My FON story, A new beginning
The other day someone commented to me that my first posts on FON were very passionate and seemed like I truly believed in the movement. Then he asked me if it was just marketing? The question annoyed me then but the more I think about it the more upset I become. Anyone who has read my book, reads my blog regularly or knows me personally knows that I mean what I say. I make business and life decisions based on values even if it means challenging the Japanese government or leaving FON. I believe there is a right and wrong way to live your life, to run a business and treat those around you.
When you read what I write you don’t have to agree with what I say, but you should know that what I say comes directly from my gut. I’m entirely accountable for what I say here and in person to you but more importantly to myself. When I was growing up we had a saying “My word is my bond.†Many of the things that motivate me don’t motivate others simple because they value things differently. But keeping your word should be universal. When I make a commitment to you as a friend or business partner I will do whatever it takes to keep it. If I fail to keep a commitment, which happens sometimes, it pains me greatly and I try to make amends. Now I will make this simple. I don’t work with or make commitments to companies and people I don’t believe in.
For friends and causes I truly believe in I will sacrifice everything. My first three months at FON I worked for free. Not because I thought I would get rich, but because I believed in the cause. In the end commitments were broken and I was asked to move to California, away from my family. I had to make a tough decision. While I know the company will be a success I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice everything, especially my family and friends here in New York. Not now, not for this cause. So I left.
Now I will go back to managing my security company and building gatherat.com and I will enjoy every day of it. I have learned from this experience that what I love is compassionate technology. Social innovation that is built to give people opportunity. This is why I’m building gather at. Now some people will think I was crazy to leave FON just because I didn’t want to move, some people will think sacrificing money for values is ridiculous and thats fine. But this is who I am. Now if you came to my blog to follow my journey with FON, its over and you can leave. But if you are interested in compassionate technology and social innovation stay because I’m just getting started.
In the coming months I will tour around the world and around America meeting people in person to promote this new idea of compassionate technology. Gather at could become a complete failure but failing while pursuing what we believe in takes greater strength of character than chasing the next big thing. When we realize this and decide to live our lives by these rules success is just around the corner.
Where I come from, you don’t judge someone based on the company they work for or what company of the moment they are promoting. You judge their trustworthiness by what they’ve spent their life doing. A man dedicates his life to building companies that are socially innovative- thats a man you want to believe in even when you think he’s wrong. You don’t have to agree with all of my decisions but my motivation behind those decisions will always be clear. If you feel the way I feel, I’m asking for your support.
July 5th, 2006 at 5:12 am
Even if I landed here because you were involved in FON, I’ll stay.
July 5th, 2006 at 5:47 am
I began to read your blog because your trajectory got me the attention being so young. (I, 35 years old, I believe that I am young, comely for the youths and I believe that it should never be stopped to be young. I hope to continue this way)
Your reflections and the spirit of social commitment hooked me and I read it regularly. I took a trip of business to NYC and I was about to try to know you, but finally I didn’t make it.
Some days ago, when you announced your exit of FON it gave me the sensation that already the wise thing. I hoped it will happen. Don’t wonder why. Then the opinions of the other ones come, if I tell you the truth I believe that many are consequence of the envy and professional jealousies.
I don’t know you, but I find that you are good man and I will support you in the measure of my possibilities.
Encourage champion!!!, the book of your life these beginning to write it.
PD. : sorry for my terrible English. As well you know here, in Spain, we love to speak our language.
July 5th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Ejovi, I have great respect for your decision. Having a young child at home I’ve had to turn away opportunities that I would have otherwise taken. At this point in my life it’s not about the money or success, it’s about quality of life for my family. I now quantify the commitment I can make, in hours, travel, end product, etc.. This sets the expectations of those depending on me, and helps me to better manage my time. I really enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to following your success in future endeavors!
July 5th, 2006 at 9:06 am
Well, don´t you think that three posts are way too much just to finally admit that you left FON because you didn´t want to move?
Come on, give me a break…I don´t pretend to be impolite, but this really sucks…
You now want to appear as the man with values although you really want to sell us your new idea.
Sorry but I won´t land again.
Regards,
Josh
July 5th, 2006 at 9:42 am
Ejovi, I really love you.
July 5th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Josh,
Thats my point. If you think I am just promoting a new project then I wish you farewell.
Thank you yy! I will see you soon!
July 5th, 2006 at 11:04 am
i haven’t read your all blogs, but i support you. because just i believe everybody can say and tell anything they feel. so, eeven your theory ware a lil bit wrong, i would respect your opinion. nobody can’t stop your identity.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:23 am
I really respect how you present yourself in your blogs. You share your gut thoughts with intertwining life lessons. Through reading all of the things you’ve written it has caused me to change some of my ways and become and overall better person. I thank you very much and I hope you keep writing.
Sincerely,
Chris Oshaben
July 5th, 2006 at 11:33 am
“sacrificing money for values is the only way to GO!” life’s so short that if you wait too long for doing the things you like you find out that life is also gone too!
July 5th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
Ejovi…several years ago I was flipping through the channels and came across this young man giving an inspirational talk to some kids in jail on CSPAN. I was so intrigued that I had to look you up on the internet which led me to buy and read your book. I have followed you off and on ever since, and seen you develop into a successful entrepreneur - featured in Business Week and as a guest commentator on TV news programs. I’ve enjoyed reading your views on current events and seeing your candid photos of your trips to Japan. But what has impressed me the most has been your desire to use your talents and charisma to help improve the lives of the less fortunate that are growing up in underprivileged neighborhoods like the one you grew up in. Family and friends are a very important part of our lives that I think too many people sacrifice. I’m happy to see that you understand their importance…you have my support all the way!
July 6th, 2006 at 1:56 am
Hey Ejovi… If readers out there don’t believe that what you say comes from what you believe in I think you are right to tell them, “Thanks for stopping by… Have a nice life.” I bet that a year from now your views may change, but the thing that will stay the same is that you mean what you say.
Congratulations on having made what I image was a tough decision.
I recently wrote a couple of posts about how blogging has affected businesses and you came up during a debate with a reader. I’ll send you a link.
Aloha
July 6th, 2006 at 2:27 am
Take a tour to Madrid, we hope to see you.
dac
July 6th, 2006 at 3:00 am
ejovi, we met in stockholm. i am looking forward to reading more about gatherat. keep up the momentum!
July 6th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
Hey Nic, hope to see you in Singapore soon!
Thank you everyone for your kind words!
July 7th, 2006 at 12:37 am
For what it’s worth, i admire your determination and desire; it’s inspirational
–
Harry Singh - NYC
July 7th, 2006 at 11:48 am
I learnt about you from BusinessWeek’s top 25 under 25 article. From there on, one thing led to another and I learnt that you worked for FON and that your biography has already been publilshed. I read your book and I was really impressed given the background that you came from. I think having lived through difficult circumstances like you did and coming out on top, requires a certain strength of character. Based on what I know about you and having met you once, I am in no doubt about your integrity. Your passion for FON only shows that you put your heart and soul into whatever you do. This is also reflected in your passion for the internet, hacking, and ultimately security where you spent a lot of your time growing up. Honestly,
I first got in touch with you because I wanted to work for FON. But in the process of communicating with you, I learnt a lot about you and started respecting you for your accomplishments. I fully support you and would be honored to work with you. Keep up the good work.
July 16th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
c’mon ejovi I really apreciate you. But you din’t tell us all the story about FON. I respect your decision but you omit the way Martin do the things, how false is his word, why FON will fall, etc, etc.
Is your decision and I respect you really.
You have a very big future enjoy it !!!
July 17th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
As someone who still works for the company, you would know better than I do!