10 Years With the Same Company 🫢

Last week I celebrated a milestone that I’m extremely proud of.

I just hit my 10 year Workiversary with FM. 🙌🏼

The last 10 years have been packed full of so many fun moments. Incredible highs. Challenging lows. And everything in between.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve begun to picture my life as though it were a book. Less of a linear path towards some ultimate goal. More a beautiful story with lots of nuance and depth.

I’m learning to embrace this more and more each day. It’s a bit messier than I would like… but there is joy in the journey.

Over the last decade, I’ve grown from an IC Software Engineer to VP of Product sitting at the executive level. But that’s just what my LinkedIn profile says. So many other beautiful moments have been written in my book.

• I’ve gone from 1 kid to 4… 🤪

• I’ve been through many ‘marriage moments’, as my wife and I like to call them.

• I’ve been to counseling… and still go.

• I’ve had a sibling pass away.

• I’ve bought my first house. Then moved a handful of times.

• I’ve had my job taken away… and then given back.

So as I personally celebrate this milestone, I thought it would be a great moment to jot down some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way. Partly to help anyone who could benefit, but maybe even more so for myself.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving into these moments. This will primarily be focused around the professional moments, but some personal lessons will make their way in. This list might change a bit… but this my current outline. 👇🏼

Outline

1. Don’t take yourself too seriously

2. Your friends are now your direct reports… and it kinda sucks

3. Establishing Product from the ground up is really really tough - don’t give up

4. Every company and team is different - books can help, but you have to figure out what works for you

5. Your family (friends or loved ones) are probably more important

6. You’ll never get stakeholders to see the bigger picture, so stop trying

7. Your growth (and more importantly, health) is your responsibility

8. Get a network of people you can talk to, especially as you progress in career

9. Everyone is replaceable - even you

10. *leaving this one open for now…

That’s all for now.

Be back soon ✌🏼