Today is a very special day for me. It marks the end of a very significant period of my life. At the tender age of 16, I started working as a contract web developer, a career, which has now supported me for nearly 12 years.
There have been good times and bad, and many, many lessons learned. Ultimately, I’m proud of the path I took. Through pure stubbornness, I managed to bypass post-secondary education, by working my ass off to learn what I needed to know to get the job done (often after I had already sold it). In many ways, I attribute my success in this business to this fly or fall approach because it kept me on my toes, always learning, always hungry to improve my skills, and always ready to take on new challenges.
Looking back, I know that I went about things the hard way. A wiser, less obstinate person would have gone about things differently, but then I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
For the last year and a half, I have been working with The Blog Studio. My time with them has been very important to me for a lot of reasons. It freed me of my solitary home office, and got me out into the world, working face-to-face with people again. The life of a freelancer, especially in this industry, can be a hermetic one, and working with Peter, Lucia and Mike was a very welcome and necessary change.
Next week, I start a new era of my life as I leave the world of contract work and venture down a new, exciting path. A remarkable opportunity landed on my lap a couple weeks ago, and enticed me to make some life altering decisions.
On Monday, I will be starting work, as an employee (for the first time since directing cars in the parking lot at the Stratford Festival as an early teen), with Toronto-based Architech. Architech builds kick ass software. They are a team of people who are extremely passionate about building amazing applications for business and I could never make the jump into a full-time position like this without sharing core beliefs and passions like I do with Architech. I’m confident we will have a bright future together.
Needless to say, I’m extremely excited, and can’t wait to see where this new direction takes me.
6 Comments to “The Dawn of a New Era”
It will be great to have you on board! Looking forward to working with you, Adam!
Adam, you couldn’t have picked a better bunch of guys to work with. I’ve known most of them for more that 10 years and have worked with many, both as colleagues and as a customer. I can honestly attest to the passion for quality that embodies Architech. David and Jungho have built and continue to build a world class business in the technology space and don’t just hire anyone so this speaks to your level of commitment and skill. I’m sure you will learn much from the group and contribute just as much back.
Oh, don’t let JT pee in your coffee. He’s not angry, just british.
Chris
Looks like an amazing opportunity and a great company to join. Their services and approach sound right up your alley.
Adam, it’s been a real pleasure to work with you over the past few years. It’s a very bittersweet moment, as I’m sad to lose your insight and skill, but am just super happy for you. This seems like a very good fit, and the timing is right for you. We all wish you the very best in your new adventure!
Adam, this is huge news! I totally missed it on Twitter but picked it up on my monthly stroll through friends blogs. Looks like an exiting opportunity you are a huge score for any company so well done Architech!
2009 The year of death and renewal how very Joseph Campbell
I can attest to the stubbornness, and as it all seems to have worked out, perhaps we can upgrade “stubbornness” to “determination”, a word with a less pejorative connotation. Congratulations….your work ethic and determination have paid off. The fact that you particularly value the opportunities to learn in your new position makes me particularly proud.