Seeking a Partner to Co-Found My Next Online Publishing Start-up

It's taken a year of research, testing, and introspection both about what do I really want to do with the next part of my life and what's needed in the marketplace. Now everything's finally gelled; and, I've realized that yes I do want to build another substantial online b2b publishing business in the niche paid content realm. (No, it won't copy or directly compete with MarketingSherpa - that would be dishonorable and boring, both qualities I abhor.)

In the past, my biggest mistake was being the only truly senior-level person at my last company for too long. This time I want to launch with an experienced partner at my side. Now, I have to find him or her. It's far tougher than a regular hire (not that hires are ever easy) because they'll be part-owner of the company, hand to my glove/glove to my hand.... I don't have a family member, personal friend, or former co-worker who fits the bill, so I'm looking outside my immediate circle. Perhaps you can help me find someone?

The perfect partner to co-found my new business would be:

- An entrepreneur who has been on the leadership team, building a company from the ground up in the immediate past, with more than enough fire in the belly to do it again. A software, SaaS, or any type of media or publishing company would be best.

- Detail-oriented project and people manager with either a technology or financial ops background, or both! Strong, quick-thinking analytical mind a must.

- Ready, willing and able to put their own skin in the game (ie, invest in the start-up), and strongly prefers to bootstrap and focus on growing a strong company rather than romancing outside investors.

- Experienced at M&As (yes, I do plan to buy some sites for this new company, as well as launching some new ones.) Possibly an MBA.

- Sensible, honest, grounded, hard-working (roll your sleeves up and get it done), competitive, decent, and really intelligent.

- East Coast if possible, or at least very experienced at working tightly with a virtual teammate and able to travel to meet once a month.

If you have any suggestions or feedback, please contact me via LinkedIn, Facebook or email.

Closing Today on My New Office in Newport RI!

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After a lifetime in office parks and work spaces that felt like isolated boxes, I always had this fantasy that someday I'd have an office in a storefront in the downtown of a cute little city with lots of bustling foot-traffic, and big plate glass windows to let in lots of light. I work on the Internet, so I don't need a storefront, but the fantasy remained nonetheless.

So when I saw this adorable storefront in downtown Newport RI was for sale -- on foreclosure no less -- I put my bid in and crossed my fingers. Today, after enduring three months of frustrations with the bank that's selling the property (I know they're overwhelmed with work right now, but their unprofessional sloppiness is absurd and caused this closing to be delayed no fewer than four times) it will be Mine, Mine, Mine!

There's an art gallery across the street and a fine wine store next door. And Spring Street is one of the most popular streets for strolling along in downtown Newport. Parking will be impossible, but you know I'm so excited I don't mind.

We'll be sprucing the place up and moving RI-based staff into the office by early March. I'll let you know when, and then if you are ever in Newport you can drop by and say Hi to us!

Editorial Hiring for Paid Subscription Sites -- Not Easy At All

Editorial hiring for paid subscription publications has always been really hard. In the non-paid world, good reporters have to track down sources, conduct interviews, get the facts straight, write clearly, and meet strict deadlines. That's tough enough. Paid subscription editorial is a BIG step further - you have to create content so compelling to your target audience that they are thrilled enough to keep paying for it.

In my experience, three out of five journalists who try to make the switch from general newspapers, free content websites and/or trade journals, just can't get the knack of niche reader-focused content. They drop out.

Now the bar is even higher. As I interview candidates for the editorial director job I'm trying to fill by the end of this month, I also have to ask candidates:

- Have you ever conducted a video or Skype interview for publication? How about editing it or at least giving direction to the production department?
- What are your PowerPoint skills like?
- How strong are your community moderation skills? Have you managed a discussion board, what about a group weblog with non-professional-writer contributors?
- Are you good at putting together webinars (speaker selection, presentation editing, on-air personality)?
- Instead of articles, can you create checklists, flowcharts, glossaries, contracts, how-to instructionals?
- What about your Twitter skills?
- Ever worked with a developer to create an app, calculator or app for your readership?
- Can you juggle deadlines, handling many-times per day Tweets at the same time as weekly interviews, monthly features, and annual event programming?
- Can you switch between a PC and a Mac fairly easily depending on which program you need to use?

I wonder how kids in j-school learn these skills in addition to the researching and writing articles part. Their professors didn't spend decades hustling webinar speakers and editing video while Twittering about it, that's for sure.

Of course my hire will be even harder (of course, of course) because I want someone who is experienced at supervision, hiring and training. (Of the few decent writers who actually want to manage other people, even fewer are good at it.)

Lastly I'd like someone with a renaissance-type mind, who can pick up new B2B beats, even fairly technical ones, happily and easily. Many of the best existing paid content editors have spent most of their careers in one particular niche. Invariably it's harder for them to learn a new beat than they ever remotely expected. Many times they drop out after about a month of trying.

So, anyway, I've narrowed my picks to a handful of possibilities and am conducting final interviews. I also give the finalists an editorial evaluation test -- they have to look at a particular piece of paid content I've published and tell me three key ways to improve it. You can learn a lot about the way an editor's mind works, are they focused on proofing or can they see the piece through the eyes of the intended customer?

Cross your fingers I can find the right person. I'll also be keeping a (thick) stack of resumes from people who didn't quite fit the bill. Some might be good for particular projects we might conceivably launch. Some just break my entrepreneurial heart because they are obviously exceptional in their niche but I just don't have the capability to develop enough opportunities that fit their skills.