area is different. You can stay in Australia and be >> a big fish in a small pond or come here and be a small fish in a big pond. >> The more entrepreneurs we can get learning to thrive in the primordial >> swamp of Silicon Valley, the better Australia will be. >> >> Right now we have less than 100 influential Australians in the tech >> community of the Bay Area. That is pathetic and I would love to see that >> double within the next 2-3 years. One of the biggest barriers to success >> that Australians have is that we are too cautious in making the jump here. >> We need to suck it up, come to the big smoke and prove we can make it. >> >> Australia only loses a relative few tax dollars by another 100 people >> residing, often temporarily, overseas. The net benefits to Australia of >> having more influential tech entrepreneurs expats has to exceed any lost >> tax dollars. As an example, my company (that I founded in Brisbane but now >> have the HQ in Palo Alto) employs more than 20 highly paying jobs back >> "home". Their collective taxes far exceed in one year the amount of tax I >> have paid in my lifetime. A lot of Aussies based here are also angel >> investing back in Australia creating yet more jobs. >> >> Your argument regarding acting is also flawed. Actors are not born with >> all of their skills - they need to develop them. Australian actors coming >> to Hollywood makes them better actors because they get exposed to the >> world's best directors, producers, script writers - even makeup artists. >> They have to work harder at their trade to rise above the competition. And >> the network matters... the people there help them get to where they want to >> go - the agents, the PR people, the older generations of actors who can >> mentor them, etc. etc. Working in Hollywood takes them from being merely >> good to being great. >> >> I commend Nikki on everything she is doing but her story is a dime a >> dozen over here. There are almost 100 YCombinator startups this 'intake'. >> And from previous years' graduates, only a small percent make it. She >> should be here for at least the next ten years learning, growing and >> proving what she is made of with her current startup, and new ones. Can you >> imagine her skills when she returns back to Oz? Or if she stays here, the >> help she can provide to the next generation of Aussies trying to make it? >> >> IMHO, as a community we should be encouraging more Aussies to make the >> jump. Australians win almost 5% of the medals at the Olympics ... We should >> be aiming to be at least 5% of all funding rounds, YCombinator intake, >> 500Startups, etc. >> >> >> On Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 8:17 PM, Jonathan Clarke < >> clarke.jonat...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> There seems to be a trend happening in Australian startups. Get into >>> an Australian incubator, move to an American incubator, get >>> investment from the US, move to the US. >>> >>> What gives? Australia is losing tax dollars as a result, it also is >>> losing the future mentors for the next generation. >>> >>> On Mon, Nov 21, 2011 at 3:13 PM, simran <sim...@dn.gs> wrote: >>> > Congrats to Niki... :) >>> > and me thinks the first smh comment is a troll... >>> > I do absolutely love the fact that people are finding success >>> (hopefully in >>> > the shape and form they are looking for it in), but why our obsession >>> with >>> > the US? >>> > It's almost like an "australian actor is no good till they have made >>> it in >>> > hollywood"? Perhaps they will have a chance to do bigger and better >>> things >>> > as the facilities and context is bigger there, but they lose a lot >>> along the >>> > way... in the same way as nicole kidman is hardly an "australian >>> actor", >>> > people that go there will become "american successes", they will take a >>> > tinge of australian in them, but they will become every bit the >>> american! >>> > i think it's great that people do find that path, but i believe more in >>> > those that stick it out here, and really are "australian successes", >>> not >>> > "will be considered australian successes iff they succeed in the US in >>> their >>> > context, in their environment, with their money". >>> > signed, >>> > (surprised by our obsession with the US!!!) >>> > >>> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach >> Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more >> >> Forum rules >> 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. >> 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs >> >> >> To post to this group, send email to >> silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach > Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more > > Forum rules > 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. > 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs > > > To post to this group, send email to > silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en > -- *Geoff McQueen* CEO <http://www.affinitylive.com/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Signature> Cell: +1 650.450.4384 Skype: geoffmcqueen GTalk: geoff.mcqu...@gmail.com <http://www.affinitylive.com/tour?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Signature><http://www.affinitylive.com/product/demo?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Signature><https://signup.affinitylive.com/?utm_source=signature&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Signature> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more Forum rules 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en
