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How I think about technology
I think about technology the same way I think about health.
You can treat problems after they show up — react, patch, repeat. Or you can build systems that promote wellness from the ground up. Systems that prevent problems. Systems that make you more self-sufficient over time, not less.
I chose the wellness path decades ago. Every client relationship I have is built on that foundation.
W. Edwards Deming — an American statistician and the father of quality control — taught that quality is cheaper to produce than revenue, but quality produces revenue.
American manufacturers ignored him. Japan didn’t. They implemented his principles and dominated global manufacturing for decades. Then America panicked and finally started listening to the guy they’d ignored for decades.
I follow Deming’s principles. Build it right. Build it to last. Build it so well that your clients become loyal not because they’re trapped, but because they’d never want to leave.
There’s another principle I live by — something Harv Eker has always said: “How you do anything is how you do everything.”
That’s not just a business philosophy. That’s a personal one. The way I set up your network is the same way I approach everything in my life — with care, with intention, and with the understanding that cutting corners always costs more in the end.
Why this matters
Your domains, your hosting, your email, your cloud accounts — 100% in your name. I maintain custodial access to help manage things, but every digital asset belongs to you. If you decide to leave, you take everything with you. No questions asked.
I’ll tell you when not to spend money. I’ll challenge your assumptions if I think you’re heading in the wrong direction. I’ll recommend someone else if they’re better suited to what you need.
I think 3-5 years ahead. Your solutions should grow with you, not trap you in expensive rebuild cycles. One medical practice client now spends annually what they used to spend monthly on technology support. That didn’t happen by accident — it happened because someone built it right the first time.
What that looks like in practice
“I don’t want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their job.” — Attributed to Samuel Goldwyn
That quote has guided how I run my business for decades.
Have clients been hacked? Yes. Usually after overriding my recommendation to enable two factor authentication. I don’t sugarcoat that. I told them what they needed to hear, not what they wanted to hear. Some listened. Some didn’t.
That’s the difference between a yes-man and an advisor.
I’d rather lose the argument and keep your trust than tell you everything is fine when it isn’t.
More from clients
“We have counted on Erik for Mac solutions since 1998. MacAlchemist supports our company in three critical areas: repair, software support and strategy. Dependable, knowledgeable and creative, MacAlchemist is the gold standard of Mac support organizations.”
“Erik has been a consistent source of consulting and peer review for security and IT systems issues. He has worked on multiple projects since the 1980’s and has always delivered on time and on budget. I can recommend MacAlchemist for your most sensitive issues.”
“I hate ‘vendors.’ I love ‘friends.’ Vendors overbill you, never work the hours when you need the help, have layers of bureaucracy and pages and pages of rules. Friends bend over backwards to help you. 24/7, on your doorstep when it’s needed without you even having to ask. Erik Madsen is a friend. Who happens to be damned good at keeping our very complex computer systems up and running.” — Fred N. Davis III, CEO, Strategic Perception Inc.
“Erik from MacAlchemist rocks!!! Nobody out there knows Macs and Mac software better than Erik, bar none! His service, outstanding! Communication and follow through, terrific! Rates, more than reasonable!”
“In the ever expanding Mac Universe, a person can feel very lost in space when issues come up. Having a life line like Erik makes the journey one that can be made with peace of mind.”
“MacAlchemist are the new scientists of the modern age. These guys are like super heroes!”
My story
I started working with computers at age 11 at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle — back when the Commodore PET was cutting edge and you had to convince administrators to let you stay after hours.
Microsoft Years In the early 90s, I joined Microsoft’s International Excel team. During my time there, I didn’t just test software — I built community. What started as an informal jam session with 7 musicians grew to over 250 people, becoming a corporate resource. That experience taught me something crucial: I don’t just architect systems. I catalyze transformation.
The Decision In 2000, I made a career-defining choice: I would stop supporting Windows machines. I’d seen too many clients spending more on troubleshooting than they’d spend simply switching to a more stable platform.
I decided I would only work with technology that promotes wellness, not sickness.
The Music I come from a lineage of musicians. My grandfather was a championship old time fiddler who cut two CDs for Voyager Records in the 90s and led a band called The Stubblejumpers. My grandmother — an English and music teacher — played alongside him. My mother is a music teacher and accomplished pianist and violinist who played on my grandfather’s recordings. My father founded the Innercity Jazz Quartet in Seattle. For nearly a decade I toured as guitarist with Aaron Carter. I’ve collaborated with extraordinary musicians across genres and continue to study and grow as an artist.
In 1999, I left Seattle for Los Angeles to pursue both technology excellence and musical artistry. I’ve been here ever since — over 25 years serving the creative, medical, and business communities.
Music and technology aren’t separate interests.
They’re both expressions of the same principle: turning chaos into harmony through disciplined architecture.
The Connector Clients sometimes say “I didn’t know you did websites” or “I didn’t know you knew anything about development.” My answer is always the same: I’ve been doing this long enough that even when I’m not the guy, I know who is. I bring the right people together — developers, designers, business managers, specialists — not for a kickback, but because that’s what I do. It’s the “Alchemist” in MacAlchemist. Transformation through connection.
Who I work with
I become your technology wellness partner — the person who knows your business, understands your goals, and helps you make informed decisions about your digital ecosystem.
The key word is partner. I’m not here to take the wheel while you sit in the back seat. I’m here to make sure you understand your environment, understand your options, and feel confident in the direction you’re heading. When you choose to delegate decisions to me — and most long-term clients do — you’re doing it because you trust my judgment, not because you’ve given up.
Strategic Advisory I’m the person long-term clients call before they sign a vendor contract, before they invest in new infrastructure, before they make any major technology decision. I evaluate options, challenge assumptions, and connect them with the right specialists when the job calls for it.
Some clients want to understand every detail. Some want a recommendation they can trust and then get back to work. I work with both — the goal is always that you feel empowered, never dependent.
Systems Architecture Mac and iOS ecosystem design, cloud solutions, network infrastructure, backup and disaster recovery, security and privacy. Complete audit, strategic roadmap, implementation, and ongoing optimization.
Migration & Transformation Windows to Mac conversion, legacy system modernization, office relocations, platform consolidation.
Industries: Creative professionals, medical practices, entertainment, entrepreneurs, high profile clients requiring discretion.
What I Don’t Do: Windows support, break-fix hourly billing, 24/7 “IT janitor” services, cheapest-option work.