20 Years of PsiMac
20
years ago, I realized I had a knack for helping people with technology and decided I would try to make it my livelihood.
First, I approached my employer (an Apple Specialist in Westport) about my career goals. If they weren’t able to meet my compensation needs, I would give them my two weeks’ notice. Two weeks? Try two minutes! They didn’t want me seeing clients if I’d be leaving the company.
Suddenly I realized I’d quit my job!
Nan’s Legacy
In retrospect, it made perfect sense for me to start my own company. My mom and dad were both self-employed, and my grandmother, Helen – the first female driving instructor in Connecticut – had been a business owner for over two decades by the time I was born. Between driving lessons she would hurry over to visit me, her first grandchild. Her entrepreneurial spirit made an impression on me since before I could walk, let alone drive.
So when I found myself jobless and with no business plan, I got to work. I made flyers and posted them on bulletin boards at local markets. I made business cards and left them in the pages of computer guides at nearby bookstores. And as a courtesy, I called Ellen, a customer of my former employer, to let her know that I had left the company; they would be sending someone else to meet with her that week.
Ellen’s Encouragement
Ellen didn’t want somebody else and asked what I would be doing instead. I said, “I think I’m going to try to start my own consultancy.” Ellen asked if we could keep our meeting, and in that moment, I received the encouragement that I needed to proceed.
June 16, 2004 🗓️
The date of that first meeting 20 years ago is when we celebrate the anniversary of PsiMac.
Keep reading to learn more about our history…
To commemorate two decades in business, we’ve designed some PsiMac logo merchandise.
Help us celebrate our 20th Anniversary in style!
Early Champions
Along with Ellen, who holds the honor of our longest-term client, and longtime friend, I’d like to acknowledge and express my deepest gratitude to some of the other clients and friends whom I’ve had the pleasure and honor to support for the last two decades and counting: Ben & Trudie, Nancy, Lynne, Arthur & Marylin, Liz, Alex & Allyson, Neil & Amy, Alana & David, Lucy & Dick, Jim, and many others.
In Memoriam 🕯️
After 20 years in business, it’s natural that we’ve seen some very special people pass away.
We truly miss the dear friendship of Carole, A+ student and A++ teacher and friend; Richard’s eminence and winning smile; Alex’s kind-heartedness; Dan’s intelligence; Barrie’s humor and charm; Bob’s easygoing congeniality; Elsie’s irreverent wit and keen eye; Ann’s artistry; Steve’s sharpness; John’s warmth; Ted’s affable generosity; Doug’s adventurous spirit; Leon’s brilliance and industriousness; and Simin’s kindness and quickness.
Ashleigh ❤️
For almost as long as PsiMac has existed, my wife Ashleigh has been by my side, heartening me, supporting me, and tolerating my long phone calls and frenetic typing in our shared space. Ashleigh was PsiMac’s first full-time employee; many clients still remember when she was their main point of contact. Wisely, she now teaches yoga and manages a local studio – preferring the warm, analog zen garden of yoga to the cool, digital domain of technology.
PsiMac’s 20th anniversary comes just one month after Ashleigh and I celebrate our 10th anniversary of marriage and 18th year of friendship. Ashleigh’s love and counsel still help me through the challenges of business ownership and the vicissitudes of technology support.
17 High St, Norwalk
PsiMac started in a bedroom, and then quickly turned the main living space of our condo into what looked like an airport at night (with rows and rows of blinking lights), until Ashleigh found our beautiful office space in Norwalk.
In my first tour of the space, I discovered that it had just been vacated by none other than the founder and chief scientist of Xerox PARC – the place where the graphical user interface had been invented and first shown to a young Steve Jobs in 1979, who used that technology to create the Macintosh.
Clearly it would be the perfect place to incubate PsiMac for the next phase…
And yet, this would be a big leap in terms of overhead. Were we ready to open an office and hire another consultant? It was Ellen once again who provided the encouragement and the backing in the form of our first month’s rent. We had the space we needed, and weeks later we would hire Tim.
Tim and Judy
Tim and I have been friends for far longer than we’ve been colleagues. Clients would whisper in the early days when it was just me, “if only you could clone yourself…” And I would wistfully agree.
Soon enough it was Tim who answered our prayers.
PsiMac may have started as a “one man show,” but it wouldn’t have been sustainable without the team effort of two longtime employees: Tim has been our superstar consultant for over 12 years, and Judy has been our “grand central dispatch” for more than eight.
Our success results from our shared endeavoring.
Namago
In 2018, after several years dreaming, envisioning, and planning, Ashleigh and I moved into a camper van RV to travel and work remotely while exploring the Western U.S., and sampling its backcountry, beers, brews, and buds; and I’ve been fully remote ever since.
Colorado
In 2020 we moved into our current apartment in Colorado where we enjoy multiple hiking trails, breweries, and coffeeshops within walking distance.
I feel lucky to have built a company and designed a livelihood that have allowed me to move halfway across the country while still doing the work I love.
A Perfect Circle
Continuing the trend, last year we closed our physical office in Norwalk to focus on the efficiency of remote consulting and the convenience of meeting on site. In a way, we’ve come full circle: I run the company once again from my desk at home.
Meanwhile, we’ve expanded our expertise to remain relevant while refining our operations to stay competitive in an ever-evolving technology ecosystem.
Reflections
Reflecting on 20 years in operation, I alternate between disbelief in the decades gone by, and reverence for the richness of experiences and relationships that this humble endeavor has brought me.
And to think, it all started when I accidentally quit my job…
Photo by Ben Larrabee
Gratitude
I hope you enjoyed reading the story of the first two decades of PsiMac.
Special thanks to Ashleigh, Tim, Judy, and Ellen for their meaningful roles in our history.
And thanks to all of our valued clients for their support and business over the last 20 years.
May you have many happy restarts. And if not, call me!
Joe Saponare
June 2024
To commemorate two decades in business, we’ve designed some PsiMac logo merchandise.
Help us celebrate our 20th Anniversary in style!
