A Fresh Start
27 July 2007I’m changing jobs. After 7 years with my current employer it’s time to move on. The decision was difficult for a variety of reasons and not without anguish and guilt. I’m leaving behind some friends that I hold very dear to my heart…friends who have supported me through this process, and who really pushed to do whatever they could to get me to stay. They really went above and beyond, and I appreciate their help more then I could ever express.
We’ve been waiting for 4-6 months to see if the company was actually going to end of life (EOL) us as planned, or keep the business running. It was finally decided a few weeks ago that it definitely will continue. And at the end, all my original requirements for staying on the team were met, but it was just too late. My heart is not in it any longer.
I had to decide whether I wanted to be a big fish in a small pond, or a small fish in a big pond. Staying would put me in a sweet spot to help build a new team and structure the future of the product, but it also means I’d spend the next 6-12 months training people to get a team up to speed. Leaving means I’d have little or no control over the product in the beginning. However, I would be doing what I’m passionate about, which is learning and testing new technology.
I have a great opportunity to go work for one of the hottest tech companies on the market right now, and I’m going to go for it. It’s going to be tough to leave, but I don’t feel like I’m making the wrong decision. Everything about it feels right. Now I just have to break the news to my employer…
on July 27th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I think it’s great. Life is too short to do work we are not passionate about if we have a choice.
on July 27th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Thanks. You are absolutely correct, and that is ultimately what it came down to.