We had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Brett Weir, the Founder and CEO of BrettOps. He shared the philosophy behind BrettOps, which provides essential backend support to companies, allowing them to focus on their unique strengths without the worry of how to deliver their applications consistently and accurately. As we navigated through the discussion, we took a peek into Brett's personal growth journey, understanding his transition from a solopreneur to delegating tasks and expanding his team.
Our dialogue also touched upon Brett's risk-taking tendencies, especially in situations enveloped in ethical dilemmas. Notably, Brett equated himself with the Python programming language, valuing its simplicity and easy-to-understand nature. Brett, a musician at heart, shared his fascination for the Integra 7, a 16-channel sound module, the coolest tech gadget he owns. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into this enlightening conversation with Brett Weir.
The Solopreneur Juggling Startups, Python, and Synthesizers
Swirling in the foggy morning mists of entrepreneurship, we found Brett Weir just beginning his day with us, a self-proclaimed "not-so-much-of-a-morning-person." And yet, his refreshing insights struck like a hot coffee, electrifying the conversation. Ever wondered what it's like being the head honcho of a DevOps accelerator? Brett broke it down for us, "every company has foundational infrastructure problems…what I specialize in is…how do I make it go somewhere else and do it consistently, accurately, and every time?" This statement not only encapsulates the essence of BrettOps but also speaks volumes about Brett's conviction towards making things easier for others.
Tossing the 'solopreneur' tag up in the air, Brett confessed he's on a personal growth trajectory, learning to delegate and slowly expanding his one-and-a-half-employee team. Yes, you read that right! BrettOps consists of Brett, and an all-rounder part-time whizz who helps with everything from running errands to 'just a lot of things.' This might be a quirky setup for some, but it's the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that keeps the startup world interesting and dynamic.
Brett's personality further unraveled as he described himself as a Python programming language in the tech realm. "Python…likes to be understood. It's not all about putting on airs… It just wants to be used and wants to be appreciated." These words resonate as Brett's professional mantra - staying grounded and focusing on being useful. But don't get mistaken, Brett isn't all code and business. His eyes lit up as he shared about his coolest tech gadget, the Integra 7, a testament to his passion for music. After all, he was a musician long before he became an engineer. With every sound patch that Roland ever made, this 16-channel sound module represents his love for the amalgamation of tech and creativity.
Python…likes to be understood. It's not all about putting on airs… It just wants to be used and wants to be appreciated
Brett WeirFounder at BrettOps
Demystifying Success with Tech Insights and a Dash of Unorthodoxy
As we continued our exploration into the intriguing life of Brett, he dropped names that would make any tech enthusiast's ears perk up. The first name on his list for potential collaboration? Mitchell Hashimoto, founder of Hashi Corp, revered for his extensive contributions to infrastructure engineering and open source. "A lot of what we take for granted in the infrastructure as code and automation space would not exist without his work," Brett admitted, crediting Hashimoto's incredible impact on the industry.
When probed about a tech skill he'd love to magically acquire, Brett, with a spark of intellectual curiosity in his eyes, expressed a desire to plunge into the intricate realm of low-level systems programming. A trait in line with his long-term vision and a commitment to 'infrastructure.' "I don't want to have to deal with things breaking all the time…you only want to do things once…and then move on to something else," he candidly shared, shedding light on his long-term approach to business. This resolve fuels his efforts in crafting sustainable solutions that resist the fickle winds of tech trends.
Talking about entrepreneurship success factors, Brett didn't mince words: "Everybody's got ideas…It's a question of resources, time…having a war chest of money to throw at the problem is a bigger differentiator." A provocative view, but one that brings a cold dose of reality into the dreamy startup world. But Brett isn't a cynic. He’s a pragmatic entrepreneur with a refreshing definition of success. BrettOps may not be a colossal company, but that doesn't seem to bother Brett. He takes pride in his work, cherishing his autonomy and the ability to steer the ship as he sees fit. His contentment resonates as he asserts, "I just want to have some control over my schedule, my life, how I prioritize things…"
Everybody's got ideas…It's a question of resources, time…having a war chest of money to throw at the problem is a bigger differentiator
Brett Weir Founder at BrettOps
Taming the Tech Jungle: Brett’s Journey from CTN to Pioneering BrettOps
In the world of technology, change is the only constant. Brett’s journey is a testament to that. After an enriching two-year tenure at CTN, he found himself drawn to a path less travelled. It was the projects centered on automation and infrastructure that piqued his curiosity. "Nobody really cares about CI/CD, but everybody needs CI/CD," Brett reflected. As he delved deeper into this field, he realized that the sense of control and independence it provided was rewarding. Brett's eagerness to explore and experiment led him to venture out and start his own journey, turning to BrettOps and crafting a space that resonated with his skill set and ambitions.
Brett recounts, "It's not something that I would be doing if I was a sane person. It's definitely far and away much easier to just get a job somewhere and stay there forever." However, the entrepreneurial spirit ingrained in him by his family urged him to take the plunge. It was the allure of building something uniquely his and the desire to leave an impact that drove Brett to break from the norm. He found joy in the prospect of creating something meaningful that could tell a compelling story.
The foundations of BrettOps were built around a continual upward spiral of innovation, embodying a culture of continuous improvement. Brett has been shaping a comprehensive platform, the "BrettOps ecosystem," which comprises a catalog of CI/CD pipelines and built containers, which he perceives as being the minimum viable product (MVP). Brett's underlying vision is to simplify complex processes by building a more effective and efficient system, saving time for developers and aiding them in their tasks.
Arguably, one of Brett's most insightful remarks was his outlook on work-life balance and the importance of health. He confided, "You can sacrifice visiting friends, you can sacrifice getting a big paycheck, you can sacrifice visiting family… What I discovered is that you can't really sacrifice your health." This hard-learned lesson has deeply influenced Brett’s ethos and approach to business, keeping his personal wellbeing at the forefront. It's a reminder that success and innovation are not without their pitfalls, but with the right balance and priorities, they can be both rewarding and sustainable.
Bridging the Gap:Building a Community and Challenging the AI Wave
The beautiful, yet challenging aspect of running an endeavor like BrettOps, Brett candidly shares, is finding balance. His journey has swung between extremes - ample time but limited resources, versus significant financial means with scarce time to commit. The birth of BrettOps was an effort to find that elusive equilibrium. "You have to pace yourself," he advises. The pacing is a constant challenge, but he optimistically shares, "It's much better than the biggest challenge being $100 million in debt."
You have to pace yourself
Brett WeirFounder at BrettOps
From balancing resources, the conversation swiftly shifted towards the future, in particular, the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI). Brett’s perspective, formed through his experiments with AI like ChatGPT, underscored the tool's mixed potential. While its capabilities for reworking and creating content are impressive, the outcome is not always valuable or authentic. For Brett, the real question becomes, "Does the content generated hold value? Is it true, verifiable, or even helpful?"
The year ahead for Brett is seemingly less about AI and more about people. He emphasizes the need for building a community, candidly stating, "If you don't have a community, the work that you're doing doesn't matter." His goal is to have a growing number of readers engaging with his blog, signifying that he is making a difference. This is a challenging departure from his comfort zone, as he identifies as an "independent operator," but he is eager to wear the many hats required in entrepreneurship. As he continues to balance, learn, and adapt, Brett is a compelling reminder that the journey is as significant as the destination.
