Featured Business Member of July 2021
The LenovoPRO Community is pleased to spotlight our second Featured Business Member of the Month, Mark Edwards with Rusty Nut Restoration. Mark is a knowledgeable member in the community, willing to help others and share what he has learned in his life with the community. His love for old, rusty treasures has blossomed into an aspiring business idea that he is excited to grow. Keep reading to learn more about Mark and how he is pursuing his aspirations in addition to a long and successful IT career.
About Mark Edwards
I've spent the past 35 years in the IT industry, yikes that makes me feel old. I started out as a programmer, back when mainframes were the big thing. After years of systems development on the big iron, I cautiously transitioned into the client/server world. After all, how far could pc's go? Certainly, they can't replace mainframes! A few years later, I dabbled in IT Management Consulting. It was fun, but not what I wanted. I moved into a CIO position, but again, it was too far from my development roots. I now work with federal agencies managing their financial applications. The work is more enjoyable. Getting into the weeds and solving problems is where I belong.
I live in a small town in western Oklahoma where the dirt blows and rain is considered a blessing. My wife and I enjoy raising a variety of animals, from Scottish Highland cattle to chickens and goats, even a donkey named Clyde.
About Rusty Nut Restoration
I'm an IT guy by profession, but want to turn my hobby into a business. By chance, I came across on old John Deere riding lawn mower. Turns out, it was the first model of riding lawn mower that Deere produced. Not that it's worth a lot of money, but it awoke a keen interest in restoring rusty relics in me that I wasn't aware I had. I started Rusty Nut's Restoration Services as more of a justification for my hobby. I'm sort of an old rusty nut myself and I enjoy working on old equipment. It's satisfying finding something that was once a cherished and valued item and restoring it back to something useful and productive. Like myself. I may be older and somewhat "broke down", but I'm still useful.
So, I still have a day job. By day, I support financial applications for many federal agencies. By night, I'm Rusty Nut, restorer of rusty relics!
Q & A
How long have you been a part of LenovoPRO and what is your favorite Lenovo product?
I've been a LenovoPRO member since Feb 2021. I recently purchased a C13 Yoga ThinkPad Chromebook! I've been a Chromebook believer since they first came out and purchased an entry level device about ten years ago. It's got a plastic shell and a small dim display, but it's still going strong! However, Chromebooks kept evolving and getting better and better so I decided it was time to upgrade. Holy cow, the C13 Yoga is amazing!
What was one of your greatest professional successes?
My greatest professional success was to work hard, gain the trust of coworkers/customers and get the job done. There's not one thing that makes a person successful. Professional success is a lifestyle.
What was one of your greatest professional challenges?
Well, it's a tie. I have two professional challenges that I contend with daily:
First, I attack every project like it's life or death. I sweat the small stuff. I have to keep things in perspective.
Secondly, I fear failure. This is somewhat the same thing as my first professional challenge.
Because I attack projects with such intensity, I often consider failing as not an option. Don't fear failure. Use it as an opportunity for growth! It's a fantastic tool for learning.
What was one piece of advice that you got along your business journey that helped you?
Ross Perot, founder of Electronic Data Systems, EDS, made a statement that defined my work attitude. My first real job was with EDS. Mr. Perot was a no nonsense guy that focused on results. In 1984 General Motors, GM, bought EDS. The culture at GM and EDS could not have been different. GM was big, slow and bureaucratic. EDS was lean, hungry and energetic. Shortly after GM bought EDS, Mr. Perot made the statement:
"I come from an environment where, if you see a snake, you kill it. At GM, if you see a snake, the first thing you do is go hire a consultant on snakes. Then you get a committee on snakes, and then you discuss it for a couple of years. The most likely course of action is -- nothing. You figure, the snake hasn't bitten anybody yet, so you just let him crawl around on the factory floor. We need to build an environment where the first guy who sees the snake kills it."
What is one piece of advice you would give other IT professionals?
Technology is not the solution, it's a tool. Don't let technology drive your business. Let the business drive your technology. Fully understand your business, with focus on the customer, and select the technology that best enables it.
I have so much admiration for small businesses, and the people that make them happen. I wish I had the guts when I was younger and took that leap of faith to start a business. Congratulations to you all and best of luck!
- Mark aka Rusty Nut
Connect with Mark
In the community: Rusty Nut
Thank you for being such a valued part of the community Mark and congratulations on being July's Featured Business Member!
"Don't fear failure. Use it as an opportunity for growth! It's a fantastic tool for learning."
- Mark Edwards