2024 was not a good year for me. For those of you who don’t know, my father was involved in a severe car crash in November 2023 while I was at AU2023 in Las Vegas, just before I taught an AutoCAD class that was inspired by his ‘shipshape’ philosophy towards everything in life. In my AU presentation, I even had photos of my Dad in his Royal Navy days, where the ‘shipshape’ phrase comes from. Having feelings like the ones I had after I heard the awful news such a long way from home was something I had never experienced before, and I am thankful to have such an amazing wife and family who held it all together while I was away. Dad was hospitalised and put into an induced coma just a few days after I returned to the UK. He was in a coma for just under three months, regained consciousness, and then sadly succumbed to his injuries on the 10th of March 2024.
Losing my Dad was tough, and it is still hard, nearly a year later, as the admin and organisation of his estate continues. Moving into 2025, I have promised myself to work hard, not just for personal gain, but to leave a legacy behind that I hope future connections, colleagues, friends, and family will all look back at with pride. I know both my Dad (and my Mum before she passed in 2019) were proud of everything I had achieved.
You may ask why I am sharing so much personal information. My Dad’s passing has galvanised me to work hard to help others, mentor them, and guide them to move forward. I also need to move forward, and in doing exactly that, I want to help others do the same by being an advocate for all things Autodesk. Doing what I am doing gives me purpose and lets me realise that I am my father’s son. I want to make him proud of all that I do in the future.
In memory of my Dad, I will always look back at the AU2023 class of mine that he inspired. “Shipshape and Bristol fashion” was one of his mantras, and it will stick with me forever now. The link to the class on the Autodesk University website is here: –
Weirdness and reflection
AU2024 in San Diego was weird because it was the first AU where I did not have to phone my Dad to let him know I had arrived safely, nor send him pictures. He was old-school and did not really have a clue about what I do, but he loved to see what was going on when I travelled internationally for work. On the positive side, AU2024 was my best AU since I started attending AU back in 2006. I worked in tandem with the Autodesk Community team, taking over social media duties on the Tuesday of AU. Check out the hashtag #cadjediAUwisdom to see the posts!
As we went through Christmas and New Year, it was a time to reflect on our personal loss, but I also reflected on how my hard work behind the scenes to build up Not Just CAD and the podcast is now really starting to gain momentum. I want 2025 to be the year that Not Just CAD really does get on the map in the Autodesk Community and beyond. I want to provide all CAD and BIM users with an online presence that gives them the knowledge and empowerment to move forward and build their skills to make sure that they are the best they can be.
Partnerships and allies
I have learnt to do this by building partnerships and working with allies within my professional circle. I am so lucky that the majority of this circle are also not just colleagues but great friends to boot. Yes, we all work hard, but we also play hard, making sure that there is laughter along the way. AU2024 was one of those events that whilst being bittersweet on a personal level, it was also a fantastic event for connecting, networking, and enjoying time with the people that mean the most to me at a professional level.
I was able to record some great content for the Not Just CAD podcast at AU2024, teach a fun AutoCAD class that was live-streamed to nearly 2000 people, plus over 200 AU attendees in the room, and launch the AutoCAD User Group (AUG) on the Autodesk Group Network. That, combined with the wonderful social gatherings at AU in San Diego, including being feet away from Counting Crows at the AU Party, made sure that I left San Diego with my head held high, ready to make my Dad proud going into 2025.
Vindication
As an Autodesk Expert Elite Member, I received a Recognition for Advocacy Award for 2024 this week. It arrived yesterday. Not only has this left me humbled and honoured to receive such an award in such an amazing peer group, but it has also made me feel vindicated in the many extra-long hours I have spent working hard within the Autodesk Community as an Expert Elite (EE). The EE program is very close to my heart, and all of those I deal with at Autodesk know that. It is my passion, and my fellow EEs all know how much I value and respect their expertise, camaraderie and friendship.
Moving forward
So, as we move into 2025, I want to let you all know that Not Just CAD is becoming a force to be reckoned with. It is also a passion project that I am incredibly proud of. It will be built with hard work and the excellence of all involved. You all know who you are, and without you all as my friends and allies, I would not have had the foundations to build upon to get this far. The Not Just CAD website is taking shape and more guests are coming along on the podcast, which will soon be on YouTube as a video podcast as well!
You can find the Not Just CAD podcast (audio only at the moment) on Apple and Spotify here: –
Apple: https://apple.co/3YO3ZEX
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4fOdfin
You can also read the Not Just CAD blog at:
https://www.cadfmconsult.com/not-just-cad,
and the LinkedIn newsletter is here:
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6780454168873201664/
Highlights
Here are a few of my highlights of 2024 (you must be signed into your Autodesk Account).
Celebrating The Drafters:
Community Member Spotlight:
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/community-blog/community-member-spotlight-shaun-bryant/bc-p/13056620
CAD Conversations #2 with George Othitis:
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/community-blog/cad-conversations-2-shaun-bryant/ba-p/13202390
LinkedIn Learning [in]structor
As a LinkedIn Learning [in]structor, more of my courses were published in the LinkedIn Learning library. You can find all of my published courses here (LinkedIn Learning subscription required): –
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/shaun-bryant
Conclusion
To close, I want to thank all of you for your incredible support through an incredibly difficult year. Thank you for lifting me up on your shoulders and allowing me to build everything I have so far. To date, it has been an incredible journey, and I hope we can keep it going, building more and more as we move onward and upward.
As an advocate of all things Autodesk, I believe 2025 will be an exceptional year. There are LOTS of things going on behind the scenes that I am looking forward to, especially a trip to Nashville to attend AU2025. I hope I might see you there!
Stay tuned! There is much more to come from Not Just CAD, and I promise you will hear all the Not Just CAD goodness here first!
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