Meet Dave Taylor | Teacher, YouTuber, Mentor.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dave Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dave, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
While I enjoyed working as part of a larger tech company – Hewlett-Packard – I found a lot of inefficiencies in terms of management structure and the time spent (wasted, really) on meetings and internal processes. More importantly, I kept bumping into “this is how we’ve always done it” in response to suggestions and ideas about how to innovate and create something new and different. Determined to create a work environment where I could succeed based on my own ideas and approach to things, even if some failed, I launched my own consulting business. Amusingly, I was then immediately hired by HP to help with some of their projects, a new relationship that gained me more autonomy and credibility to help the company innovate in new and interesting ways.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
A common thread that runs through all of the varied jobs I’ve had during my career has been teaching; I’ve always sought to simplify complex ideas. Why? So people can enjoy products, services, software, even basic business concepts. From interface design to writing, public speaking, and now, teaching at a major university, I find helping others expand their knowledge and understanding remains highly rewarding.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s a lot about both Boulder, my home town, and Denver that I quite enjoy, from the varied cuisine to the art and performance scene. I prefer calmer activities, so our itinerary would inevitably include a hike in the Boulder foothills, tea at Dushanbe Teahouse, and a walk down Pearl Street Mall to enjoy the scene. In Denver, we’d likely check out the latest exhibits at the Denver Art Museum or Denver Museum of Nature & Science, along with some lively ethnic eatery in the downtown area. Depending on their preferences, we might find another nature walk in the city, aim for live music at one of the many outdoor fairs or marketplaces happening year-round, and plenty of time for conversation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve worked with so many mentors and advisors that it’s impossible to name just one. As a general rule, I’ve found that networking is critical to success and that “giving away” ideas is highly beneficial. Consultants who insist on payment for any advice or ideas, won’t meet you for a cup of coffee, and don’t share their own challenges tend not to do well. Many times I’ve shared challenges with colleagues and received great advice from them that helped me grow and evolve my own business. Some of them became customers too!

Website: https://www.AskDaveTaylor.com/

Twitter: https://www.x.com/davetaylor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/askdavetaylor