Treebreeze (Brian K. Woytovich)

A couple days ago, shortly after communicator went down and they got it up and running again (Microsoft’s new BPOS service) their SharePoint Audience Targeting feature went down. If someone is not familiar with this, it simply allows when enabled, lists and libraries to “target” specific uses. So let’s say you have a list of links, you can have it set so only specific departments or individual users see the links pertinent to them. It is one of the great tools to use in SharePoint, and although I never used it in office live, in theory it should work there as well. This can be a very useful tool and should be used whenever one needs to automatically filter data according to a user group/audience and you do not want to set up separate views in you lists or libraries. Of course when it is down, I am not sure what to do. At least this time they admit it should work and confirmed on their end that it is not. Maybe Microsoft is turning over a new leaf, but probably not :). I have been using this service for many months and although it has its issues it seems much more stable than Microsoft Office Live, and by far it is much more business focused, but still no front end which means it has no way to share the data to a public site, it only can be used for a business’s INTRANET. The following are some screenshots leading up to the problem of showing “0” user’s even though there are many. This is the problem with the target audience not working; it is not recognizing ANY users even thought they have been added to the site collection.

As I sink my teeth more and more into SharePoint and attempt to build better and more robust online applications specific using SharePoint SaaS solutions such as OLSB and BPOS, it is becoming evident I could really use a mentor. Someone willing and able to give me advice and pointers while encouraging me to push the envelope and get any certifications, such as the MCTS 70-541, or whatever else that would ensure that I become the best of this bread. There is no other platform on the planet that makes more sense to me then this platform. So it is becoming my aim to become the best of the best in this field even if I have found resistance at the moment from those key people in the communities that could have assisted me but would not for one reason or another.

It’s interesting that in movies, especially when their “based on a true story”, that someone can have a chip on their shoulder and be mad at the world yet someone comes along to show them some guidance and support and believes in them and they somehow become the best at what they do, Interesting, because that has not been my experience. At least not for the duration. One thing is for sure I DO have a chip on my shoulder, and I am sometimes even mad at the world, but at least I can admit it, but there is good reason for it. Yet there is one more thing; NO ONE that I have ever met has more belief in this industry then I do, that is just a FACT, and I challenge anyone that thinks otherwise. I believe in this industry and more of what it is capable of producing then anyone could imagine, and if given the chance I will show ALL what can be done and accomplished even by the smallest of businesses.

Yet most of the road has been difficult and without much encouragement. Imagine even the greatest athlete without a coach, or president Obama without his families influence and encouragement, when he was young. If anyone knew my life’s story, they MAY be more tolerant, but probably not, only if I achieve what I have set out to do will anyone believe me, or respect the road I have had to travel. So every day, as hard as it is sometimes I go forward with the cross I bear that no one knows and I attempt once more to find myself a coach that will help me become what I KNOW I am capable of becoming, despite peoples personal lack of a approval and fair-weather friendships. If no one helps me then fine, I will do it on my own but I am not so arrogant to think that even if I DO ever become the best in this industry I could not still greatly benefit from having a coach. Until that time however, or if that time never comes; zero to hero movies and my wife will be my only friends in this industry. You know everyone and I mean everyone could benefit from someone believing in them and encouraging them along the way, and it sure would be nice if the so called leaders in their industry would be just that, leaders.

This was written because of another frustrating experience trying to get some help in a forum. If this continues I just might initiate my own forum for the industry:

A place every post gets a response,

A place everyone can find a friendly mentor!!!

As a single freelancer, and the one who is attempting to direct my small-business efforts under the name of The Proficients Project Inc. I have chosen to go with three primary SharePoint SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions in order to strengthen my position, ability, and set of offerings ultimately with developing small plug-in business applications utilizing SharePoint technologies specifically for the Web.

After many months of research the three I’ve currently settled upon are; Office Live Small Business (OLSB), Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS), and SharePoint360 (360). So expect updates utilizing these three options, and comparisons concerning the difference of these three as it regards to building SharePoint enabled functionality into small to midsize business websites. It should be fun, exciting, and at times challenging.

It’s truly amazing what one kind act from an individual can change. I do not feel at liberty to go into detail as to the event that transpired today, but it allows me to completely change my posture in regarding Microsoft and I hope that it changes theirs towards me. This single event, I feel now allows me the freedom to go full speed ahead into the further development using the Microsoft Office live small business platform. So if I have any readers left :), after my frustrated discourse over the past several months then please let me start from the beginning and allow me to pick up where I left off.

It’s not for certain how the following months will transpire, nor if things will happen without incident, but if this single event that occurred today proves itself genuine, then I can only anticipate truly good things ahead. Let me also say, a true thanks to those out there that are peacemakers, and that go out of their way to do more to listen and take action by considering all parties involved. This may be difficult at times, but in the end when things are treated this way we all seem to have a better chance at accomplishing what we set out to do.

One thing is for sure that I’ve discovered over the past several months, Microsoft Office live small business does have its issues but despite all these they are still ahead of the game in this growing sector of offering customize SharePoint SaaS solutions. This is probably not what they consider themselves, but unless they do away completely with the business applications then they will continue to compete in this increasing sector of the market. This is an area we need to all keep our eyes on, and consider there will be many growing competitors in the SharePoint platform arena. It’s SharePoint that I believe is providing a powerful foundation and hopeful future for enabling business functionality on the Web. It’s online SaaS solutions that harness technology such as this that will enable us to do more with less.

So please stay tuned as I personally reposition myself and my business to once again begin harnessing this platform and others that offer a customized SharePoint SaaS Solutions. If anyone understands what I’m referring to concerning this and knows of a better label for it, or has any questions please post a comment to this post. Also, if there’s anyone left reading my blog after this most challenging period :), a special thank you for staying in there with me. Together, I hope we can look forward to experiencing some good things ahead.

The more I attempt to escalate these issues with Microsoft the more it seems they take the posture of covering up what’s happened and not wanting to deal with it, they rather take the position of “dealing” with me, not the situation. If I just have one reader that’s willing to read this I ask you:, “what would you do if you received a letter overnighted from Microsoft’s law department after being threatened several times concerning your right to escalate an issue”. No one truly knows the full conversations we have had because when I have asked for permission to record our discussions I was told no, even though they’re allowed to record at will anything and use what they want. I will speak to their law department on one condition, if they agree to let us both record the conversation so that nothing, and I mean nothing, can be missed in translation. Yet now that their law department has gotten involved, does this mean I am also forced to get a lawyer to defend my position and is this going now to the next step. I do not want to handle this in court but if Microsoft initiates it I have no other choice. A great king once said “I’m a man of peace but when I speak they are for war”. I come in peace but am forced to take a defensive position because they are using their name recognition and size to intimate a small business like myself. Let it be clear that I have only tried to escalate issues and as I have said before they were never addressed, literally over 50 of them, and it crippled my business and then after all those people that I used to speak to, have moved on to different positions, I’m left, to pick up the pieces. All I’m asking is that Microsoft look into my situation objectively to what I am saying. Yes it is a small issue if resolved but it’s a big issue if people start lying and removing people out of forums just for trying to escalate issues. This is when it becomes more of a fact of covering up truth at someone else’s expense, and should never occur in this country, or anywhere else for that matter. This is a big issue and even worthy of escalating it to the government to request an investigation into the apparent practices of using intimidation to cover up business practices. This letter has already been written, but I will continue, until I find someone to listen and this is handled in a more appropriate manner. No one should have to live in fear of what will happen to them if they expose something that is true!

It is for this reason that I continue to appeal to Steve Ballmer the current CEO of Microsoft and his secretary Debby Hill, because it has gotten that far only because certain people continue to cover up truth and take action against me wrongfully. From what I understand I had permission to talk to her until this situation is resolved but now I get a letter from Microsoft’s law depart that would indicate otherwise. Some of you think, why do I continue to appeal to Steve Ballmer specifically and not just move on and boycott the use of Microsoft products. The answer to that is simple, for one, as a partner I not only depend on Microsoft products but I believe some of them hold the key to opening up small business to the web like nothing we have had thus far as small business owners, they are just now getting into this market and I believe they can take it by storm if they would just listen to their customer base. I believe that if what Steve Ballmer wrote to Microsoft employees, he truly believes, he will take my case seriously and at least look into it or have someone else he trusts to find the truth look into it.

If for some reason Microsoft continues to deal me using a legal posture rather than trying to address the situation, and ignoring my truthful report about what has occurred then I will need to begin positioning myself to defend my position and case. So starting in the month of April I will initiate a modest budget designating $20 a month to someone willing to help me report about this by blogging about it. I will keep increasing the budget as much as I am able, and adding more people until the truth is revealed or a more appropriate action is taken. Furthermore I here now offer a $200 reward to anyone able to help me FIND a layer willing to defend my case if Microsoft attempts to proceed in a legal manner, OR, AID me in getting media exposure to shed some light on this, allowing me to offer my full story and give me an opportunity to share why I am trying so hard to defend myself concerning this issue and others.