In his words he says ” I bought my Tech-ish domain in April of 2014 late in the night, after wondering whether it was a good idea to spend my pocket money as a second year student on something that wouldn’t earn money”
I do believe in risks and taking them big and bold but I didn’t expect this one. How would I spent my pocket money on something that woul’dnt pay back? honestly not me.
But looking back the risk was worth it.
Tech-ish started in 2014 as a blog to share personal stories, poetry, stories and disappointments and tech once in a while but today, it an accomplished digital platform as he calls it.
The site has since grown to become among the top tech blogs around including receiving nominations for the best Tech Blog in the BAKE Awards in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Interestingly, Dickson runs Tech-ish solely from development, to design, maintenance and content.
This week we are privileged to have him feature in our blogger of the week profile and here is what he had to say:
1. Give us a brief profile of yourself. –
I don’t know how to go about this. What do I say? My name is Dickson Otieno, but you already know that. I run Tech-ish.com. Which is my full-time job. I recently turned 26 and my back started aching. I love swimming, cycling, sharing unasked for opinions on my site, music, and movies.
2. Share something interesting about yourself
I don’t consider myself interesting at all. But here we go: I live alone, that’s interesting. Most of the articles I want to write are still in my head, that’s also interesting. I listen to lots of music, many different genres, that’s interesting. I watch lots of movies, that’s also pretty interesting.
3. What attracted/inspired you into blogging
Actually, I don’t know. My first blog was an actual blog where I’d share about my life, write poetry sometimes, stories, disappointments etc. But, once in a while I’d write about tech – gadgets I had, trends I was witnessing etc. @echenze, who as at then used to write for Techweez said “Why not?” when I asked him if it was wise to start a tech blog. So, I bought the domain in April of 2014 late in the night, after wondering whether it was a good idea to spend my pocket money – I was a 2nd year student – on something that wouldn’t earn me money.
4. You could have written about anything, why this niche specifically?
See, it is called Tech-ish because I never thought I’d write about tech only. I imagined sometimes I’d deviate from tech. So, the name was to tell everyone not to expect full-time tech articles.
5. What accomplishments are you proud of most?
I think the audience I’ve built is what I’m most proud of. The people who trust my reviews, who wait for my articles, who ask me questions before making purchases, who fill my emails and patiently wait for my late responses.
6. If you could sit down with your 13-year-old self, what would you tell him?
I will let him be. I have no words for him, because all he did brought him to where I am.
7. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Not interesting LOL.
8. If you could time travel, where would you go?
To the beginning of 2020 to tell everyone to brace themselves for a rough ride.
9. What is the weirdest food combination you have ever tied?
Well, this isn’t answering the question, but I’ve seen people mix Avocado with stuff. I can’t stand it. Avocado on anything looks terrible, weird, and ugly.
10. If you were not a blogger, what would you be instead? Do you have a day job?
I am glad I do what I do, because I don’t know if can do anything else, honestly. After campus I sent out applications to three different companies. Went for two interviews, but no one called me back. In one of the interviews someone told me bloggers make lots of noise online and can’t be trusted. It was a developer role, you wonder! (Also ‘digital creator’ is better than blogger, haha).
11. Of all the posts you have ever written, which one is your favorite? why?
Everything I write under the Interesting Reads, Opinions , and Full Reviews Categories are my favorite articles. They sometimes take so much time to write, force me to read lots of stuff, and rethink very many biases. I also love that some people often reach out via email to argue out about some of the ideas I present especially in the opinions and interesting reads categories.
12. What is the most difficult thing you ever had to do?
I don’t know how to answer this. If it is with regards to blogging, I think the most difficult thing was back in university when I had to build a routine on when I’d update the site, so as to be consistent.
13. Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
My mother, no doubt. She paid my domain and hosting for two years without question.
14. Besides blogging, what else do you do? What is your obsession?
I obsess over small stuff. Shapes, designs, arrangements. However, to answer this question properly… I love art. I watch lots of music videos, I watch lots of movies, I watch lots of YouTube creators. I read lots of music, movie, and book reviews.
15. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
The one everyone has ever received: seize the day.
16. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
LOL. I don’t know. Maybe it is the reason I never got called back to those places I was interviewed. I couldn’t answer this question.
17. Is there a quote/mantra you live by?
There are many mantras I live by. One of them is “Seize the day”. If you’ve watched ‘Dead Poets Society’ (1989), you know that scene where Robin Williams says. “…But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen, you hear it? – – Carpe – – hear it? – – Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.“
Another is from David Mitchell’s book ‘Cloud Atlas’, “My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?” If you can’t read the book, watch the movie ‘Cloud Atlas’ (2012).
18. If you would be a superhero, who would you be and why?
This is easy. I am a big fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and though picking one hero from all of them is hard, I would definitely want to be Iron Man. Just for the tech.
Going by his mantra, Go on, lean in and follow Techish online. Also remember to check out their social media platforms Twitter: @DicksonOtieno, Facebook @Techishkenya.