Family

I am inspired by the crab apple tree in the front yard. Each spring it is the centerpiece of our “estate” with white flowers all over. That lasts about a week, then it goes to work producing fruit. While some falls to the ground, a large amount stays on the tree well in to winter. By some unknown clock, birds descend upon the tree in February and eat the majority of what’s left. Perhaps it’s fermented and they need a little birdie-buzz?

The inspirational part is the tough times that tree has had. When it was still fairly young, something ate most of the bark at the base of the tree. (Without bark, the nutrients cannot get back and forth between the roots and branches.) The tree held on and eventually healed.

This past summer, we had a severe hail storm that wiped out most of the leaves on the tree. A few weeks later, that tree started shooting out new leaves and even blossoms – never before seen after the spring bloom! How could I tell they were new leaves? The old ones turn dark green, have spots on them, and many even fall off in the effort to pass on the energy to the new apples. New leaves look lighter green and fresh.

So here we are in October. Frost is occasionally on the roofs and lawn in the morning. The ripe, red, dime size apples are starting to fall from the tree, but it continues to produce a blossom here and there. It continues to put its best effort to continuing on even after devastation. It continues to put a positive spin to a difficult situation. It perseveres.

How about you?

I’m happy to say that my “time off” was short lived. I now work for Service-now.com. The company makes IT Service Management software. This is the software I used as part of the newly reformed Plexus Service Desk team a year and a half ago. My new title is Sr. Solutions Consultant, assisting customers with the discovery of their hardware and software items on their network, and building an effective database to use in their IT processes.

In 23 days I went shaking hands goodbye at Plexus to having an offer from a new company. I owe a lot of thanks to those who helped with job leads and advocates within Service-now who made a strong case for me. I can never repay the debt I owe.

Once I accepted the offer, I had to get some paper work done, book a trip, and drug screening. OK, the trip was booked prior to the drug screening and criminal background check completing, but c’mon!

On June 7, I flew out to company headquarters in San Diego CA (actually Solana Beach) for two weeks of training. (note: no relocation necessary. I get to work from home with periodic trips to the mothership and travel to customer sites as necessary.) I felt pretty good on the first day when we got on a conference call and I was able to contribute some technical knowledge. The second day wasn’t such a high as we dug in to the specific areas where I was to be trained. While my technical knowledge was solid, my customer delivery needed some work – and that’s putting it mildly. Knowing a subject and teaching a subject (with confidence) can be two entirely different things. I was reminded of my high school freshman algebra class where the teacher would walk us through problems. Everything was easy to understand. It made sense. Then when I got home and was all alone with the book full of exercises, frustration set in because they never seemed to work for me. The nice thing about that freshmen algebra class was that I made friends who helped me understand and pass. I feel the same environment to succeed at Service-now.

Everyone at Service-now has been very supportive. Over the past couple years, I got to know several of the employees either through working with them directly or hearing their name. In some cases, I met people only weeks before when I was out here at the Knowledge user conference in April. Those relationships are only growing stronger. I was humbled that several remembered my name (I only wish I could return the favor.)

As my second week progresses, I feel better about my “pitch” and have been getting some hands on experience resolving customer problems. It’s been a long time away from home. I left Appleton on June 3rd to travel to Colorado Springs for an HDI local chapter officer summit. Having been elected as our local chapter President during my unemployment phase, I thought it best to go and learn more about the organization I represent and how to make our chapter more successful. It was a great four days, but it makes this additional two weeks seem very long. I look forward to returning to Appleton on Friday.

In terms of my career, this is not a management position, as the last five years have been. However, I feel I need to first understand the company, employees, products, and opportunities plus prove myself before being given a leadership opportunity. The company structure is pretty flat now, but they are growing rapidly (another reason I desired this company.) I expect opportunities for advancement will present themselves in due time; with them may come a choice and/or requirement to relocate – I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it with periodic conversations with my wife. She’s been so supportive over the years. I am truly blessed.

My advice to those who find themselves in a similar situation:

• Stay positive. It makes a difference. People talk to other people and your attitude factors in to your conversations with those around you.
• Rely on your network. Keep meeting new people and stay in touch with them. They are going to be your biggest asset when the time comes.
• Be prepared. Keep your resume sharp, backup your contacts (offsite, in the cloud, etc). Fortune favors the prepared mind.

In some ways, I’m a little sad that I didn’t have more time off to do more of those odd jobs around the house. On the flip side, I’m happy the severance package is paying at the same time I’m collecting a REAL paycheck. Donna is happy too!

Thank you everyone – I look forward to this next chapter in my life.

2009 is at an end and it’s time to start looking to 2010 and self-improvement goals.

Last year’s goal was to get in touch (and keep in touch) with people. I feel I accomplished that thanks to help from friends, colleagues, and technology.

This year’s goal is to remember to say “Thank You”. It sounds simple, yet I’ve noticed (usually after the fact) that I skipped over it in lieu of something else. I was at karate doing warm-ups and someone said “Chuck, you certainly have gotten more flexible over the years.” Rather than saying “Thanks” I responded (lightly and rather off-handed) “yeah, but I still can’t do a straddle stretch to save my life.”

It was only later that I realized an opportunity to show appreciate had gone and I didn’t like how I felt about it. It hints at an underlying problem – of which I cannot think of any.

This year’s goal is to really listen for compliments and say “thank you” as a more common response.