I was born into a family of engineers and entrepreneurs. From a young age, our family basement was a playground for all things technology. In 1968, when I was only four, one of my brothers built a television camera and transmitter and put me on TV. Later on, we made sand cast molds and parts out of molten metals. We bent Plexiglas, then flame ground it to perfection. Honestly, I felt like I could complete any project I wanted. The only thing that I needed was to be interested enough to do it.
In my teenage years, I started channeling creativity into solving problems. When I realized I didn’t have the money for high-end audio equipment from the store, I got a resale license and bought the equipment wholesale (and ended up starting a small audio equipment shop on the side). I encountered a similar price problem when I wanted a graphic equalizer. So, I built one — along with audio noise reduction systems. They included full metal cases and front panels with professional labeling. In short, I found joy in identifying problems, laying out the steps to solve them, and then achieving a solution — not just a “hack”, but a full (if unconventional) answer to the problem.
As an adult, my career choices have largely been formed by this upbringing. One of my first jobs was at an old mom-and-pop computer shop in the 80’s. In order to develop and grow their business, they wanted someone to understand the latest in technology so they gave me free reign and a budget to experiment with new developments. This freedom let me stay on the cutting edge of pocket computers, desktop publishing, networking, typography, databases, the list goes on.
From this knowledge, I was able to get together with friends and spin up a couple of computer consulting companies in the 90’s. One of these companies was called MicroData, and we got to experience the dotcom bubble firsthand as we consulted for many of the dotcom startups. Some of the coolest solutions we developed while working for clients included instantaneous e-mail receiving and sending (like it is today, but on dial-up!) and an e-mail auditing project that tracked all e-mails sent. I loved both being able to help other people and develop cool uses out of technology.
Not all of my work was in my own companies, however. I worked in a few other tech companies in the 2000s and enjoyed it. Yet, I eventually realized that I didn’t want my life to revolve around making lots of money for people I didn’t know (or know that well). In 2012, one of the companies I was working for ended, and I took time after that to think about what I wanted out of a business.
In that reflection time, I settled on a few values that I wanted in whatever my next work would be:
- I want to do work that aligns with my values in life
- I want to prioritize my family in life
- I want to help people use technology with minimum waste and maximum productivity
Out of these principles, I decided to start a new company in 2013, SaviorLabs. I’ve worked to run this company a little bit differently than before. We try to consult clients both on their use of technology and their business strategies. We’ve hired people, based less on whether they have previous experience in the field, and more on whether we know and trust them. We’ve aimed to help some Christian non-profits (some of which have impacted me personally) channel their funds to the greatest productivity. Ultimately, we don’t want my primary purpose to be making money, we want it to be helping people.
Helping people is ultimately behind my website as well. I want to be able to share with others what I’ve learned and am currently learning about technology. Whether it’s through shared articles, a blog post, or a listen to The Edge of Innovation, I hope this website helps to spark your own desire to create and innovate!
I’d love to hear from you!
