Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)
- Who said, “Failure is simply an opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”?
- In what movie (and who said), “[That] man is silent as the grave. But if farts were flattery, honey, he would be Shakespeare.”?
- What song contains the following lyrics (and who sang it)?
The preacher talked to me and he smiled
Said, “Come and walk with me, come and walk one more mile
Now for once in your life you’re alone
But you ain’t got a dime, there’s no time for the phone.”
Listen to the audio of this blog, read by Andy Adkins. Click the “Audio” button below.
I’ve had several great careers and in some sense (even though I’m “retired”), I feel I’m still on that journey for the next one.
Each one seemed to build upon the previous and prepare me for the next (Life is a journey, one step followed by another…). I don’t know if that was skill, luck, or fate. Whatever, I am one very blessed man.
But, my first “career”… Navy! I truly believe it set my life on the right track. You know: teamwork, leadership, ability to BS with the best… Yeah. That Navy.
However, after I left a particular job, I sometimes wondered if I was making the right decision, doing the right thing … you know what I mean. Leaving a sure thing (good or bad) for an unknown.
It’s not like transitioning from a Sailor to Civilian, though. It’s something more, something deeper, something bigger. Yet, at times, I have looked back and asked myself, “What could/should I have said during that “exit interview”? I’m sure some of you may have also experienced similar thoughts.
The Decision to Move…
Several years ago, I was hired as the Chief Information Officer for a large law firm in West Virginia. I’d been a legal technology consultant for 25+ years and traveled around the country working with more than 300 law firms, law departments, law schools and government agencies of all sizes and types.
Every now and then, out of the blue, one of the senior partners or law firm administrator would ask if I would be interested in coming to work as their IT Director or CIO. Chicago, New York, Dallas, Charlotte? Nope, I liked being a consultant. I’d share this with my wife, Becky, and we’d think for a moment… a quick moment… and agreed, “Thanks, but no thanks. We like it here in Florida.”
Imagine the dinner conversation when I came home from a consulting gig and asked if she wanted to move to West Virginia.
Well… I’ll spare you the details, but our kids had moved out, graduated from college, and were off the payroll. My parents had passed away and Becky’s were happily living in a retirement community.
Yet… I’d always wanted to live in a place with seasons.
Let me pause here for a quick moment and share with you that Florida has two seasons–green and brown.
So, to make a long story short, I accepted the position and we moved to West Virginia for four years. It was a great law firm, a great job and we both loved living in West Virginia. It is one of the most beautiful states I’ve ever been in.
And, before you ask, I have visited all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Guam (I was stationed at NAS Agana, Guam for 15 months during my time in the Navy).
How “The List” started
When you’re in a new leadership role (in my case, a large law firm), you have to work to establish yourself as both a leader and a visionary. It doesn’t just happen–at least, not for me.
It’s not like in the Navy when one day you’re an E-3 Airman and the next you’re a Third Class Petty Officer… now in charge of a group of men who a few minutes before were your peers and your friends.
You have to develop relationships at the executive level, the law firm level, the department level, each office (the firm had 10 offices when I started), and the individual level. In other words, the people you work for and the people you work with.
Even when you arrive with a solid set of credentials, you are initially under a microscope at so many levels. There are a lot of expectations–especially within your own department–and you need to build trust and confidence and look for various ways to do that.
Keep in mind that most of the folks in the IT Department had been there for years, were used to the “firm’s culture” and their own “IT culture.”
I’m okay with that; it’s simply part of the process.
This “exercise” initially started as a weak attempt at humor with some of the folks I worked with in the IT department. In my mind, it ended up as a continuous team-building exercise and better yet, some of these suggestions came from my staff.
#1 on the List of Things to Say During My Exit Interview
After my honeymoon period was over at 3 months, I made a comment to one of my managers, “It sounded like a good idea at the time.” To be honest (see “C.R.S.” below), I can’t remember the context. I wasn’t (I don’t think) in danger of being fired, and we all laughed about it—more than once.
But someone suggested that should be on “the list of things I’d say during my exit interview.”
For those of you who run an IT Department, you know what I’m talking about. For those of you who don’t run an IT Department, but, actually have a real life elsewhere… you probably also know what I’m talking about: It sounded like a good idea at the time.
Note: this is not the same as, “Here, hold my beer.” I’ll share those stories in a later post.
#2 on The List of Things to Say
Some CIOs use the “iron fist” method – “My way or the highway” – and others take a more subtle approach. A lot of this type attitude has to deal with the culture of the particular law firm and even within the IT department. But most important, your own personality. People are smart and can see right through the superfluous BS.
When I first made the comment above, one of the IT managers quickly retorted with, “You should have asked for more money,” which became item number two on the list of things to say during my exit interview.
Growing The List…
And so, The List began to grow, mostly by me, but a few by my staff. I looked at this as a way of building relationships within the IT department. For the most part, it was all good humor.
I actually had this list on the wall in my office, for anyone to see, even the Managing Partner. More than once I’d walk into my office to see that someone “penciled in” another item to the list. For a while, I wondered if they were suggesting I should leave or if they were simply having fun.
Since I was there for four years, I’d like to think the latter.
The Rest of The List
It depends on the day and the situation, but I’m willing to bet that most CIOs and IT Directors and others in leadership roles have uttered some of these to themselves more than once. And, now that I think about it, these could relate to anyone… anytime… anywhere.
(Click to enlarge)
They are not in any particular order.
“I should have taken the blue pill” – this almost became the mantra by some IT members. If you remember the movie, “The Matrix.”
“Release the Kracken” – we used to say this right before a major technology rollout, or after I had a confrontation or difficult meeting, especially with a higher up.
“The FM Box broke” – for those of you who don’t know about the FM Box: to the normal computer user, there are inputs and there are outputs. In between–in the Box–the magic happens. Hence, the FM Box. What does FM stand for? Google it, “FM Box.” Hint: something close to, “the freaking magic box.”
“IETSU” – I eat this stuff up. In the Navy, we used to call this “Living the Dream” in response to when someone asked you, “How’s your day?”.
Speaking of the Navy, another quote on the way out the door, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.”
“BTSOOM” – beats the crap out of me. “I’m not the Help Desk, I’m the CIO. I don’t know how the thing-a-ma-jig works – I have people that deal with that.”
“I brought you into this technology world – I can take you out.” I usually uttered this phrase under my breath after one of the attorneys showed their “unprofessional” side. Yeah… that crap happens outside the Navy, too.
One of my favorites, especially since I recently celebrated the 28th anniversary of my 37th birthday: “I’ve been diagnosed with the CRS Syndrome” – Can’t Remember Stuff.
“Was Shakespeare in IT?” – OK, I know this will stump some of you non-theatrical people – Google “Shakespeare Henry VI quotes” and keep in mind, I worked at a law firm.
The Last on the list of things to say during my exit interview
“Thanks for the ride. I’ve enjoyed my time here and I hope that I’ve been able to contribute moving the firm a little farther down the technology track. My best to you for the future! Thank you and may God bless!”
Until we meet again,
Andy
Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books. His newest novel, NEVER FORGET, is the story of A Vietnam Veteran’s Journey for Redemption & Forgiveness. NEVER FORGET is FREE (eBook, PDF) for all veterans. Download your FREE copy HERE.
Previous blogs mentioned in this post:
Answers:
- Henry Ford.
- The Shape of Water; Zelda (Octavia Spencer).
- I Gotta Get a Message to You; The Bee Gees.