“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
– Ferris Bueller
Where does the time go? This is a question every parent has asked at some point.
I have two kids at home. My daughter Autumn (11) has been going to soccer tryouts recently. On the social front, she is already harbouring one boy crush that I’m aware of. My son Jayden (8), shares my love of strategy. Whether it’s an app or a board game, he always has a plan of attack. He’s also actively pursuing his love of music and dance.
Somehow my diaper changing misadventures have given way to managing the schedules of two very busy people. With children, you can’t afford to blink, otherwise you’re likely to miss some new development.
Which brings me to my other baby.
I’m the proud papa of a website design agency called Forge and Smith. The company turns three in April, and it feels like a true accomplishment. It’s not just impressive for a digital business to last this long, but any business. The company survived the terrible-twos, which, truth be told, weren’t all that terrible. In fact, the past year has been devoid of the usual drama associated with those growing pains. We’ve had some terrific clients and the team is starting to gel. No embarrassing temper tantrums were thrown, and no milk was purposely spilt. At least, to the best of my knowledge.
As any agency Principal will tell you, you can’t do it alone. I’ve managed to surround myself with the right people. We all pride ourselves on creating the best websites we can for our clients. Over the course of the past few projects, I feel my team has been knocking it out of the park. We’re currently in the midst of developing some of our finest work.
On April 1st, we busted out the goodie bags, balloons and bubbly drinks to celebrate our achievements. We collectively enjoyed a little bit of southern cuisine (okay, a whole lot) from Re-Up BBQ in New Westminster. Over the years I’ve learned the importance of acknowledging your successes. I’ve also discovered that developers and creative types are not immune to the charms of my mother-in-law’s chocolate cake.
Things are busy, and that’s the way we like it.
I recently attended the Canadian Internet Marketing Conference (CIMC 2015) in Squamish, and was able to connect with many of the sharp minds in attendance. I was there to speak on a panel about the future of website development. The two-day affair reminded me just how cool an industry this is. Everyday I have the opportunity to converse with people across a variety of sectors: sharing ideas and developing strategies. At this point, I feel like I’m doing exactly what it is I was meant to do. I’m a craftsman at heart and a sucker for innovation. The website design business has proven to be a wonderful hybrid of all my passions.
A lot of hard work has gone into getting to this point. It’s been a struggle at times, but it has also been a privilege. And so, with the utmost humility, I’d like to wish my company, Forge and Smith, a very happy birthday.
