Start. An open letter Oct. 21, 2015

In 2013 I made the decision to focus on the development of new skills in cyber security and strategy. In 2015 I applied for acceptance into the MIT EC program. The following is an open-letter-style Facebook post I made after attending the first of my on-site classes at MIT. It was a profound experience, stepping back into the land of formal learning at 43, and I feel like this post may hold some value long-term for others.

How did I get here! As I head back home from attending class at a place I never dreamed I could or would, it occurred to me that I have just experienced a “how did I get here!” moment, in short, I am overwhelmed. If you would have told 18-year-old me that I would be taking selfies at 77 Massachusetts Avenue after attending classes, I would not have believed you (I also would have wondered what the heck a selfie was). You see I hated school, but luckily, as I learned later, I loved to learn.

For someone who hated school, it is almost comical that I ended up in a business where if I ignore where technology is headed for 6 months, I am out of date. The speed of change is getting faster and faster and if I don’t want to become a dinosaur whining about the good old days, I have to stay current, I have to stay relevant, I have to stay in demand… The only way to do that is by learning new skills. I sometimes find it funny that for an industry that prospers on the constant evolution of technology, and profits from the never-ending cycle of upgrades that our customers go through, that so many people in IT react poorly to change. This is IT, things change. You either change with them, or you die too.

When I left for this trip I felt incredibly selfish, leaving my family behind, spending money, taking time away from my kids, etc. I realize now that there is critical parenting value to model “paying the price” for re-inventing my career skills. Most people won’t pay that price unless forced to, if you’re in IT you have to. I hope that my kids will grow up to believe it is normal to always be improving yourself, to always be continuing their education.

I was also nervous when I left, it is scary stepping out into an unknown world, not knowing if you have what it takes. Fear and doubt can paralyze you, but regret lasts longer, and although I have updated my skills and kept current technically I have never done anything on this level. The credentials I will gain by doing this dwarf all my past certifications and schooling. Summer Perkins you said in your vows that being together would allow us to engage the world in ways we would dare not do alone, this was one of those moments. I would not have done this without your support and encouragement, THANK YOU!, you deserve way more credit than you will accept, I love you.

So to all my kiddos, these are my words to you; most of what I am doing today (career-wise) didn’t even exist when I was your age, don’t get hung up on what you need to be (or do) when you grow up, a lot of kids and young adults think that they should do nothing until that vision of their future is crystal clear. Here is a secret; purpose is attracted to motion and momentum. Take action, find your awesome in the things you love, and never stop looking for your calling, and as a side note: money isn’t a calling, it is a consequence. Do what you have to do to make a living and survive, but long term, don’t settle into a life you don’t love, don’t mortgage the best years of your life doing something you hate, and don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot accomplish in your life.

Just to be clear, I have not accomplished anything great as of yet… except for a start, but sometimes that’s the hardest part and that is why my “How did I get here” has an exclamation point and not a question mark.