So here it is… my first day not having to go to work.
Crazy to think it’s been nearly three years since I arrived at Salesforce. I can’t imagine having been anywhere but here — I’ve learned so much about digital and marketing, dealing with press and analysts, as well as playing the politics needed to navigate a big company.
When I started, “The Enterprise Cloud Computing Company” only had three main solutions and about three thousand employees.
It was a big company by most standards, to which my startup friends would roll their eyes and/or outright express their distaste for enterprise by asking, “Why would you go to Salesforce?”
They didn’t understand what you could learn from one of the best marketing teams around. And learn I did, for which I will always be grateful for the opportunity.
I created my own role.
Social Media was largely unattended by the company. As a former startup guy, we had capitalized upon this absence, but now as an employee I felt the need to shore up this area and my boss gave me plenty of room to make things happen.
I ended up helping with product launches, PR, events, customer support, troubleshooting, an Oracle protest, and even a Super Bowl commercial — in so doing I got to know the teams who headed up these various areas. The process exposed me to so many amazing people who I would never have had the opportunity to know otherwise.
In Feb of 2011, Marc Benioff had written “The Facebook Imperative,” and our company was suddenly thrown into Social. A few months later, we acquired Radian6 and suddenly we were “Born Cloud, Reborn Social.” Suddenly, we were hiring and training new recruits and things went at break-neck speed till we were living this new “Social Enterprise.”
Living the new Social Enterprise
The faster we grew, the more social media management challenges arose. Things like training, audits, compliance, and reducing risk… even finding ways to encourage more employees to participate!
From speaking with industry peers, it didn’t take long to realize this was not a unique scenario, but many companies were experiencing these same challenges:
- Why can’t social be made drop-dead simple to manage across an organization?
- How do you scale social across departments?
- Is there a way to make an inherently non-social company into a social business?
- How would one identify their most effective social employees and give them better visibility?
Why I’m leaving Salesforce
At some point I realized I could build a solution for many of these issues. Why not create a product to make life easier for companies making the leap to social?
So that’s what I’m doing. I’ve assembled a small team to bring a solution to market, and in the next few weeks you’ll start to see glimpses of what’s to come.
That’s why I’m leaving Salesforce.
To build.
Wanna help?
Let me know.
Whoa. I have never opened a tweet faster. Didn’t know. Guess I need to climb out from that rock I’ve been under. Reading now….
More in a sec.
gosh, thanks Westy!
Hi Marcus, good to hear that you are building the future and being courageous.
I don’t know yet what you are trying to do but if Grantoo can help you in any shape or form to achieve your goal, or your customers goals ; you know where to find me.
Dimitri Sillam
Good Luck Marcus, can’t wait to see what you build.
Thanks Musa — you know I’ll be knocking on your door when we’re ready! 🙂
Whoa, I’ve never opened a tweet faster. I didn’t know….reading now.
What the….?
more in a sec.
Congrats Marcus! I can’t wait to see what you build!
Thank you Tracy
I always want to help! Congrats!!
you’re awesome Ken, thanks!
AWESOME. I – like others- have 1/2 dozen ‘ideas’ of new products, companies, solutions a week, but the key is finding the right problem to solve. And you’ve found it.
I can’t think of a more qualified or better ‘product-market fit’ then yourself for this challenge.
Right on. Excited to see your progress. Let me know what you need help with. I’m game.
appreciate it, will certainly be posting updates as they come
Excellent. Rip the cover off dude!
Will do so, the pillows and duvet also?
Sad to see you move, but excited to see what you’re about to create. Thanks so much for everything you’ve done, your friendship and encouragement. Heh, although this isn’t goodbye! Can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for you!
Thanks Garry, nothing but love for you.
Really appreciate your support over these last few years. You’re #awesome!
Congrats buddy! Cannot wait to see what you push to the cloud with your latest endeavor!
Thanks Dave! Really appreciate that
Cannot wait to here what’s next!!!
Great, my first post HERE and I mess it up.
no problem, just try again Chad!
Thanks for stopping by, really great to see ya here!
Aha! Good luck, Marcus
Thank Bruce, it’s going to be amazing!
Looking forward to hearing how we can work together, Marcus!
Ha, that’d be great! thanks Zena!
Awesome Marcus! Best wishes on your next startup adventure; let me know how I can be helpful in any way.
Thanks Kyle, and remember you were there when it all happened 🙂
if you need design… you know where to find me.
Awesome, thanks Tracy! #MidwestMafia
Time to update the “about” page… and the immensity of your social media profiles. 🙂
Leave it to my brother to call me out for being a day late on updating all my social pages!
Time to update the “About” page… and the immensity of your social media profiles. Good things to come!
ok, look now — am I all better? LOL
Great Idea! Looking forward to see what you are up to. heard of the need for your solution as well as of self-made workaround-solutions over here in Germany. would love to help. Ping me!
Hi,
Yes, I want to help!
I deal with clients on a daily basis that need assistance in understanding social media and its benefits.
I’d love to be a part of a groupthink!
Thanks,
Abby
Awesome! What a leap of faith! Such an exciting time in your life. Just moved, new baby, new business!!
Congrats Marcus – I enjoyed meeting you at socialfresh last year and I look forward to your next endeavor. And I’m always interested in helping. Pax Christi.
Awesome. How can I help? 😀
Can’t wait to hear more about your next adventure! Please let me know how I can help. Cheers!
Congrats and best of luck Marcus! Looking forward to seeing what you have planned!
Thanks Rob — appreciate it!
Congrats for taking the leap! Can’t wait to see what you build (and to help!) 🙂
weird how you were sorta there at the beginning… even before it began. 🙂
Big news Marcus. All the best on the next venture mate. I can’t wait to see it take shape.
Thanks David!
Let me join the lineup of supporters – would love to hear what you are up too and if I can, help too.
appreciate that Lora
Marcus, I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but I applaud you for what you’re doing. Having just gone through an involved RFP process for an industry making its first actively engaged foray into social, I’ve seen the best and worst of the social media org’s out there. It’s a fascinating industry with immense opportunity for those who figure out how to make an enterprise solution easy. At the end of the day, its all about having the right people on board who want to make it happen. Best wishes and good luck!
Thank you Pat – I won’t let you down!
Best of luck Marcus – let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Thanks Mark
Wow! I remember driving around Austin several years ago on the party bus drinking with a guy that had recently joined SFDC and was just wrapping his head round how awesome social could be. Look at you now. Super impressed with all you have accomplished in such a short amount of time. Best of luck with the new venture, Sales Force is losing a rockstar.
Erik Boles
http://twitter.com/ErikBoles
Aww shucks, thanks Erik! Good times on that bus, huh?
Congrats Marcus – let me know if I van help in any way!
@mwalsh
Thank you Mike
A true entrepreneur always leaves the comfort of an organization at a time when everyone thinks you crazy. Now, run fast. Proceed (and succeed) with godspeed. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Thanks Doug!
Looking forward to seeing what’s next. I will help with endless RT’s and comments.
awesome, that’d be hugely helpful!
Very exciting news, Marcus! Let me know how I can help.
Thank you Irene!
Marcus — you’re one of the first people I really connected with and admired on Twitter. The more we tweeted and the more I watched your insightful mind at work, the more I knew you’d be leading the charge to answer these needs in the social sphere. So, best of luck and congratulations … but certainly no surprise. As for “wanna help?” –> collaborating with you in any capacity would always be welcome, my friend. Cheers!
Thank you Ian, I’m honored. Will certainly keep you posted
Are you building a solution that will let people do anything from anywhere on any device, at a reasonable cost, that is so unbelievably easy and fun that we’ll all wonder how we went so long without it?
sorta. LOL
Looking forward to seeing what’s to come. Congrats.
Thanks Greg!
Hey Marcus….could you send me a message and break this down a little bit more for me…..feel really lost after I read your post. Sorry if I am a little dense,…LOL
Congrats Marcus – great post! All the best to you in your next venture.
thank you very much!
Congrats Marcus! I’ll buy you a beer. Is that helpful?
yes, beer is an essential part of the process!
You have many, many Salesforce-friends, but if you ever face some sticky issue in identity or integration, don’t hesitate to ping me. All the best for the future!
thanks Pat — will certainly stay close 🙂
Love this summary. My story is so similar. Just left Salesforce after 3+ years last month. I helped to re-invent customer support there. Fantastic ride. I just took the leap to start my own thing too. Keep an eye out for @CustomerZen. Would love for our paths to cross in our next big things.
Thanks Laurie, indeed our paths may very well cross again 🙂
Congratulations Marcus. I am researching collaboration in engineering teams, and as far as collaboration tools go we’re stuck in the late 90’s in this industry. We could really use some help transitioning. We need help explaining the need and stepping through the security issues in companies where IP security is a big issue.
well, I hope I can do it right, thanks David
Hey Marcus, one of my friends suggested we focus on this area at the time he was leaving salesforce.com – of course, at http://www.edocr.com we have our own mission where we could play a role helping you to solve the problem you highlighted whilst delivering our plans to democratise business documents. You know how to reach me when you are ready! All the best!
Thanks Manoj
Congrat and good luck!
thanks Rick
Congrats Marcus and can’t wait to hear what you come up with!
Congrats. While I’m sad that you left, I totally understand why you did, and very excited to see what this new adventure brings. Thanks for everything! (I hope you still rock the upside-down MVP bag.)
Good luck with the new gig! I’ll be watching closely. 🙂
Congratulations, Marcus. Can’t wait to hear more.
We’ve only met in passing a few times, Marcus, but that was enough for me to know you’ve got the goods to carry this out. I like the way you’ve framed the problem you’re looking to solve, and can’t wait to hear what comes next!
Hi, very intersting! I work in Social Media, let me know if you need any specific help!
Best,
Jason
Love to hear that you’re working on solutions for marketers like myself @Magnet360 – a Salesforce.com consulting partner in MPLS and NY. And I’d love to stay in touch as you grow your concept / solution!
As a serial entrepreneur (but never for cereal) this is so exciting! Working in the digital marketing/inbound marketing arena, I can definitely say that you’re right on with your bullet points. To take it even one step farther, especially larger brands have an immensely difficult time figuring out how to integrate across platforms.
If you figure this out, you will have created something great.
Can’t wait to hear what you get into and am happy to help in any way that I can! Rock on!
Awesome, thank you Alexandra!
I’m game helping.
Let’s connect!
I’m watching closely Marcus. Best of luck in your new project. If you need CRM to help manage the business, I have a suggestion. 🙂
Thanks Chris… are you saying I should try a CRM to manage my business?
Very very interesting. I just moved up to the Bay, back from 3 years of travel after working in the startup world prior, and intrigued to see what you have in mind.
I’d love to learn more about (and help with) what you’re working on…
Thanks Brett, I’ll add you to my maillist 🙂
congrats on making the move – love to hear more! sounds like familiar territory 😉
I’ll add myself to the long list of people wishing you well on your next venture.
Marcus,
You’re a superstar.
Your new company will undoubtably rock.
oh… go on… 😉
Congrats, Marcus! Please keep me posted on your new venture – we have clients lined up around the block who are (or about to) have the same problems. Looking forward to hearing more!
Best of luck!
Look forward to solving those problems for your clients — thank you Maggie. 🙂
Sounds incredibly interesting Marcus – check out some similar thoughts we’ve had, and the initiative we launched to enable social collaboration here @bluewolf:
http://www.bluewolf.com/blog/gamifying-social-collaboration-big-wins-goingsocial
Congrats! Kick butt on your next project!
Hey Marcus, This sounds great! You’ve taken amazing steps since I met you years ago. I’d love to hear more about what you’re working on and how I can help.
thanks Tessa, hope all is well for ya!
Fantastic working together – you will be missed. Good luck with your new endeavor – I’m sure you will be successful. Stay in touch!
marcus, undoubtedly your new venture will rock!
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