Mark Dowds

A Lifesytle of Adventure

It has been a while since I posted anything here as I have been doing more writing on the MileASmile and Brainpark websites. A couple of years back I made a personal vow that I would look for something adventurous to do everyday even if it only took 15 minutes. I have been true to doing this for the most part and wish I would have logged it all down. Well, there are somethings I couldn't write publicly about but it would have been good to have a record of events.

Adventure for me is when my heart pumps a little faster and I am reminded that I am still alive. Over this past season I have ridden motocross, jumped out of a plane, won an ultramarathon, ran 100 miles, biked Mt Diablo, Jetskied Shasta Lake, got a tattoo, sang karaoke, mooned a restaurant, turned 40 and laughed until my heart is content to name a few. I think I may start doing some shorter posts to log some of the stupid things I get myself into.

I hope that I can still keep this rolling as old as I become. I always want to be caught with a sparkle of mischief in my eyes. I have met too many people who get focused on money, career, fame, or wanting to be liked. I hope that I can continuously navigate around these things without getting stuck and boring. This post was prompted by someone who I haven't seen for 20 years asking about me and whether I was still "mad". The response is a resounding "YES".

For this next season I am not sure all I am going to try. I am doing my first triathlon next month and think I will try an IronMan somewhere within a year. This means I need to re-learn how to swim properly and buy a road bike and learn how to do that as well. On top of this I am noodling on a very stupid running adventure that will make 100 mile race look tame. All this will precede the day I get to ride a motorcycle around central and south america for 6 weeks.

Oh, forgot to mention. I do work as well.

The Ups and Downs of an Entrepreneur

It is rare that I blog about how I feel as I don't want to be seen as a big softie or too in touch with my emotions in case my big tough guy persona is shattered in the eyes of my friends. The truth is, many of my friends know I am a little bit mad and cope as best I know living through the ups and downs of starting businesses.

The ups and downs are more than financial. In fact so far I have found the financial aspect of having a lot and having little in various seasons not much of a concern. The toughest part for me is the adrenaline and unpredictability of getting a company built. This is where I make a strong differentiation on building a product and building a company. Building a product is not the easiest thing to do (at least getting it right is not easy) but it fades in comparison to the complexity, unpredictability and expense of building a company. Products are not expensive to create (I am primarily talking about web-based technology) but companies are.

If someone goes out with the mindset to build a product they will end up with something very different than the person who goes out to build a company. A company is a band of people who love to work together and want to create something together that has value in the marketplace. They are a team of people who share the load and remain dedicated to solve a problem and are not just out to get rich. Gathering a company like this is the real joy of entrepreneurialism yet the toughest part. It is tough because it necessitates the entrepreneur to give more away every day. The original idea has to die and become something more. Unless a seed dies it cannot bear fruit.

Two articles were brought to my attention this week which got me thinking about all of this:
My wife said this one by CNN explains me in a nutshell.

Another friend (@biffmon) sent me this link from Tim Ferriss' blog which really stood out to me. I have experienced this cycle many times and have hit the crash and burn of Stage 4 which is no fun whatsoever but necessary for the seasoning of any entreprenuer. This time around I appreciated the detail of Stage 3 and relate to it with Stage 5 in my sight. I really think the advice on what to do in each stage is wise.

So, yes I am a little mad but committed and not resistant to the journey. It makes a man out of you...(unless you are a woman and I suppose it does the equivalent whatever that is)

Ice Angels and All That Jazz

I just posted on the Creationstep blog today about angel investing and what is happening in Canada. Austin emphasized the point more articulately this evening so I thought it worth emphasizing both...

Conversations on Entrepreneurship 2

Just over a month ago 25 of us who connected on Facebook all met up for conversations on entreprenuership. We all decided that keeping the conversation going would be very worthwhile. This Thursday 12th June at 7.30pm (for an 8pm start) we will meet again at Indoor Playground (364 Richmond St W). There are 41 who have signed up to attend from within the Facebook Young Entrepreneurs group. If you would like to know don't be afraid to comment here or email me. It is an open group and all who are interested in entrepreneurship in Canada are welcome to attend. It is an open evening without lectures.

Bring your own beverage of choice

Conversations on Entrepreneurship 2

Due to the raging success of our last gathering at Indoor Playground a couple of weeks ago we have decided to meet again for more conversations on what it means to be an entrepreneur in Canada. This evening is open to anyone who deems themselves as an entrepreneur who is willing to contribute their ideas and issues. We have posted an event on Facebook within the Young Entrepreneurs group so if you partake in the Facebook carnage feel free to sign up and contribute. The event is an open space style where the various people post topics that are most relevant to what they are facing and we take it as far as it goes to see what emerges. The group is a mixture of non-profit, traditional, and technology based start-ups and independents who have stepped out to make a difference in the world. All are welcome.

June 12th at 7.30pm for an 8pm start
Indoor Playground 364 Richmond St W
Bring your own beverage...

What a Great Night

Thursday night at the Playground was excellent. There were 25 of us in total I believe. Most of us where there for around 8pm meeting one another, sipping the odd beverage, and having a good laugh. Just before 9pm we eventually got ourselves organized into a large circle and confessed our ideas, interests, and issues like a highly functional AA group. There was a very interesting and diverse group representing technology, web, energy, fashion, charitable, and traditional industries. We had markers and paper in the middle of the room and a bunch of people chose their topics and people signed up to what interested them with only one rule which allowed everyone contribute and float from group to group.

The conversations were engaging enough for me to wonder why we have not done this before. There were great ideas being thrown out, built on, as well as diverse opinions. Enough to say we are going to do it again and keep the conversation going. For now the conversation threads and group cooperation is within facebook on a group called "young entrepreneurs". If you are a facebook member and interested in joining in the conversation just join and start contributing.

After the next meeting we will be setting up our own forums and online discussions in a way that will work better for us. This will be a place where we will capture issues, problems, and ideas in a way that can enable us all as a group to bring opinions and support. 

My name is Mark and I am and entrepreneur...