Originally written in March 2018 but never published as I never left....... Now that I have it felt right to post it...
Are you Contributor or Consumer?
Are you Contributor or Consumer?
I have today finished working for my current company in NZ. I have dozens of reasons why
I chose to leave so I will only put out a few.
- I wanted a new challenge.
- My career was going backwards due to numerous structural changes and then outsourcing.
- Same old approach, same old processes that were as sacrosanct as a religious text with no hope of change.
- I realise that there is so much more (good tech) out there than the bubble we’d been enshrined in and due to our skills rarity.
- Promotions were literally waiting for incumbents in the senior roles to die or retire (Lessened with outsource)
- Desire to chase my own dreams.....while I still can.
Another Issue
Sadly, another issue was that I realised I had become
surrounded by more consumers than contributors. This can be true for many teams and companies and is not unique to the team above.
In my years back in the business it became obvious that many of the developers were consuming my knowledge (I like sharing), but, at the same time, some were opposed to sharing theirs. There were a few good eggs though and you know who you are :-)
In my years back in the business it became obvious that many of the developers were consuming my knowledge (I like sharing), but, at the same time, some were opposed to sharing theirs. There were a few good eggs though and you know who you are :-)
Which type are you?
There are two types of developers in this world. Those that ‘learn/implement/teach and share’. And then there are those
that learn solely to strengthen their individual position, or in this case (at this firm),
their collective position. Some go as
far as making areas of expertise for themselves in a vain attempt to make themselves indispensable, not realising that this selfishness was actually harming the growth of the business and stalled their own career.
I've known of developers with 25+ years’ experience in the tools that had never even posted a blog or a forum answer on 2E or Plex. Their interest in the tools (and tech) was only
deep enough to grow their individual product (business) knowledge.
They’d never given back to the wider community, they had only even dined at
the free buffet of knowledge.
I had questions in my mind......
I had questions in my mind......
- Who are these people?
- Why was I wasting my time trying to help change this culture?
- Perhaps it doesn’t need changing?
- Perhaps the problem is me!
In life we choose our friends and they choose us. With school and work especially, we are often forced together....
Personal Impact
I had let myself get so despondent about this scenario that I know that even
if I went for another job right now, my frustration would be etched across my
face and it would do me little good. I place no blame at the feet of the outsource provider through which I was working via....The damage was already done before that deal was struck.
What Next?
I’m not driven by money, power or job title (so many
managers have failed to understand this part of my personality) and suffice to say, I will have
many options so I am looking forward to finding my happy place.
Now is the time to take a break, recharge my physical and mental batteries and
then look for a future challenge or focus full time on my dreams…..
My biggest takeout is, if you have tried your best to
improve the environment around you but see no signs of it improving, walk
away. Some places/teams/processes are just broken, channel the energy somewhere that warrants your investment/time... including you.
Look after yourself and live your dreams.....One life.....
Look after yourself and live your dreams.....One life.....
Thanks for reading the
p.s. When I got home and told the trouble and strife (wife) that I have resigned. She said it's the first time she had seen me smiling for a while...... I reckon I made the right call, just in time.
p.p.s. If you find that you are a non-selfish consumer. i.e. someone who is absorbing the knowledge at present but don't have a forum to pass on your knowledge, that is fine. Just remember to not become one of the selfish hoarders when your time comes to share your knowledge...
Synon 2E and Plex Emporium by Lee Dare (A developer blog).
Lee.
p.s. When I got home and told the trouble and strife (wife) that I have resigned. She said it's the first time she had seen me smiling for a while...... I reckon I made the right call, just in time.
p.p.s. If you find that you are a non-selfish consumer. i.e. someone who is absorbing the knowledge at present but don't have a forum to pass on your knowledge, that is fine. Just remember to not become one of the selfish hoarders when your time comes to share your knowledge...
