A new era begins

Today is a day of mixed emotions. Today I resigned from IBM having been there for 18 years, 19 if you count my year out from university.
In all that time I have worked with some great people, and felt a tremendous sense of belonging.
Its been quite a journey, both in technical education and in personal growth. It is the extent of that growth and the speed that has not always been kept up to pace with by the system that I worked within.
I started back on green screens in 1990, very quickly moved to the PC’s and client server applications that followed shortly. Over the years the groups I worked with morphed from back office systems to customer facing ones, but in 1997 I made a break from what was traditional IT development. I threw myself into the web and the fantastic Interactive Media Centre. That itself morphed into the centre for e-business innovation but the group of people were known as Blueroom. An ecletic mix of can do people, graphic designers, producers and techies all bundled into one. That taught me that diversity of skills, coming up with ideas on the spot and good old fashioned teamwork for a common cause were what I thrived in.
For me that was the start of who I have become, the birth of epredator if you like.
When I decided that we should look in to the metaverse with Second Life back in 2006 I knew the industry was going to be big, but I was not expecting the evolutionary changes to happen to me. Getting this going turned me into a intrapreneur. The speed with which my fellow eightbars rallied and the spirit of innovation, just getting things done was simply amazing. It is something we should all be immensely proud of.
In leaving IBM I am not leaving eightbar, it is not something that can never really be left. The focus may change but I think we have made a decent enough mark in the history of virtual worlds.
Of course the question is what next? I left in order to be able to carry on and push this industry further. So in a few weeks you will see the birth of my own company, and I will seek to work and advise, speak and write just as I have done up to now. There are some significant projects that I already need to give some attention too.
There is, as I have told a few people, quite a story to tell on all this. The personal ups and and downs, the formation of our tribe and I suspect I will have to write that book after all. It will probably be called “Who says Elephants can’t Rez” or something similar.
So a huge thankyou and goodbye to all my friends, and thankyou for the support on twitter and see you all on Linkedin
I will also post this on http://www.epredator.com
See you all out there very soon.
***Update Feeding Edge is now live here, my new home

56 thoughts on “A new era begins

  1. I suppose even those of us a long way out on the periphery suspected this was in the pipeline. Good luck with the new venture – you’ve been a great ambassador for IBM and (with your eightbar chums) epitomised their innovation credentials.

    Hmmm.. that sounds like stuff I might write in a Leaving Card – but that’s not really the case here. From my PoV, it’s less about “leaving” and more about “moving”. Looking forward to keeping in touch – All the best for the Future… and indeed, for the Present.

  2. All the very best with your move Predator ! It is not easy out there but then again, it isn’t in here neither… πŸ˜‰ Above all else, have fun and keep in touch !

  3. ReactionGrids team appreciates the legacy of epredator & eightbar and welcomes you to the independent community of virtual world developers. This has got to be a scary time for you but when things settle down I am sure your new path will be something you never regret.

    Predlets, your dad is making a bold move but he is going to do fine!
    Kyle “G” fellow virtual traveler…

  4. Fella, what can I say… shocked but not surprised. Have been watching your threads with interest and got an inkling that one day the corporate machine would hold you back… which isnt necessarily IBM’s fault. I shall watch this space, and if you are ever down in Portsmouth and want to have a lattefrappocinodoublemocha with another ex-blue start up runner feel free to drop me a line.

  5. Ian, great news, good to see you’ve taken the chance to really establish yourself in an exciting field! Good luck, look forward to hearing more on twitter!

  6. On behalf of the industry, thanks for all of your hard work on raising the bar for virtual worlds. We all look forward to your next steps, and know that your Predatorial creative genius will be best served in the wild, like all preds. πŸ™‚

  7. Echoing the blog and twitterstream, I was lucky to have our paths cross at IBM and wish you all the very best in you next career steps.

  8. Awww ePred… indeed very mixed emotions here too… not :O though both πŸ™ and πŸ™‚
    I know you will soar out there also. Congratulations.

  9. Karl,

    Congrats and wishes for great success with your new venture!!!!

    Regards,
    Diane

  10. Ditto on all the above. While the world slumps into depression (!) there’s still plenty of opportunities out there for those of us prepared to work hard – you always achieved a level of corporate dedication that i could never muster, so i’m sure your own ventures will be an amazing success! If there’s anything i can ever help you with, just shout..

  11. Hey,

    You’ll do very well in the new venture, very ery best of luck an do stay in touch on MSN an Facebook etc etc . Sad for IBM to have someone as great as you to leave, but on a personal touch – good for you as long as you are happy!

    Michelle
    x

  12. Ian, I applaud your conviction for taking that first step off the mothership. IBM’s loss is surely the industry’s gain. Best of luck, and I’m sure we will see much more of ePred in the future!

  13. Ian,

    Congrats on making it thru IBM. There are many who get lost on that journey. You should be an example of taking the best ideas and turning them into something that can work.

    Michael

  14. Yo ePredator with the increase in a need for virtual events as the recession cripples companies budgets I can’t think of a better time to start your own business focusing on virtual world environments. As I look back to the early days of this incredible journey we all took together I remember just how big an impact you personally made on the world to move this space forward.

    The Metaverse is no longer a distant vision it’s now within everyone’s reach and I can honestly say IBM would not have started on this journey if you had not been steering the ship.

    Go Get EM ePredator

    See you in the metaverse.

    Nink

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  16. Let me put on my sunglasses here so I can see what I’m doing. Of course, that would be Parliament Funkadelic…I can’t type as my ears are still ringin’

    Peace

  17. Ian, I truly wish you the best in your future endeavors.

    It has been an honor and privilege to have known you in Second Life and I look forward to being part your future fan base as you go on to do even greater things.

    You’re an inspiration to more than you probably realize.

    Jon Sisk, aka Rorok Longstaff

  18. yeah, the vibe seemed to inevitably point to something like this. good luck in your upcoming ventures and do keep in touch, you know where to find me. And when you have something to show, you know I’ll be interested πŸ™‚

  19. Ian, Wow… I’m just catching up on this. Man, a hearty congratulations, though I can’t say we won’t miss you here behind the firewall, so to speak. Good luck with the new venture… I’m looking forward to hearing all about it.

    Hursley seems to be getting lonely!

  20. Ian,
    man, it’s been quite a ride. I’m so pleased to have been here and tagged along for a bit of it here and there from time to time and been part of your brilliant ground breaking work with virtual worlds and SL.

    you get it and so i have every confidence that you will get on with it – godspeed to you. rez onwards epred!

  21. All the best, mate. I’m sure it will go well…..and don’t forget to have some fun!

  22. What can I say that has not been said Ian? Except perhaps “Mead!”

    It seems as though the life’s blood of what metaverses meant and mean to the company are lost now, superseded with the face-makers.
    Thanks for getting me involved in the first place hero, for reviving my imagination and belief that new things can happen in the land of dinosaurs.
    You renewed my faith… so any way I can help you, you only need to ask.

    Best of luck pred.

  23. That’s an excellent move you’re about to make.. Moving towards something, rather than away from something… It looks like you’re on a really exciting journey, and in this ever hyper connected, global, yet virtually local world, I can’t think of anyone better positioned to help birth some really exciting developments, which I’m sure have been bubbling away for some time now.. Good luck with the launch of what I’m sure will be an extremely successful career πŸ˜‰

  24. Ian – best of luck in your new adventures! Thanks for your vision, and passion and perseverance.

  25. It’ll be a huge loss for IBM but best of wishes to you. I’m looking forward to ongoing amusing anecdotes about predlets…

  26. Ian

    Great news for you! I’m sure this is just what you need πŸ™‚ Its sad to see someone I’ve worked with for so long leave, but good to know its the right thing for you. It has been a pleasure to work with you over the last 13 years, and the Wimbledon experiences will never be forgotten!

    To echo the fat controller… when’s the pissup? πŸ™‚ I’ll do my best to get back from Helsinki in time!

    Ricky

  27. Good luck and thanks for taking us at IBM into the metaverse.
    Make sure you get connected to the GreaterIBM to share your experience and benefit from the community in your enterprise.
    Best wishes.

  28. Why am I always the last to find out? (My own fault for not following twitter as religiously as I should although I did spot an auspicious looking post after we last spoke at the British Library event – I found out from LinkedIn in the end). Enough sour grapes from me – Congratulations Ian. I wish you every success in your new venture. You are one of the pioneers of the new disruptive frontier. To infinity and beyond!

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