The Call at the GeoCities Front Desk.
Lycos offered too little for WiseWire. So I flew to GeoCities, and the phone rang at the front desk.
The Creator's Journey · Chapter VIII, Capital and the Exit
Lycos had offered to buy WiseWire, and the price was too low. We turned it down. Our deal with Lycos gave it a right of first negotiation, not first refusal, so we were free to talk to anyone. GeoCities also needed what we had built.
A major investor in GeoCities was also a major investor in Lycos. If GeoCities got interested, word would travel. It did. The receptionist came to find me. “Bob Davis is on the line for you.” When Bob heard her answer “GeoCities,” he understood immediately. “Let’s get this done.” Lycos bought WiseWire.
The receptionist was not the strategy. The strategy started on the first day of the company.