Transitions can be special times, full or grey areas, vieled agendas and often littered with misdirected intentions. They are almost always packed with adventure and, in my experience, incredible lessons. My recent forray into public companies was a fascinating transition though it proved to be extraordinarily brief - the long and short of it is that my public company vessel has now cast off and set sail back into the shark filled but more lucrative private waters. These are waters and reefs that I know well; I feel no desire to venture back into waters I've tread for so many years just yet. So I hoisted my anchor (thankfully not my petard!) and have set my sights on new land.

This month I joined a new venture - I like to think of them as a band of merry privateers - on a much larger ship as an Integration Architect. I'm joined by new friends (sadly none that actually have a boat, odd, no?) and some cool new problems. I'll be working on scaling out a very large, established marketplace into the cloud and new markets. I sense peg legs and tricorns in my future. It's occasionally surreal starting at a company that has around 5000 employees and a stone's throw from a billion a year in revenue. My small division here in Vancouver is a small island in the large company but one populated by all tech people which makes it a little like a small engineering firm.

Methodology is a fascinating thing in development shops. Most of my ventures have been fast agile startups. Agile in the development world is all about iterative, responsive development that's business driven; usually the leading edge of the business flows features right into development who makes them into reality. Dominion is more like an engineering firm because we have existing customers and, in some cases, whole markets that depend on us for their continued success. This means that spiffy new features take a distant second to functionality and stability. I'm enjoying the rigour and planning that go with such a beast. If we were real pirates, we'd be the Crimson Permanent Assurance kind.

On a completely unrelated note, I'd like to welcome Erin as my new life partner. *Erin takes a bow, audience applauds* It's safe to say that I'm loving sharing my living space again.

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For years I've been enmeshed in startups, enjoying the adrenaline filled funding cycles, wacky ideas, breakneck development cycles and incredible people. I've finally been tempted off the midway rides by a Vancouver post-startup, one45 Software. The promise of working on a mature project with a very large user base to solve problems that will have large societal impacts was a powerful pull. Couple that with smart people and a stable, revenue positive company in a funky heritage building and I was hooked.

I'm the new Sr. Developer at one45 and I'll be working on optimizing the delivery of medical education with the long-term goal of helping to design curricula that produces better doctors. It's a combination of efficient process optimization and predictive statistics - both of which have been recurring themes in much of the work I've done in the past. I find the prospect of working on code that is in wide production use to be very satisfying.

This also means that I'm working back in the downtown Vancouver core which makes me quite happy. There is something special about Vancouver's heart that resonates deeply with me, I can't quite explain it. It's a quiet energy that permeates the streets; unlike the high frequency buzz in Toronto, or the fast walking and driven movements of New York. Almost a fusion of the sharp Silicon Valley enthusiasm with a restrained, polite Canadian flavour. An admixture of bemused tourists, distracted suits and stoned neo-hippies. And, even better, my best friend is soon to be working but a few blocks away in Gastown. Really, what more could I have asked for?

This will be a less twisty but no less enjoyable road to follow, one that winds through old pastures and haunting grounds. A traveller returning home but with new eyes and vantages, seeing different things in the same vistas. I'm very grateful for the amazing people that joined me on the road this year as well as the ones I've parted with.

Comments

• October 16, 2010, Vincent Byfield writes: Good call, paud. :-)

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One third of my life is behind me. Looking back on my life I'm forced to admit that it has not been the smooth, brightly lit street I expected as a child. Instead it was a meandering cobble lined path, filled with adventures and ravines I would never have foreseen, with highs and lows that dwarfed my early guesses. I am both humbled and amazed at some of the experiences on the journey; at some of the truly amazing and profound people that have joined me for parts of it. This is a good time for contemplation; a wistful look back and a climb to the nearest hill to see what might be ahead.

The Road Behind

The journey started with the solid foundation my family gave me - it was a childhood that was unlike any other I have seen. My mother taught me to program at the tender age of 6; my father gave me the eternal gift of curiosity shortly after; my grandparents inculcated a deep sense of values and duty. From these beginnings, I have spanned the globe and taken flight in ways that none of us could have imagined. I have been graced with three women in my life that have reshaped and grown my view of the world by turns; I treasure them all deeply still. Danielle the stalwart companion and mirror; Elizabeth the muse and inspiration; Kathy the maiden and teacher. From all of these people I've learnt so much, done so many things, changed so much.

I have scaled urban mountains aligning lasers, experienced hidden religions, built super computers, engineered new lifeforms, walked paths thousands of years old, plumbed the depths of the mind and come back mostly sane. I have loved and lost many times, felt pain and joy I could not have imagined.

The Woods Ahead

Turning forward, where does the road lead? I have returned to my home to find out. I have given up predicting the future and am endeavouring to walk blindly forward. I know that I have had my best growth and learning where I least expected it. To sit in lonely contemplation and await the future is hard. So, I am looking for the next change, the next turn in the road. If I had my sparkly druthers I would ask for a loving, stable relationship, a full time job that keeps my interest, and a change of pace in life from the hectic start-up laden gallop to a slower more contemplative cantor.

So, without much ado, this next month of Summer shall be devoted to seeking a full time venture to captivate my mind and talents as well as a the occasional moment of peaceful rest. If you are reading this and remember time we have spent together on the path, drop me a note and we'll have a beer/coffee/virtual drink. If you think you might want to join me for a few turns, I am always glad for the company.

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
Robert Heinlein

Comments

• July 29, 2010, Vincent Byfield writes: Pretty amazing part one, my friend. I am looking forward to the next installments.
• July 30, 2010, Bruce Audley writes: Life's greatest reward is the jouney itself.
• July 30, 2010, Zephyr writes: Nice Heinlein quote. I've always liked that one.
• July 30, 2010, Don Parker writes: Patrick We spent a short time colaborating when our path crossed, I recognised your strengths, now you need to continue to apply them to pursue your next stage of growth, leverage the past. Happy Birthday
• August 14, 2010, Zephyr writes: Hey Patrick, I am curious about these hidden religions and engineered lifeforms. Wanna go for coffee sometime and tell me all about them?

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A Night at the Movies: Gran Torino

Gran Torino
Excellent movie, a clash of cultures and generations. I got a chance to see this with my family last week and it's on my must see recommmendations list now. The trailers were a little misleading with their portrayal of a typical Eastwood Dirty Harry persona. Eastwood's character, Walt, is amazing and deep - filled with racism and a product the American Dream (with all that entails, including war) he finds peace at the end of his life by reaching out to a young Hmong boy. Stunning acting and classic cinematography make Eastwoods last film incredible. Go see it. You'll have tears in your eyes at the end - we all did.
My rating: 4.5 stars

Comments

• January 12, 2009, Brenda May (Audley) writes: For the first several years of Patrick's life, I made Christmas decorations for our yearly tree. Ceramic, crocheted, stained glass, sewn - all reflected Christmas from a child's perspective. When Patrick has children, all of these decorations will be given to them, and hopefully, passed on again. Every year I wear my Christmas apron and oven mitts from Patrick's first Christmas too. We always celebrate Christmas morning with a champagne brunch. This year, we had a huge snowfall - what a surprise! Christmas is peaceful, and we try never to rush:) Lana is a real trooper! She seems to overcome evey obstacle put in her path. What a sweet kitty. Mom

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Comments

• August 23, 2008, Brenda May (Audley) writes: You never know how much stuff you really have until you move! I could not believe the amount of boxes we packed for Patrick's move to Calgary. He has moved before, but this time, almost everything was kept because Patrick bought everything new and of excellent quality. It was a very nice apartment with a great location, but moving on.............. I must say that I won't miss the hour commute from Richmond to Vancouver!

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Comments

• October 8, 2006, Brenda May writes: I really enjoyed meeting Kathy. She is a sweet and charming girl - very likeable and "down to earth." Her laugh is infectious!

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