What happens when a tech enthusiast with a 25-year IT career decides to walk away and pursue his own dreams? Welcome to Nuxxor Idea Forge. A place where ideas are generated, explored, and hopefully brought to reality. I’m Jay, founder, editor, builder, and janitor of the idea forge. Here’s my origin story.

My Origin Story

My passion for technology started early. In 1984, at the age of 10, I was introduced to computers with a Tandy 1000 from Radio Shack. I taught myself BASIC programming, sparking a lifelong fascination. In 1996, I graduated with a diploma in Computer Information Systems, which launched me on my way.

My IT career was diverse, spanning desktop, network, and server support, information security and PKI. I worked for various organizations, from small startups to tech giants, marketing firms, educational institutions, and government. While I’m proud of my career, there was always something missing.

The Missing Piece

During my professional career, technology also played a huge role in my personal time. I’ve always been passionate about innovation and the “next big idea” and started many personal projects that were cutting-edge, or even ahead of their time. I was building websites as early as 1995, considered blogging in 1998 (before it was really a thing), and adopted Linux as my primary personal OS since 2002. I had ideas for an online dropshipping e-commerce site in 2003, a reverse auction site in 2004, experimented with AI and sentiment engines in 2007, explored live stream video in 2010, and dabbled in crypto in 2014. However, none of these personal projects ever fully came to fruition.

A Hard Left Turn

So now, at 50, I’ve decided to take a hard left in my career. As I see it, it’s now or never to realize my own startup dreams. I’ve left the 9-to-5 grind that’s often disguised as “responsible and practical” and decided to forge my own path. Instead of dedicating my time and effort to building the dreams of others, I’m going to focus on exploring the world of tech on my own terms and bring some of my visions to life. Why? Great question.

The Why

I’m embarking on this journey to discover my own capabilities and explore my creative potential—to prove that I can create something tangible, bringing an idea from the ether into reality. More than that, I want to explore and learn about innovative technologies that truly interest me: AI, VR, blockchain, and HPC, to name a few. Ultimately, my biggest “why” is to share my knowledge and experiences with the next generation of tech entrepreneurs, perhaps helping and guiding them toward their own dreams.

“But how can you do that?” you might ask. On a philosophical and emotional level, I feel I have no other choice; it’s something I need to do for my own soul. From a skills perspective, I’m not entirely sure I can do this, and from a practical and financial perspective, I’m fortunate enough that it’s currently possible.

The First Big Project (and More)

So that’s the gist of things. How this will all play out is anyone’s guess. I do know that I currently have two project ideas that I am weighing in my head. One is a location-based mobile app—something I’d love to see exist in my own way…a way that generally isn’t currently being done. The other is a NFT project that is about solving a real world problem and not just a speculative money grab scam. Which ever I decide to pursue first will likely be my flagship project, but there will also be smaller projects and experiments along the way, all of which I’ll document and share here.

Join the Journey

I’m not an expert in any of this. Much of it will involve self-teaching and learning as I go. I hope you find value in my triumphs and victories, but also in my missteps and failures. Ready to take this journey with me? Subscribe to the blog for updates and join the conversation in the comments below!