After nearly 22 years of work designing, building, and architecting tech systems, I have decided
it is time for a change.

Beginning with building and hosting websites, then doing Oracle and Salesforce, I have had the
honor and privilege to build some incredible systems for some wonderful companies, meeting
so many cool and interesting people. Many of whom are here at LinkedIn. You have no idea the
inspiration you have provided to me over the years.

In particular, I would like to thank everyone at Salesforce with whom I have worked in various
capacities. It was always like being part of a family. Although not the kind of family that gets
loaded on Thanksgiving and proceeds to get into a knock-down drag-out fight. 🙂 There was
some drinking, but no fist fights.

There is a proverb from The Sermon on the Mount: “Do not hide your light under a bushel.”

For too long that is what I have been doing, hiding my light. There were whole parts of me that were laying dormant that wanted to come out. Stand-up comedy, podcasting and teaching guitar are about to get their moments.

Roads that will lead me up to the light.

My first stand-up show was in front of 100 mostly strangers. I felt more alive than I had in years.

You’re just standing up there with nothing but your material, a mic and your voice. A room full of eyes staring back at you, some happy and ready to laugh, some scowling at you, throwing daggers with their eyes. Up there, you confront every one of your own insecurities, fears and doubts. Then you have to push through them to make people laugh.

It felt the way technology felt when I first started doing it.

For teaching guitar as my living, it’s a dream come true. I get to go back and learn Van Halen
tunes. Return to the 17 year old sitting in the back room in my parents’ garage playing, 16 hours
a day. Passing on all this material to a whole new generation to keep the tradition alive.

None of us know how long we have, and I promised myself that with the last breath I take I can
go in peace, knowing I gave it my all.

As the prisoner Red from The Shawshank Redemption said, “Get busy living, or get busy
dying.”

The new chapter begins….