We were lucky to catch up with Preston Pope recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Preston, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

### The Journey to TAPOS: Crafting the Name

Finding the perfect name for our app was like weaving a tapestry. We wanted a name that captured the essence of what we were creating—a dynamic platform for exploring wisdom.

**Starting Out: Sophia Scholar and MerouSophia**

We began with names like “Sophia Scholar” and “MerouSophia,” both rooted in the Greek word “Sophia,” which means wisdom. “Sophia Scholar” had a nice ring to it, emphasizing the depth of knowledge the app would offer. “MerouSophia,” combining “meros” (part) and “Sophia,” aimed to reflect individual pieces of wisdom coming together. However, these names weren’t easily brandable or memorable, so we moved on.

**Playing with Imagery and Metaphors**

We wanted our app to evoke the image of a grand tapestry—a “Tapestry of Wisdom”—where each thread represents a unique piece of knowledge, woven together to create something beautiful and cohesive. This metaphor fit perfectly with our goal of bringing together diverse teachings into one accessible and interactive platform.

We also loved the idea of a “Roundtable” discussion, where users could feel like they had access to a panel of esteemed thinkers and pastors, ready to provide guidance and wisdom.

**Naming Challenges: Arras**

We toyed with the name “Arras,” which is a type of richly decorated tapestry. It was a cool name, but it was tricky for people to remember and pronounce. We needed something that was catchy and easy to recall.

**The Birth of TAPOS**

After much brainstorming, we landed on “TAPOS,” a blend of “tapestry” and “logos” (the Greek word for divine wisdom or word). This name captures the essence of weaving together diverse threads of knowledge into a cohesive whole. The imagery of a loom weaving the letter “T” perfectly reflects our mission to create an intricate and interconnected repository of wisdom.

### Key Practices and Criteria for Naming

While brainstorming, we stuck to a few key principles:

1. **Memorability**: The name had to be easy to remember and pronounce.
2. **Meaningfulness**: It needed to convey our mission and the app’s core functionality.
3. **Imagery and Metaphor**: The name should evoke strong imagery related to wisdom, weaving, and interconnectedness.
4. **Cultural and Theological Resonance**: We wanted a name that resonated with the rich cultural and theological heritage of Christianity.

### Splintered Glass Solutions: The Umbrella Company

TAPOS is a product of Splintered Glass Solutions, my consulting and development company. The name “Splintered Glass” has a special meaning to me. It was inspired by an interview with Lin Manuel Miranda where he spoke about hearing the ticking clock louder than most. This idea of time ticking away stuck with me.

**The Metaphor of Splintered Glass**

Splintered Glass is a reminder of the tension between our broken human nature and our redeemed calling. The grains of sand in our hourglass are refined into glass by God. Like shattered glass pieces, our individual efforts might seem insignificant, but when arranged by a master craftsman, they can form a beautiful mosaic. This metaphor extends to TAPOS—combining small pieces of wisdom into a unified tapestry that offers greater understanding and spiritual growth.

In essence, Splintered Glass Solutions embodies the philosophy that even broken pieces can contribute to something magnificent, much like how TAPOS weaves together various teachings to create a richer tapestry of wisdom.

### Wrapping It Up

The name “TAPOS” isn’t just a name—it’s a symbol of our commitment to weaving together diverse threads of knowledge into an accessible platform. From our initial tries with “Sophia Scholar” and “MerouSophia” to landing on “TAPOS,” our journey was filled with careful thought and consideration. With the backing of Splintered Glass Solutions, TAPOS aims to provide users with a dynamic and enriching spiritual experience, drawing on the collective wisdom of thinkers to guide and inspire.

Preston, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Absolutely, I’d be happy to share a bit about myself and the journey that led to the formation of Splintered Glass Solutions.

My journey began as an engineer, a role that shaped my analytical mindset and problem-solving approach. My focus was always on finding business-impacting and value-adding solutions rather than just flashy, short-term projects. During my time in the oil and gas industry, I had the privilege to dive into programming and data analytics, skills that I now realize I should have pursued academically given my knack for automating complex tasks even back in school.

In those early days, I became adept at creating complex Excel spreadsheets to automate solutions and later moved on to utilizing tools like Spotfire and Tableau to build custom data solutions. This blend of engineering and data analytics naturally led me to a hybrid role, where I was building unique solutions and eventually full-scale applications using Python. This experience allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of middle-tier and back-end development and the challenges faced by data engineers.

When the opportunity to pursue a consulting career arose, I took the leap, even as COVID-19 was ramping up. This period was filled with challenges, but it also felt like a series of doors being opened by the Lord. Each step felt like a faith journey, and I have always tried to walk through those doors with compassion and determination.

Today, at Splintered Glass Solutions, we specialize in data-driven solutions that help businesses optimize their operations and make informed decisions. Our services range from advanced data analytics and custom application development to comprehensive consulting services. What sets us apart is our commitment to understanding the unique challenges of each client and delivering tailored solutions that drive real business impact.

### TAPOS: A Tapestry of Wisdom

One of our most exciting projects is TAPOS, an innovative app that aggregates and curates teachings from various sources, including sermons, podcasts, and videos, into a single, searchable repository. Using advanced AI technology, TAPOS provides personalized, interactive experiences for users, helping them explore, understand, and engage with diverse teachings and insights. This project is a testament to our dedication to leveraging technology for meaningful impact and reflects our commitment to innovation and excellence.

For potential clients and followers, I want to emphasize our dedication to innovation, personal development, and delivering high-value solutions. Our approach is deeply rooted in understanding our clients’ needs and walking alongside them to achieve their goals. At Splintered Glass Solutions, we are not just about providing services; we are about building partnerships that lead to lasting success.

Cheers,
Preston Pope

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Sure, here’s a revised version with the spinning plates metaphor:

—

One lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that I could do everything on my own. Back in my old job, I often worked as a lone wolf, developing solutions in more or less a silo. We did have a pretty good team of folks pursuing knowledge and growth together, but when it came to individual projects, I tended to take them on by myself.

That lone wolf approach worked for a while, but when I moved into the consulting space, I quickly realized I couldn’t keep up with everything alone if I wanted to grow. Imagine trying to spin a dozen plates at once—sounds impressive, but one wrong move and you’re left with a pile of shattered ceramics. I had to bring in other folks who had skills I didn’t, complemented mine, or could simply share the load. They helped brainstorm and bring creative solutions to the table, as well as test and catch things that I inevitably missed.

It took a while to learn that I didn’t need to spin all the plates by myself, but it’s been extremely fulfilling and rewarding. Now, I’m proud to say I’m surrounded by a solid core team at Splintered Glass Solutions. This diverse set of skills and talents from across the globe helps us deliver top-notch solutions. Letting go of that lone wolf mentality was tough, but it taught me the beauty of collaboration and the magic that happens when brilliant minds come together.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Far and away, the best source of new clients has been word of mouth and networking. My whole career has been shaped by conversations with friends who introduced me to others in their networks. In fact, I owe the start of my consulting career to a guy named Brock Meyer, who has since gone on to form the extremely successful Wise Rock. We had a blind business date over sushi downtown one day, and he encouraged me to step into consulting, even helping line up my first few clients.

Ever since then, it’s been word of mouth and organic growth through conversations within my network. We don’t aim to grow Splintered Glass Solutions into a massive consulting firm. Instead, we prefer to remain a boutique shop that partners closely with our clients, walking alongside them rather than just being a resource provider for one-off projects. Our goal is to be deeply invested with our clients, helping them optimize from the ground up and leverage new and inventive technologies to elevate their enterprises.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.splinteredglass.solutions/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preston-pope-13413a13b/