On November 2nd, I will begin writing the next chapter of my software development career with a new company: DPRA.
This post is bittersweet for me, given that my seven years at DAXOR have really helped me grow into the person and developer I am today. I remember my first few weeks on the job trying to figure out how to write C# and learn what the devil a line-of-business app was. (Keep in mind I had just become disillusioned with academia after abandoning my pursuit of a PhD in computer science.)
DAXOR gave me the time, patience, and opportunity to learn new skills and consider what I wanted to do with my career. I’ve learned so much about business, the medical device industry, and about building quality software with many close colleagues. I feel fortunate that I eventually had the opportunity to build a team of good thinkers who let me mentor them and in turn challenged my thinking — the team I wanted/needed when I first started. I make an effort to keep in touch with some of those folks who have moved on, and I plan to keep in touch with my project manager, who has been an excellent mentor to me.
In the software development industry, there’s no universal formula for figuring out whether to stay put or move on. I will say that although change can be difficult, it will help me continue on some of the paths I’ve set out on, and to open my eyes to new opportunities and relationships I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. Those of you who know me understand that I wouldn’t take such a decision lightly, and that I prefer committing to a company for a decent period of time to develop a deep understanding of the problem and strong relationships with people.
Granted I’ll need to relinquish my knowledge and comfort of how everything works for developing software for DAXOR. I acknowledge that everyone goes through this process when they transition to a new role/company, and that the processes I’ve learned and habits I’ve formed thus far will help me continue to be successful.
“Don’t be afraid of change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something better.” — Unknown
Although my previous chapter is familiar to me, with dog-eared pages and notes in the margins, I look forward to turning the page and starting afresh.