|
|
提示: 作者被禁止或删除, 无法发言
|
马上注册,结交更多好友,享用更多功能,让你轻松玩转社区。
您需要 登录 才可以下载或查看,没有帐号?FreeOZ用户注册
x
One Year At Microsoft Tuesday, November 04 2008 - Blog
I just got my notice that it's been one yearhere at the Blue Monster. Interesting, that. It's made me think about alot of things with respect to my job - probably some things a typicalone-year blue badge might not think.
My Boss Is a Rock Star
This is probably the biggest surprise for me. No, I'm not sucking up, though it may seem that way. It's just not... me to suck up to anyone and it's one reason I really like Shawn . There are no "brown-nose" the boss kind of games with him, nopower trips and no weird ego games. Hands-down he's the best boss I'veever worked for and believe it or not I didn't expect it when I washired. Not because of him - but because of the caliber of people thatMicrosoft hires.
And he runs Iron Mans and is one hell of anathlete. I thought he'd be one of "those guys" - you know thesuper-athletic boss guys who eat rice cakes and don't drink and thinkvideo games are for fat girly-men. He's not any of those and, it turnsout, I have less body-fat than he does - isn't that strange? .
Duringmy interview we had a very thoughtful conversation that roamed fromFibonacci numbers, to Kona Iron Mans, and then off to Public Enemysongs. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only was Shawn avery engaging person, but he was really into what I wanted to do atMicrosoft, and why. I don't know why I find that weird (in a good way).Turns out that most other people have a similar experience with theirmanagers - and that's just the way it is there. I think that's groovy.
Culture as Concept
Iwork remotely, at my home office, and I don't get to involve myselfregularly in the "cultural" things that happen at the company.Sometimes this is a good thing - other times it's bad. I'm able toretain the sense of "who I am" and really feel like I have my ownvoice. Other times I really feel like I'm missing out.
The neat things is that all I have to do is remote in to the network and cruise the intranet, or start up an IM with my compadres. Video conversationsare easy, and everyone will make time to chat with you - even if theyhave no idea who you are.
Right now I'm working on getting anold computer setup in Phil's office with a permanent vide feed to mydesk here. That way I'll be Phil's virtual office-mate and any timesomeone wants to drop by, they can. Seriously!
I get to fly outto Redmond every other month and every time I'm there I can't believe Iwork for a company that's this open, this exciting, and this much fun.Yes, the Koolaid is lovely, thank you. Believe it or not I actuallymean this .
Seriously, there is so much going on at a giventime - so many decisions and ideas and personalities - that I literallygiggle every time I swipe my badge at Building 42.
A feeling ofsmallness takes you over - seriously. I'm not an egotist and I hope youdon't think I'm sitting here trying to name-drop, but it's really how Ifeel. Walking by a nameplate that says "Scott Guthrie" and having himwave as you walk by is ... well it's ridiculous. And it makes me laugh.
IfI was there every day I might get used to it - rubbing shoulders withguys like ScottGu, Nikhil, Brad Abrams, Phil, and especially Eilon. ButI'm not - so when I visit I feel like a kid visiting his big brothersoff at college...
Contributing
Microsoft hasa really cool way of allowing you to do what you do - it's called"here's your rope, how much you want?". I was told shortly after I washired to "tell, don't ask and see if it flies" - and that's what I'vebeen doing. Most everyone is receptive, but I've found that they lookto you to just do what you do, and excel as you see fit. There is no"well let's see what so and so says" - they kind of want to see resultsfirst. If you fail - which I've done - people are quick to pulltogether to find out what went wrong and how to fix it.
I lovethat. I know that a lot of companies work that way - I've just neverexperienced it. Success and Failure usually means attribution to yourboss in some form, and also making sure you align it with his boss'sstuff - your typical Survivor politics. That doesn't work here, and I'm grateful for it.
Assessment
Ifeel like I've done well my first year. It's not an easy company towork for and that's not because of any weird authoritarian managementpolicy or ticking off goals on a list. As I've mentioned - it's 100%up to me to succeed or fail, and I have to what it takes, completely,to navigate the waters and succeed.
What makes this particularlychallenging is that I'm working with guys like Hanselman and BradWilson. Jon Lam, Jesse Liberty and Glenn Block. Eilon Lipton! People Igreatly respect and whom I have to measure myself against (how do youdo that?). I don't come to confidence easy, and I have a really hardtime telling myself I belong here. But here I am indeed, and it's "do,or do not - there is no try".
I can safely say it's the bestjob I've ever had. You might have your opinions on my being "borged"and that's OK. I like the challenge. Ask Phil sometime how "borged" Iam , he'll tell you that I've passed my Koolaid off to him . |
|