Sometimes I am amazed at what I get to do in my job. When it comes right down to it, I'm just a technician. That's where I started and that's all I ever expected of myself. I used to joke that the mark of my success would be to make enough money to hire a limo to drive me to service calls. That's back when I used to run from Batavia to Lewiston and Lock Haven to Fredonia. I had my tongue solidly in one cheek. Still, I was at least partially serious.

I loved working for myself, installing and fixing telephone systems. Each day brought new accomplishments. Run the cables. Mount the MDF. Punch everything down. Cross-connect all the line appearances. Place the phones. Make sure the President of the company was out of the office on the day of the cut. It all made sense. Some times when I sit in meetings I think back to those days and miss the clarity.

Yesterday we had our Technical Services retreat. It was successful. Many people contributed. UEN has a steering committee, our board of directors, and this was held, in large part, to get input from them. We also invited any of our key customers who wanted to participate. The meeting was well attended and many good ideas were shared.

What amazes me is that I'm even a part of it. This sort of thing is a far cry from where I saw myself just twenty short years ago. (Oh, and if your are still in your twenties, that statement probably won't make any sense.) Looking back on my past work life, where I came from and what I expected, helps me to keep a good perspective.

At a young age I went to work fairly often with my Dad. The people at his hospital called him "Mr. Stewart." But I knew that when we got home he was going to put on a flannel shirt, jeans and dirty boots and we would go out into the garden to water and weed. Yea, somehow I'm doing alright. But, all things considered, I'm just your ordinary, average work-a-holic..............
10:14:44 PM    comment []