TheWriteID wasn’t right for me.

I have to admit it. Although I still believe the TheWriteID concept is the best idea I’ve had so far (to stay politically correct; just below proposing to my wife and the decision to have kids). It is one I cannot realize by myself. Some say it’s fine to fail often and that it’s fine to fail fast. But still, it hearted me more than I was hoping.
What stroke me most is that although I was passionate about the idea, hardcore believer and evangelist, and the basic ideas were feasible but hard to realize I could get people enthusiastic for just a brief moment. I guess these were the momenta I’ve spent with them. I realize now – all these people have other priorities, other obligations, other worries than to change the world.

But okay, I have to thank them because they are worth it. A shit load of people who gave me advice, made and broke stuff or at least tried to get things moving. I could make a list but it’s a long list and I would want to forget anyone. I know who did. And that what matters.

So, thank you, guys.

For those who didn’t know about TheWriteID, here below you find the scope in brief and how Frank & I thought we found all elements independently existing from each other.

TheWriteID is a work in progress, both as a technical solution and as a commercial offer. It aims to be the identity layer on top of the internet with the sole and only goal to regain control over one’s online and digital identity by extracting it from current networks & services. The best part of TheWriteID is that the data is encrypted locally so we can’t read out the identity data itself, unless a user decides to share it. We aim to make true identity manageable and re-usable for other networks and services, by introducing variable personas.

In essence, we wonder how we can evolve from an internet of connected devices to a truly internet of connected people? TheWriteID aims to get us from the era of connected contexts to one where users are free to handle their identity and all its slight variations with who they want/like/decide.

Digital identity, as it could have been: www.TheWriteID.com.

If you feel like doing something with it – go ahead!
Keep me posted. I’ll be your first ambassador.

From student to professional life: my theory of grabbing opportunities.

In fact, it’s a practical approach. Let me try to explain this simply; I’ve always been some kind of creative entrepreneur. Without much hesitation, but a lot of youngful enthusiasm I threw myself in trying to do all kinds and sometimes silly stuff. It all started with radio…

Some personal innovation irritation.

This might sound a bit harsh and perhaps I shouldn’t write this down as I’m still trying to find (financial) support for our project and cause but on the other hand, why not…

Governmental innovation supporting instances lack vision and understanding of what true innovation is. Innovation is rather hard and difficult to evaluate. I don’t get their metrics as they don’t get my concept. From experience I can already ask, without knowing these people very well, nor personally, nor professionally, do they have clue?

Marketoonist.com

People move me. Big time.

I have no longer a team I direct. It’s a weird feeling. I’ve had been in charge of some people before but never I had expected it would crawl under my skin. Building an offshore business wasn’t easy. I worked day and night, I stood up with it and went to bed with it. And often did I think of them and what they did and who they were. I also wanted to get under their skin. And I wanted to make them better in what they really wanted to achieve. I grew the team within a year from 2 to 9 people in a healthy pace. Not all my hires were equally successful but most of them were at least good enough and always offered perspective in some way.

I left the team for holidays almost 8 months ago and – much against my own advice – I never got back in charge of the team. I’ve send them a quick but meaningful and motivational “So Long, Suckers!” speech e-mail which I know they appreciated.

Two of my favorite hires, one because of potential, the other because of talent just left the company one week from each other recently. And I got a little goodbye e-mail which moved me tremendously. I never saw myself as a boss but I tried to be the best boss for each and everyone in the team. Now I know for sure it was the right thing to do:

Hey Mr. T,

FOSDEM inspired me.

I attended FOSDEM, the biggest free and non-commercial event organized by and for the community. Its goal is to provide Free and Open Source developers a place to meet.

Not another ex-smoker.

I’ve lighted up my last sigarette in 2011. To be more precise, on December 31 9.33pm. I’m glad I did so. But I also miss it. That me-time, those little reflection moments in which i decided on what to do next or when juggling options. Just being outside for 7-8 minutes. Those speedy breaks helped me to keep focus. I don’t do them any longer. Those breaks I can still use, but the sigarette became superfluous.

Most of the people I know see me as a smoker. They know me as a ‘roller’, with little leaflets and Tigra Tobacco. Some are surprised when I tell them I’ve stopped, some think it’s normal. But no-one really cares. It’s something I do for myself too. Otherwise it wouldn’t work. Nobody notices it spontaneously, only smokers who are looking for a smoke buddy and see I’m not lighting up anything. Perhaps I need to bleach my teeth…

I believe it’s normal not to smoke. It’s dead simple. Smokers aren’t healthy and yes smoking kills. It can ruin your life and influence the ones of those you love. I’m convinced that I’ve made the right choice with stopping. But i’m not an ex-smoker. I love smoking. And I will enjoy smoking occasionally. I love the ritual. But for now, I needed – and still- need to know I can stop smoking. It seems like it though. That’s why I can now tell you how I did it.

Appreciation and things to think about.

It has been one of those days. You certainly have them too. You came back from holidays. You’re happy that the world kept turning and all of a sudden, small things go wrong, they don’t look like small things any more and all of a sudden, you think: What? How did that happen? When? Why? What the … should I do? And why the … do I need to fix this?!

I tweeted the simple question without any context: “What should I do?” and three people returned great answers: