About

Hi, my name is Joe Hawkins. For almost 40 years, I was a student/practitioner in what used to be called the “tech industry”, focusing mostly on software product development, service delivery, and operational excellence, trying to turn small, unproven companies into somewhat larger and vastly more successful companies. What made that fun and inspiring was working collaboratively and, I’d like to think, intelligently with passionate, smart, curious PEOPLE who liked to build things that matter. For the last nine years of my professional career, I was a senior executive and officer of ShotSpotter, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSTI).

I’m also on permanent sabbatical!!

That, it turns out, is a very good thing as I’m also an avid outdoorsman, and over the past few years I began spending more time with family or friends (or both) backpacking, flyfishing, or river rafting in beautiful, remote wilderness, and increasingly traveling abroad to experience what the world has to offer… and wishing to do much more.

I started this blog in 2010, intending it to be a place to muse about life lessons applied to work. I believe you get out of life what you put into it… and the same is true for work as it is for play! Listen, think, adapt, innovate, drive, reflect, learn, enjoy. Do it all. All the time. Practice makes perfect; at least it moves you in the right direction. This blog is my attempt to do some of that with words (and images) that might serve as useful reminders later, or to offer a jumping off point for others looking to do likewise. Now, it’s just going to be a little more focused on my new vocation:

Adventure Researcher & Advisor.

Research, investigation and immersion in really cool adventures. Mostly outdoors. Occasional guide, strictly barter system. Free advice.