 |
| Computer programmers changed the world 1 byte at a time on old computers like this. |
We don't call them "programmers" any more. Now everyone is a "coder" or "a developer", although these are probably not the same kinds of jobs as the old school programmers held down. Developers use tools that did not exist when programmers were hard-core techie guys no one could relate to. But a lot of the technology we use today is run by companies that were started by programmers, people who had no business training. Let's take a look at a couple of successful former programmers who changed the world.
Nicholas Bredimus started working with computers when he persuaded a hotel company to install PCs at all its locations. He built upon that experience to land jobs at airlines and other companies where he developed innovative software. One program that he developed for managing airplane maintenance became an industry standard.
But if Bredimus is well-known for anything at all these days, it has to be the QuikTix software and ticketing terminals that his company, Bredimus Systems, developed in the 1980s. As his career in the travel-related industries matured Bredimus could not help but notice how reservations were still being managed by hand and telephone. This was a very inefficient way of doing business, even in the 1980s, when PC networks and time-sharing systems were available everywhere.
So Nick Bredimus set out to change all that. His software was the world's first electronic ticketing network and terminals were installed in airports, travel agencies, and hotels. Ticketing costs came down and it was now possible for travelers to change their reservations with ease.
New ticketing systems have been developed by other companies since Nick Bredimus broke new ground but the airline industry continues to rely on modern descendants of QuikTix even though Bredimus has long since retired.
Paul Graham was a programmer who saw a need for online store software in 1995. He and a group partners started a small company called Viaweb, which was bought by Yahoo and eventually became Yahoo Store. Viaweb was the first major ecommerce platform for the Internet and it paved the way for many similar applications.
Graham went on to co-found a company called Y Combinator, a venture capital firm that has served as an incubator for over 1500 technology startups. Graham is a mentor and guru for many successful businesses, and his insights into how to build a successful startup are often sought and quoted.
Graham's Startup Mistakes article is a must-read document for anyone who seriously wants to go into business for themselves because it condenses all his experiences into one concise lesson in how to succeed and how failure overtakes success in the world of startups.
What we can learn from both of these programmers and innovators is that if you see an unresolved need that costs people time and money, you see an opportunity for a business that can potentially change the world. Go for it!
