I was given a start in this [crazy] industry twelve years ago. I was very fortunate to have an exceptional first boss, Andre Schermel , and teammates that invested their time, extended their patience, and let me figure out things on my own. Victor Suprani Neil Macklem Nigel Smith
Working as an integrator/VAR PS gave me exposure to operators across the country, technologies and products across functional domains, and let me demonstrate I was the type of tech that could be dropped out of an airplane with a backpack and come out the other side with a positive KPI.
If I could tell my younger self one thing it would be that this isn't a race, it's a marathon. The industry moves so quickly between technologies, companies seem to churn through employees even at high positions, and project deadlines were always last week. To thrive or even just survive you have to see through that and focus on what matters. Part of that means aligning yourself with the company goals and serving well. Part of that means clearly defining your own goals and ensuring nothing keeps you from moving towards them.
As I build up a team here at telMAX now, I see parts of my younger self in my team members. I want to encourage their ambition, but I must temper it with what I have learned. I want them to learn things on their own, but I must maintain accountability for the result. I want them to enjoy their work and maintain balance with their lives, but we have a lot to accomplish. One thing my younger self never considered was the wisdom and restraint expressed by my first boss on these matters. He had a chuckle for everything, and you couldn't pass a whiff of bullshit by him.