Ok, so yesterday I saw some Lifehacker link to this cool sounding service, Preceden, which lets you chart timelines easily in an attractive manner. It sounded like something I could use for fun and business! So I scroll down the home page to take a peek at the goods and lo and behold, was an example timeline! It looked cool and had lots of stuff that lets you scroll to see more information.
I noticed that it was called "Autobiography" and figured this must be the founders own actual timeline, lets investigate a little closer to see how I match up to this guy! I could see right off the bat he was your typical smart guy U.S.A. startup scene techie, as he lived in Boston and San Francisco, and I also saw the comp sci masters! I can see he started dating some Jennifer, then got engaged and married after graduating...how typical, seems like the story of so many people these days and days past. Let's see when he got his start and how old he is; I scroll back a few years.
WTF? This guy's just a kid who was born a year later than me!? (ok, maybe 6 months, but still 84 to 85!) ...Something doesn't seem right, he's already got his masters and he is married and he's younger than me? WTF is that? I scroll back and notice that some how this kid started University in the motherfucking year 2000! I was near the top of my class through high school but at that point I (and some way way smarter friends[top UW engineers]) were still only going into grade 11 when he started, and then he's fucking done his Masters before I'm even done my undergrad?! Then he gets married? Well, I guess we've found one of those smart super kids or something who got into MIT at a young age I guess. Now I know those people exist out there, I've never met them and I mostly try to believe they don't exist, or if I do meet them, I'd just rather not know, but this just pisses me off! And to boot, somehow in the middle of his undergrad he took almost a complete year of vacation in Poland and still finished on time? Then he stays in Netherlands for at least a month or 2 right after getting married? Man that sure would be nice!
I wouldn't care if he made this site and was the same age as me or a year younger, but knowing that he's some super whiz kid to boot who's been all over the world doesn't make me as happy to try it out. The fact that he used his own life on the home page as an example either tells us two things: he didn't think much of it and didn't realize that he might alienate early adopters who think they're pretty awesome only to find out they suck compared to him OR he knows and wants to sneak it in there in a subtle and innocent way, such as using his own life as an example, like most of us might do!
It makes me feel like despite all that I believe I've accomplished so far I'm still nowhere near where this kid's at in life and he's younger than me! Now I don't think "I'm all that", I understand there are tons of far smarter and more ambitious people out there, and I'm fairly happy with where I'm at so far, but I don't think that most people like to run into those individuals who are seemingly so far ahead in certain ways that it just seems impossible! I'm sure there are much more successful systems I use everyday made by people like this kid, but they don't usually put it out there and let me know.
I think what bothers me as well is that it's just another example of some super whiz kid in the States who gets swept into the Valley and is seemingly successful, continuing to perpetuate the mythos of how super duper the Valley is and that's where all the great people go. As 90% of the stuff I read is startup related, and 90% of that is all about people in the Valley or from the Valley, it just makes it seem even more compelling than I know it actually is. I love Waterloo and want this to be a great place for startups; our own "Valley" in Canada. I know some people like to say that it is, but others who've been there know better and say it hardly compares.
I just did a bit of research and found the founder online, and it looks like he's always been some smart hacker kid and got to go through the Y-Combinator school (which would make most young entrepreneurs very jealous!). I don't actually hate this kid or anything, he seems very successful and I just wish that I could be that far ahead as well, I just don't like the (potentially) inadvertent boasting in this autobiography on his front page that when dug into seems unrealistic at first, but turns out to actually be true! No one likes having their bubble burst, and most people wouldn't care to know that kid invented that site, but it's a reminder to me that these are the types of people who I'm going to have to compete with on a daily basis when I go into business.
I want to show people that I can be just as successful* up here in Canada, far away from the Valley, and that I can do it despite not having a comp sci masters, multi-continent experience, and a wife by the age of 22.
It's a big world out there, and there are lots of smart and successful people, you just gotta be who you are and keep pushing for the top!
* I realize this kid hasn't actually hit it big yet, but I can see that he's very firmly planted on the roadway to getting there
Showing posts with label uw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uw. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, September 11, 2009
New UW Logos
I guess this new logo is starting to grow on me for it's specific purposes, and I just don't really care any more as the fires have calmed. As long as we still have official seal, this could help differentiate us, and it is definitely risk taking, which I do believe is in the spirit of Waterloo, so whatever, go for it! The whole fiasco is worth its weight in gold to draw attention to our university to increase our brand presence! They have however started looking for feedback on even newer logos!
Here are the 2 new UW Logos which I saved from the survey I took here. I'd suggest taking the survey to help them out.
I like to think this one makes me think of robots and fast scenes of electronics, motherboards, processors and chips: ie. incredibly nerdy and engineering like. I'm not sure I like the fact that it's hard to make out the E, so I don't immediately see it as Waterloo, but as WAT + RLOO, oh that's an E too.
This one just makes me laugh!Waterloo: A Sinking Ship!
I think they were probably going for tip of the iceberg, more than meets the eye thing, but I think it can be easily taken the wrong way, as noted above. Or it's a whale beaching!
Monday, July 27, 2009
How UW Logogate makes me feel as a recent Grad
I posted a rant in the facebook group a week or two ago, and instead of re-pasting it here, I thought I'd start anew, as new facts have come to light.
I still don't like the new logo, and it's getting justified by the upper levels (and with some of the comments it really feels like it's only coming out of academia land, which we all know generally has no real world experience) and while I do agree UW is all about innovation and risk taking, I guess this is just one of those things you wouldn't expect nor possibly want Waterloo to take a risk on.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems these days that youth want nothing to do with old, well established, prestigious brands, the kinds of brands our parents and even grandparents grew up loving, respecting and vying to be a part of. Youth like to turn away from what their elders like, they like to have something newer, something their own, something fresh and up to date, that excludes the "dinosaurs". Many youth want to rebel, which is pretty natural, and how do you do that best? By finding your own way, a way that isn't that of your parents. I know that when I was younger, many of my friends wouldn't want to be caught dead associating with their parent's brands (unless it was the alcohol they stole, and grew a strong affection for!).
Despite all that I did just say above though, there are exceptions to the rule. Education. You aren't just buying knowledge and experience, you are buying into a brand, a level of prestige and respect that comes with your decision. This is something that you will probably associate with for the rest of your life. Imagine you are or were that (perhaps only somewhat) rebellious teen. You start to grow a little out of that rebellious stage now, you are graduating high school, on the cusp of becoming a legal adult, and you are ready to start acting like one...well at least you are willing to start looking at those dinosaur brands again, because now you are more concerned with looking good and showing off (and being able to make maximum moola), and this is the only way you know how. You start browsing the education index for your best combination of education, culture, prestige, and opportunity. Many a youngster decide to follow in their parents' footsteps and go to their schools.
Many of the students I met while going through UW went to the university specifically for the reputation and prestige they'd receive upon graduating, of course they knew it was one of the best schools, co-op is great, but they wanted the backing of that recognized symbol, that symbol that perhaps their parents, or other adults they respect or admire associated with. These youths wanted the prestige that came with the dignified UW logo. I know it may sound bad, but going through the hell of UW, spending the $40,000+ on tuition and books, it gives you a sense of entitlement, which I've heard isn't uncommon in Generation Y. I know that after what I've been through, I feel accomplished, I feel that I worked hard for my reputation, and while I shouldn't be entitled to things for free, I should be treated with a greater level of respect as someone who got a degree in a school requiring a 95+ average to get into than the guy who went to a school requiring a 70+ to get in; I also feel like I can scoff at those institutions that offer educations advertised in cheesy commercials (which may or may not include tv/vcr repair). So how am I to feel when suddenly the logo that represents my feelings, my reward for my hardships, my educational legacy, and the level of respect I deserve, is transformed into something that would fit on the library shelf between DeVry and ITT Tech? I don't want to sound like an asshole who doesn't respect other people who took different paths than I did, or who didn't have high enough grades, because we all know that it doesn't really matter, but I do want to be associated with the brand I spent blood, sweat, tears and 5 years for and the perks that come with it.
Of course people will probably still realize that UW is one of the best, that it is an incredibly hard school and it's grads are war vets ready for taking on the world, but I don't think that message is clear, I think the signals get mixed with they see a capital W full of Lasers. UW shouldn't need to instill that kind of imagery with their logo, it should be doing it already, and if it's not, that I don't think the logo is the issue, I think it's something a bit deeper. Who tends to use the most trendy and imagery instilling of logos in the education field? Probably those who are trying to catch attention and attract people who like cool fast looking laser beams, thinking, holy crap, it's gotta be good if looks somehow futuristic! (They'll be disappointed when they realize it's just the cover art for the Math137 textbook).
Lasers, like robots, aren't the first thing that make me think of the future, especially when they've been talked about for longer than my parents have been alive and actually exist today.
What about all those people who have already graduated and are living off their reputations? Do they really want that changed on them? I sure as hell don't, and I only graduated last year! Suffice to say, I don't know if I'll be giving any donations when they decide to start calling me each year.
Perhaps kids are different now, and they want that flashy logo to attract them. Perhaps this is why Pepsi changed their branding and style? I can't stand the new Pepsi branding and I'm a Pepsi guy.
Some end notes:
Here's a hilarious video about UW Logogate.
If you do watch that video on Facebook from the administration explaining their process, be prepared for something incredibly dry, boring and slow. For a potentially exciting process, the speaker seems not excited at all and she sounds like she is reading out of a text book. I like to associate UW with passion, but there doesn't feel to be any in this process.
I also agree with the tweet from Jesse Rodgers here
I still don't like the new logo, and it's getting justified by the upper levels (and with some of the comments it really feels like it's only coming out of academia land, which we all know generally has no real world experience) and while I do agree UW is all about innovation and risk taking, I guess this is just one of those things you wouldn't expect nor possibly want Waterloo to take a risk on.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems these days that youth want nothing to do with old, well established, prestigious brands, the kinds of brands our parents and even grandparents grew up loving, respecting and vying to be a part of. Youth like to turn away from what their elders like, they like to have something newer, something their own, something fresh and up to date, that excludes the "dinosaurs". Many youth want to rebel, which is pretty natural, and how do you do that best? By finding your own way, a way that isn't that of your parents. I know that when I was younger, many of my friends wouldn't want to be caught dead associating with their parent's brands (unless it was the alcohol they stole, and grew a strong affection for!).
Despite all that I did just say above though, there are exceptions to the rule. Education. You aren't just buying knowledge and experience, you are buying into a brand, a level of prestige and respect that comes with your decision. This is something that you will probably associate with for the rest of your life. Imagine you are or were that (perhaps only somewhat) rebellious teen. You start to grow a little out of that rebellious stage now, you are graduating high school, on the cusp of becoming a legal adult, and you are ready to start acting like one...well at least you are willing to start looking at those dinosaur brands again, because now you are more concerned with looking good and showing off (and being able to make maximum moola), and this is the only way you know how. You start browsing the education index for your best combination of education, culture, prestige, and opportunity. Many a youngster decide to follow in their parents' footsteps and go to their schools.
Many of the students I met while going through UW went to the university specifically for the reputation and prestige they'd receive upon graduating, of course they knew it was one of the best schools, co-op is great, but they wanted the backing of that recognized symbol, that symbol that perhaps their parents, or other adults they respect or admire associated with. These youths wanted the prestige that came with the dignified UW logo. I know it may sound bad, but going through the hell of UW, spending the $40,000+ on tuition and books, it gives you a sense of entitlement, which I've heard isn't uncommon in Generation Y. I know that after what I've been through, I feel accomplished, I feel that I worked hard for my reputation, and while I shouldn't be entitled to things for free, I should be treated with a greater level of respect as someone who got a degree in a school requiring a 95+ average to get into than the guy who went to a school requiring a 70+ to get in; I also feel like I can scoff at those institutions that offer educations advertised in cheesy commercials (which may or may not include tv/vcr repair). So how am I to feel when suddenly the logo that represents my feelings, my reward for my hardships, my educational legacy, and the level of respect I deserve, is transformed into something that would fit on the library shelf between DeVry and ITT Tech? I don't want to sound like an asshole who doesn't respect other people who took different paths than I did, or who didn't have high enough grades, because we all know that it doesn't really matter, but I do want to be associated with the brand I spent blood, sweat, tears and 5 years for and the perks that come with it.
Of course people will probably still realize that UW is one of the best, that it is an incredibly hard school and it's grads are war vets ready for taking on the world, but I don't think that message is clear, I think the signals get mixed with they see a capital W full of Lasers. UW shouldn't need to instill that kind of imagery with their logo, it should be doing it already, and if it's not, that I don't think the logo is the issue, I think it's something a bit deeper. Who tends to use the most trendy and imagery instilling of logos in the education field? Probably those who are trying to catch attention and attract people who like cool fast looking laser beams, thinking, holy crap, it's gotta be good if looks somehow futuristic! (They'll be disappointed when they realize it's just the cover art for the Math137 textbook).
Lasers, like robots, aren't the first thing that make me think of the future, especially when they've been talked about for longer than my parents have been alive and actually exist today.
What about all those people who have already graduated and are living off their reputations? Do they really want that changed on them? I sure as hell don't, and I only graduated last year! Suffice to say, I don't know if I'll be giving any donations when they decide to start calling me each year.
Perhaps kids are different now, and they want that flashy logo to attract them. Perhaps this is why Pepsi changed their branding and style? I can't stand the new Pepsi branding and I'm a Pepsi guy.
Some end notes:
Here's a hilarious video about UW Logogate.
If you do watch that video on Facebook from the administration explaining their process, be prepared for something incredibly dry, boring and slow. For a potentially exciting process, the speaker seems not excited at all and she sounds like she is reading out of a text book. I like to associate UW with passion, but there doesn't feel to be any in this process.
I also agree with the tweet from Jesse Rodgers here
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