I’m getting older.
I’ve been in software product management for over 20 years now, and an office worker for far longer. I’ve worked at small companies and large ones; I’ve managed staff and been a lone-wolf. I have survived over 15 RIFs, three mergers, two acquisitions and the extremely rare merger-acquisition (a company buys your company and your main competitor on the same day).
I’ve never been fired or had my job downsized.
It is very important to me that I don’t waste your time here. If you are looking for a plan to get rich, or a secret to success, or 7 principles to being a modern leader, or whatever garbage is populating the top 10 in career and self-help these days – you are in the wrong place.
I am not rich.
All I’ve ever achieved are the things I’ve set out to do. I wanted a family and financial stability. I did not want to worry about money all the time. I wanted a job that leaves me emotionally satisfied, not completely drained. I wanted to achieve this success on my own terms and as myself.
Though I worked hard (very hard); hard work is not enough.
I’ve walked/sprinted/crawled along a very long road. I can’t divide out what I’ve earned through hard work and what I’ve earned through help from friends I’ve made along the way, systemic advantages, a supportive wife, and plain luck. Even my misfortunes aided me along the way – providing perspective you can only get from suffering. My advice – Use every advantage you have and be grateful for them.
I don’t have all the answers.
Sadly, I can’t promise you a path to your dreams. I don’t even know your dreams. You may not know your dreams yet. The purpose of the musings on these pages is to buy you the time required to figure it out for yourself. No matter what you want most in your career – stability, money, power, respect, opportunity – staying employed is the first step. The Code won’t make you rich; but it can stop you from becoming unnecessarily poor.
I want you to do well.
I hope by sharing a collection of all the missteps I’ve seen that could have been avoided, and all the cheats I discovered that most don’t know… you will get closer to succeeding in whatever way you want. I truly hope you enjoy the rules.
Yours Truly,
The Pro