One Year At Microsoft

I just got my notice that it's been one year here at the Blue Monster. Interesting, that. It's made me think about a lot of things with respect to my job - probably some things a typical one-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, no power trips and no weird ego games. Hands-down he's the best boss I've ever worked for and believe it or not I didn't expect it when I was hired. Not because of him - but because of the caliber of people that Microsoft hires.

And he runs Iron Mans and is one hell of an athlete. I thought he'd be one of "those guys" - you know the super-athletic boss guys who eat rice cakes and don't drink and think video games are for fat girly-men. He's not any of those and, it turns out, I have less body-fat than he does - isn't that strange? :).

During my interview we had a very thoughtful conversation that roamed from Fibonacci numbers, to Kona Iron Mans, and then off to Public Enemy songs. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only was Shawn a very engaging person, but he was really into what I wanted to do at Microsoft, 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 their managers - and that's just the way it is there. I think that's groovy.

Culture as Concept
I work remotely, at my home office, and I don't get to involve myself regularly in the "cultural" things that happen at the company. Sometimes this is a good thing - other times it's bad. I'm able to retain the sense of "who I am" and really feel like I have my own voice. 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 conversations are easy, and everyone will make time to chat with you - even if they have no idea who you are.

Right now I'm working on getting an old computer setup in Phil's office with a permanent vide feed to my desk here. That way I'll be Phil's virtual office-mate and any time someone wants to drop by, they can. Seriously!

I get to fly out to Redmond every other month and every time I'm there I can't believe I work 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 actually mean this :).

Seriously, there is so much going on at a given time - so many decisions and ideas and personalities - that I literally giggle every time I swipe my badge at Building 42.

A feeling of smallness takes you over - seriously. I'm not an egotist and I hope you don't think I'm sitting here trying to name-drop, but it's really how I feel. Walking by a nameplate that says "Scott Guthrie" and having him wave as you walk by is ... well it's ridiculous. And it makes me laugh.

If I was there every day I might get used to it - rubbing shoulders with guys like ScottGu, Nikhil, Brad Abrams, Phil, and especially Eilon. But I'm not - so when I visit I feel like a kid visiting his big brothers off at college...

Contributing
Microsoft has a 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 was hired to "tell, don't ask and see if it flies" - and that's what I've been doing. Most everyone is receptive, but I've found that they look to 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 results first. If you fail - which I've done - people are quick to pull together to find out what went wrong and how to fix it.

I love that. I know that a lot of companies work that way - I've just never experienced it. Success and Failure usually means attribution to your boss in some form, and also making sure you align it with his boss's stuff - your typical Survivor politics. That doesn't work here, and I'm grateful for it.

Assessment
I feel like I've done well my first year. It's not an easy company to work for and that's not because of any weird authoritarian management policy 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 particularly challenging is that I'm working with guys like Hanselman and Brad Wilson. Jon Lam, Jesse Liberty and Glenn Block. Eilon Lipton! People I greatly respect and whom I have to measure myself against (how do you do that?). I don't come to confidence easy, and I have a really hard time 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 best job 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" I am :), he'll tell you that I've passed my Koolaid off to him :).