Career Reflections: 15 Points

Tom's latest eBook has been released on Amazon: "The 7 Myths of IT Integrations". Tom is also a Program Director for a large Midwest corporation and has been an adjunct faculty member at Walsh College. He has managed global web initiatives, data center moves and large multi-million dollar programs.

  Career Development   Communications Management   Lessons Learned  

A few years ago, I attended a retirement party for an executive at a large IT services corporation where I had worked. I’m not sure how I happened to be at this gathering; it was a room filled with associates, customers and people who had worked with the executive over his many years at the company.

When the socializing died down, the vice president of the division stepped to the microphone. He gave a glowing summary of Jim’s career with the company before making a few jokes about him being “put out to pasture” and now being able to spend more time hunting and fishing.

Then he introduced Jim. The entire room responded with polite applause. As the noise died down, Jim smiled, paused and adjusted the microphone at the podium. He then gave a simple, straightforward speech that summed up lessons learned in a career of over 30 years in IT management…

Lessons Learned by Jim M.
“Thank you so much for this evening. Rather than ramble on about me, I wanted to share with you what I learned after having gone through the whole ride. Think of this as my final program debrief...

I’ve learned:

1. “Not to tell your spouse you’ll be home early from work.” The higher up you move in an organization means the more responsibility you undertake. The more responsibility you have, the more opportunities for problems…

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