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17 years in business for myself, 22 years in technology, we’re in a growth period now that I hope soon will free me to think about what the next level is all about.

There are 2 projects in the drawing board, one is a rethinking of my early days in tech, a natural outgrowth of what my company does now. The 2nd project is about helping others find themselves. I’m going at it from a totally new angle and there will be more on that as I get a bit more of the bread and butter business going.

I can start now however, we can ALL START that thing we want to do, TODAY! All you need to do is decide to do it. Talk about it, sure, and vision is key, but we all have visions. Doing. Is a whole other matter.

I seek inspiration and I seek to inspire.

Say that with me.

I seek inspiration and I seek to inspire.

We happened upon an intern this summer. In a much unexpected way and that felt more like destiny than anything. I don’t know what will come of helping someone else find their passion but I do know, NOT doing that is the only certain outcome. It leads to nothing. This I hope, leads him to something.

I recieved some help in my first steps to college and those that helped me, asked nothing in return but when I was given the chance  to inspire others, to help others at such a crossroads, to do so without hesitation asking nothing in return.

Inspired so much in my life by very uncommon people, sometimes strangers, I’m happy to have found this ability in myself.

More on the 1s&0s project later…in my head it’s so magical and simply I love the idea that me of all people, could enable self-discovery in anyone willing to try.

I’m around creatives constantly in my work. For a technical person, it’s like this whole other world just out of reach so the times I get to spend with them, is a joy.

One of the most interesting things about creatives is they seem to have this built-in passion for following what they love to do. So many on my side of the brain, get a bit trapped and feel a bit confined in ourselves, our tasks, our way of thinking ~

Those in the middle, even more so. By far the largest group I encounter in my work, the everyday person, often made choices and found themselves where they are rather accidentally and all too often a bit gruff about it. Especially if there is a stall, lack of forward
momentum.

I can see it in their questions of how, when, where, did I get where I am? It’s curiosity of self-evolution that is akin to a cry for help. A plea for direction. I’d been at a loss for words earlier in life. Somehow as I grew older, I’ve found the right mix of words and experience to offer up some input.

Part of the joy and passion of this business of IT. Is about helping others. Being there in that moment when you fix or help and “BAM” it all starts working, there is so much joy, relief and intensity it’s like a tiny moment of heroics for us and we love that feeling.

I’ve also found a similar feeling just listening to others and inspiring or validating their passions. Telling them YES YOU CAN. Or GO FOR IT!

And yes, there are moments, where I might even be forced to say, “maybe re-think that” LOL;

They DO come to us for truth in most every case so it’s best to keep that up. False or fake anything in our business isn’t welcome and those that peddle that are shown the door pretty fast.

2016 is almost at the midway point. I had to take a moment to say the words…

I seek inspiration and I seek to inspire.

As a key concept, a core value for the next 20+ years of our technology work.

Be yourself. Be honest. Start with yourself. The magic follows.

~peace

Thanks so much for everyone inside our client locations that help us keep systems going. We know you have lots of questions for us much of the time and often we can’t always answer them as our daily work demands our attention. The week of May 2nd – the 6th, we’ll be answering questions on social media about your personal tech. Feel free to ask us about the home computer, the home WiFi, routers, media boxes, mobile devices, the entire world of “internet of things” and we’ll do our best to answer.

BTW, we’ll do this again just before the holidays so ask away…we look forward to hearing from you!!

Woke up this morning to the sad news a friend and mentor passed away overnight. Ed Risinger gave me my second job in tech, my first job out of HS was the dream job at Radio Shack, but working with Ed inspired so much of what I do today.

I was a bit lost after UT, Ed brought me some focus and brought me back home to technology, but most important, inspired me to believe in myself. While I have enjoyed kind words from so many over the years with regards to myself and these alleged natural abilities with Tech, Ed said much of the same but in very short order, he proved those words in countless ways. He had this enduring way of correcting you when you were wrong or maybe missing the target. And when you succeeded, he would throw the spot light on you for all to see. Ed never made it seem like he was throwing you a bone on any shared experience, it was more like he handed you the reigns and the end result was not totally about him it was about everyone that participated.

After five years with his company I started this business with his blessing and remained a friend over those 16 years. We had just talked about going to see a ball game as he said he was recovering from his back surgery.

Ed was one part older brother, one part entrepreneurial advocate, we never lost touch as too often happens with folks that meander into our lives. He welcomes you at every turn, no matter the time. Ed was one of those people who never sought to take you down. He had a point of view on things and yet he almost encouraged you to disagree with him. He wanted debate and wanted to hear from others unlike himself. He was always introducing me to the most unique people.

Ed was quintessential Austin. He would throw himself into work, for days and days, long hours and emerge like Edison from his lab and present to you this new thing. And then would want to go out and experience this City to celebrate.

Ed was also quintessential America. Proud of his Father and would tell stories of growing up in a military family. Proud of his kids, with stories of their success as any proud Father would. Ed was solidly and 100% a Father willing to give his all, in that honorable pursuit.

His business acumen was about finding a niche and filling that. Looking for gaps in underserved areas of technology while building a business that profited everyone that participated in the process. I have honestly never worked for another person I felt valued me as much as Ed did. It was so very very hard to go out on my own for the 2nd time doing this IT stuff. Ed encouraged that. Right before leaving, we had a face to face about what was next for me and I was shocked to see real sadness on his face over my departure. It was like a father saying goodbye to his son going off to college. It was one of the most meaningful exchanges of my life.

I will miss his stories, his insights, his compassion for others, his drive to overcome. He faced a lot in the last few years, he never shied away from telling you, transparently how rough it can be this life. He was a faithful person too. Sometimes rare in technology. His type of faith was to inspire you to it from actions. I respected that so much, perhaps because I feel its become so rare.

Ed was rare. I had some medical stuff year before last and Ed heard about it thru a friend and he rushed in with a call, advice and confidence…telling me not to worry. It was in that moment I was reminded of his steadfast friendship just as I am now. I’m stunned, he was far too young and as with other friends that knew him…am deeply mournful we have lost a motivating spirt in our lives.

From this point we walk a little more alone. I’m hopeful he shared enough with us, that we may live our lives with more determination and confidence than we otherwise would.

Thank you Ed.

Solutions! When I tell folks I’m in the IT business, that is a broad title for what we do, it has never felt quite right. I’ve spent some time recently explaining to my staff that we’re in the business of problem solving, we’re in the “answers business.” It just happens that we focus on Technology to deliver. When in fact some of our answers leak on over to the business process, operations and management, basically “what works” and “what might not”. 16 years in business and over 20 years in technology, I’ve seen a lot of both of those.

Information! I say this all the time as well, there is a reason the “I” comes before the “T”, we are in the information business without a doubt. The tech, comes second. Putting it first, has been the mistake of many. And it takes a lot of consuming of information to stay ahead. The experience helps, no doubt. “Times at bat” as Tom Peters would say, really matters.

I explained to a client just the other night, there is no way I could do what they do much less face all the tasks they face every day, its just not my passion and that plays a BIG ROLE in success. In life in fact. “Following ones bliss“, according to Joseph Campbell, is one of the secrets to life.  And I say perhaps in business as well. I’m really lucky to have a group of clients that are very passionate about their business. Those that are not, or it slipped away from them, rarely succeed.

We are a part of that puzzle of progress for clients, part of their success comes from “our” toolbox, from “our” experience, from “our” information stream. We help guide them to decisions based on how its been done, both historically and typically, in many cases using innovative methods they have never heard of before. Sometimes this is a “new” technology, others simply a change in use of existing technology.

Some really exciting times are ahead for us. We are in a really intense time here with SXSW 2016 and the start of the Austin Events Season but I’ll have more to say in the days ahead here and via other means to try and keep the “I” before the “T”.

Thanks so much to my friends, clients and supporters that have made my job every day, worth it for 16 years.

We’ll talk soon, I’m sure!