Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Summarizing my career

Now that I am a month into my new job at Engage PR, and I have taken on new accounts and new challenges, it seems like an appropriate time to look back on my career thus far. In doing so, I realize that it can be summed up in one phrase: Hating on Cisco.

Cisco Systems is a giant vendor of technology equipment. We've all seen their lies commercials on TV welcoming us to the human network. However, I have learned over the course of my career that, like many giants, this one isn't particularly agile, and the human network works a lot better with other vendors' equipment.

Every non-wireless network vendor with which I have worked, kicks the crap out of competes with Cisco. Their solutions are better. Cisco just got there first and has the most market share. They're like the wired network equivalent of the iPhone. People think it's great. Once upon a time, it was the best solution available, but now it's been surpassed by other products and lives on name recognition and reputation only.

I am currently out of the enterprise data center game (sad face...I miss it), but I'm hoping that my absence doesn't last too long. Fulcrum was the only client I had my entire time at DJA, and I want to get back into the areas where they play. It's been far too long since I've had an opportunity to tee off on Cisco and get paid for it.

Friday, August 13, 2010

One year ago today...

It's hard to believe that it has been a full year that my grandpa's been gone, but as of today, it has. All who had the pleasure of knowing this great man, knew a man of strong principles and values who was also a kind-hearted and personable jokester.

I went into a lengthy description this time last year (and you can read that entire piece here if you'd like), but much of how we live our lives comes down to the simple dichotomy of right or wrong.

This great man was a shining example of what is right, and the values and principles I learned from him will continue to carry me through the rest of my life. For that, I am forever grateful.

Rest in peace, grandpa. You are forever remembered.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

I'm on a train!

So it's not quite up to par with being on a boat, but in the ongoing process of acclimating myself to living in the bay area, I feel as though I have pretty much mastered BART. Thanks, in no small part to @BARTAdventures, my weekend included a couple trips to the city. After work Thursday night, I caught my train at Fruitvale and ducked off at Montgomery to meet up with her for drinks. After a minor detour (because I'm a moron and went the wrong way), I strolled up to the Irish Bank and had a couple black and tans.

About the time I was finishing drink #2, @kellymatney dropped me a text to let me know she was done with dinner and heading out to meet us. Jackie made the call that we would hit up Katana-Ya for some ramen and Sapporo. Kelly joined us, and after some issues with chopsticks, napkins and a couple appearances from the awkward turtle, we walked Kelly back to her hotel, Jackie to her bus stop, and I hit Powell Street to head home.

Friday at work sucked.

I should have taken a nap before Friday night, but c'est la vie. After an awkwardness-driven dinner excursion with a motley cast of characters that left Kendall and I shaking our heads on more than one occasion, we headed for the city to meet Kelly. This time, we hit up the Thirsty Bear and Kate O'Briens. Other than a creeptastic urban cowboy-looking individual standing at the corner of 1st and Howard, that was uneventful.

Kelly BARTed it over to the east bay today, and we took a quick tour through Alameda before I took her down to silicon valley to @donnamatney's. It was great to see someone from the home half of the state--even if she was up here for a conference. More visitors coming in next weekend...not even sure who all is going to make it. Good thing I have lots of space!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Chinese food (so you know what that means...)

With two weeks of work in the books, my first paycheck in my [landlord's] pocket and some laundry going, it's time to finally get to the blog post about lunch with Kendall (who spends her free time doing fun things like this and this) last Thursday. We met for Chinese food, so of course, it's time for another installment of...ridiculous things said in fortune cookies!

You will be awarded some great honor.
To be fair, I think Kendall should have gotten this one, since she is being "awarded" the "great honor" of her first tag in a DL post. However, it was I who opened up this cookie. I'm being placed on a new account this week, which I guess, is something like being awarded a great honor. Third week, third account...complete with a road trip to Santa Clara pending. Gotta love that. "Some" is a fun choice of word, but in the overall scheme of fortunes, I suppose this is not such a bad one. Not a whole lot I can do with this. Kendall's, however...

Your good listening skills will open many doors.
To be fair, Kendall is a great listener. I am as well. The issue becomes retention...specifically, selective retention. We'll listen (to you, to each other, etc.), there is just often going to be a disconnect on what parts we retain. It may be a picky distinction, but it's not selective hearing. It's selective retention and processing. A lot of people have the issue of thinking what they say is really important and that all people everywhere should care. Sometimes, they are right. Most of the time, they are not.

I would like to delve further into this topic (and will at some point), but I am off to watch the Doyers get swept (hopefully).