stevengharms.com

Today was my VP’s quarterly all-hands meeting and much to my surprise, I was honored with an award. Apparently an elf, or several elves, thought that the work I had done since joining the team 7 weeks ago was exceptional and nominated me for being an exemplar of the corporate culture we seek to foster in my organization.

I admit, there was a second where, as the introduction was read, I thought: “Hey this person is doing a lot of work like I do, that’s funny.” But then it dawned on me, the person reading the description was my manager’s manager, my director; wait, was that suggestion from my manager that I ‘be sure to be at the all-hands on Monday’ more than just a pull for team turn-out at the big conference facility…”

And there it was, I was called up, I shook hands with people whose names I read in the industry press. I had a photo taken and was given a sharp-looking certificate and a new Flip camera UltraHD (Cisco owns Flip). I was lucky enough to be sitting next to my friend Jason who’s known me, at work, for 8 years now. It was really nice to be among so many friends and smiling faces. I got a lot of congratulations (not to be confused with the ‘alot of congratulations’) thereafter and it felt really good to know that people in the organization think I do good work, that I make a difference.

What more could make a Type-A happy?

After the meeting was over I went back to my building, back to my desk and opened the email box and I found dozens of congratulatory emails waiting. One of my co-workers said something so awesome to me it made my week (possibly my year).

[The award is] for those who Collaborate, Learn, Execute, Accelerate, and Disrupt. I think you did all of them and it is a well deserved award.

I have to say that while meeting the senior leaders was great, knowing that my peers think I add something to their every-day world, made me feel so appreciated I can only be humbly silent.

I’ve never been a team captain or the guy who made the 3-pointer at the buzzer, but today I knew the truth that they always say at the end of the championship: it’s not about me, it was the team that made it happen. Those wonderful people I work with who tolerate my questions and ignorance are the reason I happened to have had a bit of glory today. I thank them for their esteem.

At my megacorp we now have Crystal Light in the breakroom. These ‘single use’ crystal packs are to be added to bottled water ( boo bottled water! ) so that instead of having another bullet of brown sludge you can have a nice lemonade.

I, for one, welcome this change.

In that spirit, I provide an advertiser’s wet dream by repeating this mantra:

“I believe in crystal light / I believe in me.”

I’ve arrived and checked into the beautiful Westin Boston Waterfront.

I’m still on California time, so it’s almost 2am and the conference starts at 9. Ugh.

I’m going to head to bed now, after I brush my teeth.

North Carolina.

So far what I’ve seen of it leads me to the following statements:

• It’s hotter here than in Austin. I’m going to remember that next time some Trinangle-r asks me about the weather in ATX.
• It has beautiful trees and space like Texas, this is something I missed in the golden state.
• There’s a hint of Georgia about what I’ve seen so far, and I did like Georgia.

My old boss ( we now have intersecting interests in town this week ) sent me an email and we’re going to go out and maybe catch up a little.

My new office is located off of Research Boulevard in North Austin adjacent to the Riata Ranch “community”. This morning driving in I was in the left turn lane behind an ambling doe.

Upon arrival to my parking lot I saw another doe and a baby fawn crossing the lot.

“Humans! They’re not supposed to be here this early!”.

I’ll try to remember to put my camera in the car so that I can get a photo.