![]() ![]() ![]() I could almost hear Bill rubbing his hands together in happy anticipation of going to battle for me. One of his favorite quips, “I’ve made millions and lost millions, the key is I didn’t lose them all.” Later, he was a millionaire real estate investor and landlord. His personality was a good fit for the position of Teacher of Teenaged Offenders from the Billerica House of Correction. He started life as a teacher in Cambridge Public Schools. Will you deal with them?”īill is a Sixth Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. I related the phone call to him and said, “She hurt my feelings, I’m too emotionally invested. I then called my friend and mentor, Bill FitzPatrick, the man who got me into this internet thing in the first place. Marshaling a little diplomacy, I said, “I’m not sure of my standing here, let me think about this and get back to you.” I would have just signed the name over and been happy to do it. Perhaps the offer of a mention or two in the magazine. Maybe some thanks for being a loyal advertiser (at $750 a month). Truly, if she had taken a different tack, a little compliment (phony or not). Your amateur little website diminishes our trademark.” She went on, “We have spent much time and money developing a high quality image for Acoustic Guitar. “Well, yes,” she said, “we have a legal right to our trademarked name.” Not quite true at the time. “You mean, I should just give it to you?” I said. Character limitations and all that back in the day. “We would like our name.” She said rather unceremoniously. I had a one-sixth page display ad for Christmas Guitar: Book and CD. At the time I was an advertiser in several music magazines. I thought she was going to suggest an on-line partnership. “I see you have a website using our name.” One afternoon, while napping on the couch (retirement at forty-eight is great) I got a phone call from a woman: the president of String Letter Publishing: the publisher of, among many others, Acoustic Guitar Magazine. No money, but some fun, and a certain kind of recognition. I answered these emails and posted the Q&A on my Acoustic Guitar website. I got tons of emails from people asking how to be successful musicians. In 1997, he had his staff build me a little text based website:. He ignored my lack of interest and bought me domain names ( and ). He suggested I get involved with internet marketing, too. Here’s Bill FitzPatrick today: Īlthough we don’t see much of each other anymore, for several years Bill called me his best friend. He jumped in with both feet and considerable financial resources. Together we discovered the Internet, websites, domain names, et. Thankfully, I had a wife, Rosemary, who still worked. I discovered I did not want any new career. After leaving Gillette, it was going to be my new career. I used to coach people to be more effective public speakers. ![]()
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