Where did you get that name?

KidSport Software began as the result of a single question: "What do I want to be when I grow up?" At face value it seems simple but when you dig into what motivates you, what drives you and what really makes you happy the answer is often far more complex and elusive than originally thought. This particular journey took over three years.

Two things have become obvious as I grow older and supposedly more mature. First, to excel at something you must love what you are doing. Without the passion and love for the activity you will not realize your full potential.

Second, God created each person with a unique personality, a unique set of skills and abilities and a unique passion for what it is that He wants you to do with your life. Life is not a random existence but rather a quest to find the purpose to which you were called.

So, how does this relate to KidSport Software you ask? I’ve discovered there are three things that I am really passionate about. First and foremost are children. I love being with kids, I love teaching them things and I really love watching them work hard and get better at what they are doing.

Second, I love sports. I am an avid sports fan and enjoy playing pick-up games myself. As my children have gotten involved in sports, I coach, manage, help-out, administrate and whatever else needs to be done. Aside from the titles of dad or husband there is nothing like having a bunch of kids call you “coach.”

Third, I am an engineer by training and education and I love computers, software, solving problems, fixing things and creating something from nothing. I have been fortunate to work for many great software and hardware companies in my life and I thoroughly enjoy technology and using it to solve business problems.

The question now becomes how you tie all of these passions together. In my case I started a company and named it KidSport Software.

My initial client list has been related to youth sports associations. These organizations are run by volunteers who have "real jobs" during the week but love to invest their time and talents into the children of their community on weekends and in the evenings. I started KidSport Software to be my "real job" so I can develop and improve upon the tools necessary to support my weekend job of coaching youth sports. Given the growth in organized sports for children there is ample opportunity to sell these tools to other organizations.

I believe you find true fulfillment in life when your God-given abilities intersect with the things about which you are passionate in a place where God has called you to be. This company is my attempt to find such fulfillment. Much of this journey is based in Rick Warren’s book “The Purpose Driven Life.” You can find it at any bookstore. It has been on the best seller list for a long time. I must not be the only person looking for the answer to “What do I want to be when I grow up?”