We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ian Terry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ian below.
Alright, Ian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
At Aretetic Solutions, LLC, we use our proprietary Community-Driven Innovation (CDI) process to empower communities often left behind by conventional systems, especially those affected by rare diseases. Our CDI process captures their voices and actively involves them in shaping solutions that address their specific needs.
A New Approach to Childhood Epilepsy
One particular challenge we addressed through our CDI process involves families dealing with a rare form of childhood epilepsy. These families are typically expected to be their own advocates, researchers, and caregivers, all without substantial support. Recognizing their needs, we embarked on a comprehensive engagement and research initiative.
During the “Framing and Listening” phase, we uncovered crucial insights that traditional research often overlooks:
The Importance of Sleep: Families highlighted sleep as a critical area of concern. Proper sleep management proved essential not just for general health but as a crucial element in managing epilepsy, where disturbances could trigger more severe episodes.
Constant Aspiration Risk: A significant issue identified was the children’s constant risk of aspirating on their own saliva. This risk was not limited to feeding times but was a continuous concern, preventing children from safely sitting up. This inability hindered the development of neck muscles and trunk control, crucial developmental milestones.
Emotional Well-being as a Biomarker: Families expressed that emotional indicators like smiling were not just joyful moments but vital biomarkers of their children’s quality of life amidst their medical challenges.
Informed by these insights, our “Designing and Building” phase focused on developing interventions that addressed these identified needs. We facilitated workshops on sleep management tailored specifically to the challenges posed by epilepsy. We also collaborated with medical professionals to develop guidelines and tools to mitigate the risk of aspiration, enhance safety, and promote developmental progress.
The final “Measuring and Direction Building” phase involved continuous feedback from the community to assess the effectiveness of the interventions and refine our strategies accordingly. This phase ensured that our actions remained responsive to the community’s evolving needs, fostering a sustainable model of advocacy and care.
Our CDI process equipped families with the tools to better manage their challenges and amplified their voices in the broader medical and research communities, advocating for more inclusive and responsive research agendas.
This story of innovation and empowerment exemplifies how Aretetic Solutions commits to serving underserved communities by delivering aid and tools for self-advocacy and sustainable change.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am an advocate, innovator, and founder deeply rooted in the rare disease community, having been diagnosed with a rare condition myself at the tender age of five. This personal experience has shaped my life’s work and driven my dedication to understanding and addressing the complex challenges faced by similar underserved communities.
My Background and Education:
Educated under the British system and holding an International Baccalaureate, my academic journey emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes behind knowledge, rather than merely regurgitating facts. I pursued higher education in Linguistics and Health Information Management, which equipped me with a unique blend of skills that bridge communication, data management, and health science.
Professional Journey:
My career began outside the health sector, where I honed my skills in User Experience and Web Development. This experience outside the health realm was invaluable, providing me with fresh perspectives that I later brought back to the health industry with renewed passion. I worked extensively with various advocacy groups and health data registries, gaining deep insights into the universal challenges that all rare disease advocacy groups face. This experience laid the groundwork for what would become my most significant contribution to the field.
Community-Driven Innovation:
The culmination of my experiences led to the development of Community-Driven Innovation (CDI), a novel process I created to empower communities by helping them identify and articulate their priorities in a quantifiable way. CDI has revolutionized how communities interact with external entities, ensuring their voices are heard loud and clear. The feedback from one of my clients sums up the impact of CDI: “This is the way we tell the world we exist in a way they cannot ignore.” This endorsement not only encapsulates the essence of CDI but also highlights its transformative power.
Aretetic Solutions, LLC:
At Aretetic Solutions, LLC, we provide a spectrum of services ranging from simple web development to advanced business consulting and governance solutions, all underpinned by the latest theories from Computational Social Choice. Our approach is unique because it combines cutting-edge technology with deep, empathetic engagement with community needs, setting us apart in a field that is often fragmented and siloed.
What Sets Us Apart:
What distinguishes our work is the ability to not only address specific health-related issues but also to apply our knowledge and tools to broader social impact initiatives. Our methods have proven effective across various sectors, demonstrating the versatility and scalability of our solutions.
What I Am Most Proud Of:
I am most proud of how CDI has been embraced by communities and how it has facilitated meaningful change. The ability to empower communities to speak for themselves in a structured and impactful manner has been incredibly rewarding.
For Potential Clients/Followers/Fans:
For those new to our work, I want you to know that Aretetic is more than just a company—it’s a movement. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating platforms for voices that are often unheard. Whether you are part of a rare disease community, a social impact organization, or any group seeking to make a significant impact, Aretetic is here to amplify your voice and equip you with the tools to drive real change.
Through my story and the work of Aretetic Solutions, LLC, I hope to inspire and engage with those who are not only looking for solutions but also aiming to be part of a transformative journey towards greater inclusivity and impact.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One pivotal lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that hiring should be based primarily on intellectual prowess or technical skill rather than social nuance and empathetic capability. Initially, my focus was on intellect, assuming that high intelligence was the most critical factor in driving our business and product development forward at Aretetic Solutions.
Backstory of the Shift:
Over the years, Aretetic experienced several false starts, particularly when expanding our team. We brought in highly skilled individuals who were experts in their fields, believing that their intellectual contributions would be the key to advancing our product ideas. However, we faced numerous challenges that caused projects to stall and, in some cases, led to the collapse of team dynamics. This repeated pattern forced me to reassess our hiring criteria and the values we prioritized in our team.
The turning point came from realizing that while I highly valued intellect—both in myself and others—I had underestimated the importance of empathy, collaboration, and the ability to appreciate broader societal goals. These qualities turned out to be equally, if not more, important than sheer intelligence or technical abilities.
Adapting Hiring Practices:
This realization led to a significant shift in how we approached recruitment and collaboration. We started prioritizing candidates who not only had the necessary skills but also demonstrated a strong sense of empathy and an understanding of our social mission. We looked for individuals who could appreciate the impact of our work on clients’ financial wellness and understood the importance of delivering value that genuinely reflected the cost to them.
Successful Outcomes:
This shift in hiring philosophy had a profound impact on our success. By valuing empathy as much as intellect, we cultivated a more collaborative and understanding team environment. This change didn’t just improve our internal dynamics; it resonated through our products and client interactions, leading to more meaningful and sustainable relationships.
Through this journey, I learned an invaluable lesson: technical skills can be taught, but instilling a genuine care for others and a deep appreciation for human experiences is far more challenging. The balance of empathy and intellect is crucial, especially in a field like ours, where understanding and addressing community needs are at the heart of what we do. This lesson has reshaped our approach at Aretetic Solutions, turning what was once a stumbling block into a cornerstone of our organizational philosophy.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Aretetic Solutions began as a side hustle born out of my freelance web development work, which initially involved integrating user experience processes with projects for health and educational communities. As I explored these projects, it became evident that the skills and processes I was applying could significantly benefit these groups, which led me to establish Aretetic Solutions while juggling other full-time and part-time jobs to support my growing family.
Key Milestones in Scaling Up:
Initial Insight and Integration:
The journey started with a simple realization: the overlaps between health and educational communities could be bridged through enhanced web and UX solutions. This insight laid the foundational stone for what would later become Aretetic Solutions.
Formalizing the Business (2017):
With personal stakes increasing, marked by my wife’s pregnancy, I transitioned my freelance gigs into a formal business setup. This period involved structuring the business, defining our services, and setting long-term goals.
Collaboration and Setback:
A significant milestone was the partnership with another company, where I deeply believed in their vision. For half a decade, I committed to this collaboration, which unfortunately ended when the company failed. However, this setback turned into an opportunity when they graciously released my intellectual property back to me. This pivotal moment was crucial as it allowed me to reclaim my work and ideas.
Rebirth of Aretetic Solutions:
With my intellectual property in hand, I was able to re-envision and restart Aretetic Solutions. This was not just a continuation but a rebirth with a renewed focus on developing Community-Driven Innovation (CDI). This proprietary process and product would become our cornerstone, transforming how communities identify and articulate their priorities.
Launching Community-Driven Innovation (2024):
The official launch of CDI marked the transformation of my side hustle into a full-time endeavor. CDI’s success illustrated the potential of our innovative approaches to make a tangible impact on diverse communities.
Full-Time Commitment:
The growth of Aretetic Solutions and the success of CDI eventually led me to dedicate myself full-time to the venture. This transition was a major milestone, signifying the maturity of the business and its sustainability.
Today, Aretetic Solutions stands as a testament to the power of resilience and innovation. Our journey from a side hustle to a leading provider of community-driven solutions showcases our commitment to empowering underrepresented groups through actionable, innovative strategies. This evolution not only reflects our adaptive business model but also underscores our dedication to making a lasting social impact.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Aretetic.com