The same can be said for many people here. I've been contacted by Ascend,
Bay Networks, Cisco, Assured Access, and other vendors - as well as the
usual "recruiter representing a major market player". I've also had
network sites ask - the most tempting I'd have to admit was NASA Ames.
They wanted me for a networking/web position and they do have such *nice*
toys to play with... :-) I'm an aerospace freak, so I have to say I
*really* wrestled with that one. The project was at the advanced testing
facility there. *drool*
But most of the good people I know who've been here long enough to be
known have been called by recruiters. It really isn't unusual since, when
you get down to it, this really isn't that big an industry people-wise.
But for me it isn't about money. I've had some major monetary offers
tossed at me over the years - but I didn't take any. For me it is more
important to believe in the product I work with - and I do believe that
the PortMaster line is the best all around remote access product. So
I feel confident recommending them to others, and supporting them. I
used to work at another vendor, as some know, and I had a much lower
confidence in the product and company. So I wasn't nearly as comfortable
recommending them. And the corporate environment here has been fantastic
from my point of view, I've been happy working here overall. I could have
made more, but I'd have been working with products I didn't believe in,
in more beaurocratic environments. Not a good trade-off for me.
>least he's taking the step of heading for a network rather than another
>network EQUIPMENT vendor.
I don't think I could in good conscience. I believe Livingston products
are the best remote access products available - period. How could I then
go to another vendor and in good conscience push those products to a
general market. Sure, in some cases others work better - we don't do
AppleTalk, so something else is appropriate, etc. But in the general case
I am not comfortable pushing a product on someone else if I would not
be comfortable using the same product myself. I thought about it a lot
over the months leading up to this. I might be comfortable with Cisco
for routing products, or 3Com for ethernet products, etc - but there was
also the issue of corporate culture.
When it comes down to it, I still firmly believe in Lucent's remote access
products. I believe strongly in the people here, and wish them continued
success across the board. So I could not honorably go to work for the
competition. I owe Livingston, the company and the people, a great deal
for the opportunities they provided me. Remember, when I started here I
was a 24 year old with 10 months of work in the industry, barely a year
out of college. Two degrees - History and Technical Writing. Most of what
I'd done was 'unofficial' - hacking around in college, working for the
college computing center, exploring networking on my own time. Not a
very impressive resume to most corporations. But Bri decided that I was
right for Livingston and he gave me a shot. And I am deeply grateful for
that.
I was given enough rope to hang myself many time over. And more than
once I managed to put my neck in the noose. But there was never blame,
always support to learn from it and move on. There wasn't any of that
"not your department" bullshit I so hated in my last position. If something
needed to be done and you were willing to do it, you got a chance. The
environment very much supports someone willing to take risks and push
themselves to take on new things. Without the chance I was given, most
of you likely never would have heard of me. The supportive attitude here
comes right down from the top, and I don't hesitate to recommend working
here.
I didn't do this on my own, I've been part of a greater team here. And
I am very sad to be leaving that team, but it is what I need to do now.
I'll try to write the explanation for what came down Monday to get it
out in the open.
>I'm sure we all wish him the best.
Thank you.
-MZ
-- Lucent Remote Access Division - Chair, Department of Interstitial Affairs Phone: 800-458-9966 510-737-2100 FAX: 510-737-2110 megazone@livingston.com For support requests: support@livingston.com <http://www.livingston.com/> Snail mail: 4464 Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588 - To unsubscribe, email 'majordomo@livingston.com' with 'unsubscribe portmaster-users' in the body of the message.