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.
Surely there are more career successes than hating on Cisco. Take you're advancement as a professional, and a person, with the networking contacts you've made in business and the friendships you've developed along the way. Those, too, are things that count, I believe, when summarizing one's career. You're still early in the process and I think that as you proceed along your career path you'll gain a deeper appreciation/understanding of some of the smaller victories that help upwardly mobile, young professionals gain that sense of accomplishment they all need. They all strive to achieve the recognition for a job well done. You've made your own contributions so far and moved onto bigger and better things as a result. Best of luck as you go forward from here.
ReplyDeleteEntire ecosystems within the tech industry (that include my clients--past and present) are built on competition (with Cisco being the largest competitor), and the way I've learned this field (and built the relationships and done all the things that you've mentioned) is by hating on Cisco and getting paid for it. This is not a limiting or self-depricating post. It's a tongue-in-cheek look at my own viewpoint of the technology industry.
ReplyDeleteKeep throwing rocks!
ReplyDelete