Business and Technology

When I started my business I was using an IBM T42 that I "borrowed" from my dad. I did not know the value of a proper system to work with to interface with my ideas. 

The paramount activity in business is Communication. If one cannot communicate with clients, you will not get business. Simple. 

Entrepreneur - Computer - Web - Client

In the last 5 years I have bought a series of PC's and all of them realized an incredible ROI for my business. I was finally able to understand the value and the impact of technology in my business.

I purchased a MAC Air in February, and the return on that system is even greater than all of the past computers together. In only 5 months, I was able to transfer my ideas to a computer, organize my information, and most importantly I was better able to communicate with clients. 

I just acquired an iMAC with incredible capabilities, I am so excited to be able to see the results on this whole system.

Consultant + Technology = Powerful Solutions

Dinner with the U2 Snowbirds

On Friday night (May 27th) as I proceeded to have dinner with friends, we were introduced to a great group of pilots. Andrew, Gary and Al, were all veteran and experienced pilots who had international air missions around the world. I was amazed by how these pilots shared their passions and life experiences with us. They even shared with me how they would synchronize the right moment at which they would fly over the U2 concert here in Winnipeg. 

My passion for learning how to fly is still very much alive today, Gary shared with me that many times he had to go to work and do a bunch of paper work and deal with office matters, but that knowing that he would get to fly was worth all the hassle. He shared with me that he a sense of accomplishment knowing that he had served his country and flown over most of the skies in this vast world.

I got their names, we exchanged cards, but I never asked for a photo of the whole group. I somehow feel like the momento was not completed without it.

Lastly, sharing that moment with my good friends was pleasurable and unique as you just do not get to have dinner with the snowbirds that would fly over the U2 concert everyday.

NO PHOTO FOR THIS ONE.

My First Post

This is it! My first post. 


It all started when my dad got our first computer, or should I say, his computer. It was in 1986, Yes I was 5, and my dad was already buying IBM's. The computer had mostly games, some kind of pacman, in fact pacman would've been way too advanced for this computer. It wasn't until 1989 when dad brought a computer that had paint, and a mouse. I remember jumping right away into it, and dad saying: "Allen this is not a game". I was his son, but by no means stupid, I recall thinking that I saw paint as the perfect game. And when he was gone I would be making circles, jotting, penciling, erasing, doing it all again... and again. 

My dad made his millions selling ATM's and selling complex computers to the biggest corporations in Mexico. And I kept on playing with the computers. We were the first ones to always get the newest computers. People would say that I would be a millionaire in the computer world, but these people didn't know that even though I knew everything about a computer, that my brain was just not wired nor was interested  in complex arrays. 

My dad encouraged me to learn science, as he was the greatest engineer I have ever known. He is the most educated, most charismatic man I have ever met. He was talking about computer networks and teaching me about it since I can remember. When I was first able to connect with him on the phone about 9/11 he knew and told me that Al-qaeda was responsible for what had happened, he is that educated and aware of the world. I loved science. And I learned it. However, I was mostly interested in people. The more interested in people I was, the more people seemed to shy away from me. So I always felt challenged socially. 






When I would leave to school, my Mom would yell, Allen you are a leader! My lunch and my bag was always well equipped, in fact I always had enough in my bag to give it all alway. Somehow I always managed to lose all things my parents would give me. And get in serious trouble for it. I must've been so excited to share it with my little buddies. What my Mother was trying to give me was way more complex than anything else I was able to understand. 


And that's the way it went. I played catch up to learn what my Mother was trying to teach me. Until this game ended. My Mother died when I was 18. She managed to hang on for years battling cancer, until I was a legal adult. 


It is since she left, that I have been playing catch up.




I have a Bachelor in Commerce from Canada. It is the place that seemed the most sane at that large University I went to. This was the only place where they would combine numbers with people, and the only place in University where they would teach me about this Leadership thing my Mother always seem to talk to me about. 


For the first time in my life I have been able to grasp the value of Leadership, and the value of understanding the processes involved in engineering a solution. I have done so by being a Management Consultant or providing a Professional Service. I can only say that I have a grasp on Leadership, because of the results that I have delivered to all of my 9 amazing clients I have had since I started this journey, and the 50+ people that I have provided with a job. 


I was inspired by my friend Dan Nord to write my first blog, as I was able to learn more amazing things about Dan than the usual human ability to communicate would've allowed me to. 


I only hope that I get to inspire others to share something about their lives, and transfer their knowledge with others. This way what we have in our brains is not all going to waste. 


My final comment is that, this way of sharing feels more free, than the chicken cage Facebook is. 


Allen Ortega