The Real Journey
Not a resume. Not a LinkedIn bio.
Just the honest, unfiltered story of someone who spent 20+ years tinkering, 10+ years marketing, and is now building for real.
The Journey Timeline
From floppy disks to TypeScript. From marketing campaigns to React components. Click any milestone to see the full story.
DOS, Duke Nukem & Discovery
Started like most kids in the 90s - installing Duke Nukem from floppy disks using DOS commands. Super Nintendo, desktop PCs, figuring out how systems worked. That childhood curiosity about 'how things ran' never left. It just evolved.
Digital & Social Media Advertising
Spent years in the trenches of digital advertising and social media marketing. Learned what connects with people, what drives engagement, how to communicate in a noisy world. But something was missing - I wanted to build, not just promote.
From Campaigns to Code
I decided to merge everything - the technical fluency from decades of tinkering (Linux, Windows, macOS, terminal-comfortable), the marketing instincts from advertising, and the desire to create something personal. Not a pro, not a newbie. Code-agnostic and ready to learn.
Putting It All Together
Took all those years of 'playing around' and turned them into something real. Learned modern frameworks, embraced AI tools, built projects that matter to me. Combined marketing intuition with technical execution. Started documenting the journey for others like me - mid-career shifters who aren't following the traditional path.
Living the Craft Daily
Now I build with Next.js, React, TypeScript, and AI-assisted workflows. I bring a unique lens: understanding users from advertising, technical chops from a lifetime of curiosity, and the hustle of someone who's done this the non-traditional way. The journey never ends - and that's exactly how I like it.
Tech Stack Evolution
How my technology toolkit evolved from DOS commands to modern TypeScript
The Phil Factor
Lessons from a real builder
My cousin Phil has been a constant influence throughout my journey. A CCIT graduate from UofT with distinction in Computer Science and Programming.
I watched him graduate and immediately launch his PC business. No corporate safety net. Just pure hustle and technical expertise. I participated in that journey—learning the hardware side, seeing what it takes to build something from zero.
Today's Reality:
$10M+ annual revenue
10-15 employees • Growing yearly
Phil showed me that the path from "tech curious kid" to "successful builder" isn't about following a script. It's about applying what you know, staying curious, and not being afraid to create your own lane.
Key Lessons from Phil
Technical excellence matters, but execution matters more
You can have the cleanest architecture in the world. If you don't ship, it doesn't matter.
Start before you're "ready"
Waiting for the perfect moment means never starting. Learn by building real things.
Scale comes from solving real problems consistently
$10M+ revenue didn't come from one big win. It came from showing up every day.
Stay connected to your roots
Phil helped me understand hardware. I help others with code. Mentorship flows both ways.
📸 Through The Years
From floppy disks to modern frameworks - a visual journey
First PC - Where it all began
Early days of digital curiosity
Phil's PCs - Learning the hardware
What I Stand For
The core principles that guide every line of code, every project, every decision
Purpose Over Polish
Beautiful code means nothing if it doesn't solve real problems.
Reality check: I prioritize function first, then make it shine. Done beats perfect.
Experiment Fearlessly
The best way to learn is to break things.
Reality check: I embrace failure as a teacher and iterate until it works. Every bug is a lesson.
Build in Public
Sharing the process helps everyone grow.
Reality check: Transparency builds trust. Wins, losses, and lessons - all shared openly.
Ship Fast, Improve Always
Done is better than perfect.
Reality check: Get it out there, get feedback, make it better. Velocity matters more than perfection.
The Story Continues...
This isn't the end - it's just the current chapter.
Every project teaches something new. Every mistake makes me better. Every connection reminds me why I do this.
"Not a 10x engineer. Not a rockstar developer.
Just someone who genuinely gives a damn about building things that matter."
The best part? We're just getting started. 🚀