How does one decide to leap and become and entrepreneur? Well … I’d say there are a few ways to decide; – you decide right after graduation to jump right in, (these are natural entrepreneurs) – Sometimes you gradually migrate that way, (these are people with entrepreneurial tendencies) – Other times maybe life decides forContinue reading →

Students want meaningful and relevant employment. Start-ups want energetic and enthusiastic employees. Sign up for SNS-12 is here: www.sns-12.eventbrite.com This is the premise of Students and Start-ups. We have had 11 previous events with 24 confirmed hires many of which are on our YouTube Channel (TheCodeFactory). There are 6 start-ups signed up for SNS-12: BlindsideContinue reading →

I’ll be speaking toward the end of February on transitioning to entrepreneurship and what to expect. The presentation will be turned into an ~15 part blog post series that I’ll start writing today. So … where to begin … well at the beginning of course. I like to use mind maps and find for aContinue reading →

This concept is likely tightly correlated to the Pareto principle. Basically 20% of your effort accounts for 80% of the result. Consider learning how to use a new software application. Usually acquiring that minimum level of knowledge (20% of the functionality) that provides access to 80% of the capability you need. Afterwards you learn thoseContinue reading →

Let’s start by looking back … way back. In 2001 Ottawa was a tier 1 technology center acknowledged as “Silicon Valley North” a world leader in Telecommunications, Semi-conductor … Tier 1 … World Class. Fast forward a decade and Ottawa is still in the news “Which Canadian city will be 2012’s Silicon Valley North” andContinue reading →

I received this picture in an email today entitled smart and I must say after reflecting on it a bit I am truly inspired. The sentiment I took from it was “Don’t work hard … work smart”. My initial reaction was great point it is important to work smart. The person in the picture thatContinue reading →

Long before starting TheCodeFactory I had blogged extensively about the challenges and opportunities facing the Ottawa Tech community. Topics covered everything from funding to entrepreneurial support systems. One of my favourite posts and IMHO one worth revisiting is called; The Entrepreneurial Hockey Analogy written on April 3rd, 2007 (roughly the same time as TheCodeFactory ahaContinue reading →

TheCodeFactory is excited to announce we have our first graduate. Ian Capstick and MediaStyle have grown from a single desk on the 2nd floor to a full office and studio on the 4th floor with plans to continue growing. We wish Ian, Travis, Sara, David and all the rest of the team much success asContinue reading →

This is the second in a series of blog posts on the inevitable change that is coming our way in the next couple of years. It is difficult and irresponsible to put a finite time frame on the gathering economic storm because the economy is irrational and sets its own schedule. Prior to the onsetContinue reading →

Change can be a great thing when you embrace it and go with the flow. I have observed a few changes that in my opinion will bring significant change to our fair city of Ottawa in 2012. Photo Attribution: Hurricane Rick / October 20, 2009 by Ani Carrington The first is at the macro levelContinue reading →