Innovating with AI - from 12-year-old coder to founder

Hey there,

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I don’t like being the center of attention.

Yes, part of my job is being “on stage” for my clients, students and employees. But I’m not inspired by the spotlight – instead, my goal is to use my position in life to raise up the people around me.

You’re busy, though, so here’s the TL;DR on the last 3 decades:

• I started coding in the ‘90s, when I was 12 years old.
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• That set me up for a career in tech and publishing, and I entered that world at the perfect time, starting my first company in 2005 – which meant I would thrive even through multiple recessions.
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• Since then, I’ve sold startups, acquired companies, been featured in WIRED and TechCrunch, and worked with clients like Harvard, Marriott and The World Bank.
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• Most recently, I built and launched my first AI-powered software product in less than a month – from concept to customers.

Sure, I work hard, but who doesn’t?

Unlike a lot of CEOs out there, I am very aware that luck and timing were huge factors in getting to where I am today.

So now that I’m 20+ years into my career – as a tech employer, a non-profit director, and a dad – my days are focused on how I can use my good fortune to give back and empower others.

That’s why everything I do – in life and business – is about promoting other people and helping them reach their potential.

That starts at my software design and development firm, HDC.

Since I never really enjoyed working at other companies, I wanted to make my company different – one where I’d genuinely want to work, even if I was the intern rather than the owner.

So I crafted a set of rules and policies that intentionally take power away from me (the employer) and empower my team instead:

• Everyone gets equal, transparent pay. There are no secrets, and nobody gets paid more or less than their peers in the same role.
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• Everyone gets a profit share – so they directly benefit when the company succeeds.
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• Nobody has to ask for permission to take time off. If you have a paid time off balance, you can use it tomorrow, and the boss has no veto power over your schedule.
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• Everyone gets paid overtime, no matter what. Lots of tech companies push their employees into 50 and 70 hour weeks without extra pay – instead, we legally require everyone to get paid extra if they exceed 40 hours.

The result?

A happy, healthy workplace where my team can be their best selves – without needing to be in a constant battle for dignity against a boss who’s concerned only about the bottom line.

Question for you though – where are you now in the journey we call life?

• Working as a full-time employee?
• Freelancing?
• Running your own startup or agency?

Always curious to learn more about the folks who take the time to read because we’re all on this journey together.

See you next time,

– Rob from Innovating with AI
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​PS. Our coaching and consulting programs aren't open right now, but if you're interested in being the first to know when they're available, click the topics that interest you to join the waitlist:

• ​Find Your Next AI Idea – learn how to combine your unique subject-matter expertise with AI and generate a pipeline of AI ideas that are unique to you (and hard for others to copy)
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• ​Launch Your AI Product in 30 Days - learn the AI founder mindset, fast validation and launch, go from idea to paying customers in weeks
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• ​Speed Up Your Office Workflows with AI - speed up your daily processes so you can make your work more efficient, saving 100s of hours per year with AI workflows​
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• ​Personalized Consulting with Rob to Build AI Into Your Business - business owners / execs only