I began my journey into technology over 30 years ago, building clone computers. In my first job, I was handed a box of parts and told to assemble a computer—no instructions, no help. It was the first time I’d ever built one, and it took a long time (plus a little guidance from someone more experienced) to get everything assembled correctly and to boot.
That experience taught me something I still rely on today: how to troubleshoot problems when there’s no one around to save you. You learn quickly when it’s just you, the hardware, and your own stubbornness. That kind of problem-solving becomes a skillset—and it sticks.
Fast forward 30 years. I’ve started two companies, and I now work as an IT Director overseeing security, networking, and applications.
At one point, someone told me I’d eventually need to pick a single focus in IT. Maybe they were right. But my career has always evolved, and I still haven’t narrowed it down to one lane. Someday I might—but for now, I enjoy the variety and the multi-disciplinary approach I’ve built over time.
This blog is where I plan to share some of that journey: what I’ve learned, what I’m still figuring out, and the real-world lessons that don’t show up in textbooks or vendor slide decks—and definitely don’t show up in the “it’s easy” LinkedIn posts.