Essays
All articles
Thoughts on software, productivity, and the slow work of figuring out how to live well.
Measurement is Not the Goal (and Sleep Anxiety is Real)
Those of us who like data try to measure everything. But what if that’s counterproductive? Measuring things is not the goal. This post explores when and what we should be measuring, using the example of sleep anxiety.
My Favourite Style Companies & Products
My go-to apparel and style brands for quality, durability, and timeless design—including the specific products I wear most and why they've earned a permanent spot in my wardrobe.
Stop Criticizing Positive Change
Many people want to improve themselves. Our natural tendency when people attempt to make a change is to find the faults, the imperfections. You must fight this habit.
Techstars Week 2 - Settling In
Learnings from Week 2 of Techstars Boston, covering the start of Mentor Madness, adjusting to the intense accelerator pace, and early lessons on startup focus and prioritization.
Techstars Boston Week 7 - Fundraising
Lessons from Week 7 of Techstars Boston focusing on fundraising strategy, cap table structure, and how to approach early-stage investors with confidence.
Techstars Boston Week 8 - Enterprise
For whatever reason, this week the workshops focused largely on enterprise-oriented companies, and the Founder Stories happened to come from two people involved with an enterprise-focused company. From a general standpoint, this week has been about growth. Companies are spending a lot of time working out their strategy for the next 6-12 months, and which direction they will head after Techstars.
The 4 Things You Need for a Great Remote Work Setup
Remote work is here to stay. To make it productive, you need to make sure you have these four things in place. If you do, it will be almost like being in person!
Techstars NYC Week 1 - Preparation
My plan was/is to write a post every week during my time here in Techstars NYC – we’re currently starting Week 6, but I plan to catch up.
Startup Failure - Why I Left My Startup
The difficult decision to leave the startup I founded through Founder Institute Montreal—lessons learned about co-founder dynamics, market timing, and knowing when to walk away.
Why Positive Constraints Are So Valuable
I haven't managed to write nearly as much as I'd hoped for the past several months, but for good reason. After Techstars finished, I did a bit of traveling to visit some friends in Europe, and then headed back home to Nova Scotia. I ended up staying longer than planned - it's difficult to leave Nova Scotia in the summer (check out this video to see what I mean). Ultimately though, it was one of the best summers in recent memory.
Why You Should be Buying Solar for Your Home (2018 Update)
Solar prices have dropped, new incentives are available, and it makes more sense to install solar than ever. Just how much sense? In this post I examine the payback period of installing solar panels in the Canadian climate, and provide tools to calculate the cost for your own situation and location.
Writing and Stuff
The first post on my blog! This explains a bit about what I'd like to accomplish in my writing here.