Microphone Drop

I'm retiring

For over 42 years I have been getting up every morning, putting my tech support hat on, or my owners hat, or my web developer hat, or my boss hat, or my manager hat, or my employee hat, or one of those other work related hats and buckled down to work. I have walked the technical journey from writing software on an Apple 2 while in college to create an ERP system for a parachute manufacturer (when I was 19 - yes really) to TODAY where I carry a smart assistant in my pocket that can answer questions with half a TB of storage, can take multi GIGAbit pictures, and tell me everything going on for my household and clients. That apple 2 app ran on 64k of ram (upgraded from 48) - not mb. not gb - K. It worked with a 5mb Corvus Omnidrive divided into tons of 143k floppy sized disks that was the size of a microwave,

In my decades in the technical field I've:

• created websites that brought in multi-millions of dollars in sales a year
• Helped user test a game that was one of the seminal rpg style computer games ever - one that influences computer games even today - again while in college, and again when I was just 20 years old.
• developed software - before this was even a thing - that allowed an entire classroom of kids to collaborate on a document in Realtime
• configured sophisticated servers with multiple physical and virtual machines
• Used cloud resources before they were called cloud
• Been a pioneer with Microsoft products - supporting things like office365 when it was called BPOS (Business professional office system)
• Have experienced every version of DOS and Windows since it was invented
• Worked with the first Macs and Lisas
• Carried a pager
• Carried a luggable "laptop" the size of a sewing machine.
• solved thorny technical issues galore
• Recovered countless down servers and workstations
• Unhacked hacked systems
• Prevented hacks on many systems
• created solutions that vendors used to solve problems in their own products
• Beta tested any number of new things
• Reinvented my business 6 times in 4 decades
• Coached a number of interns in the WEMOCO program
• represented countless vendors for sales of servers, workstations, laptops, portable devices, phones, networks, etc.,
• designed sophisticated networks with multiple sites, vlans, and complex firewall rules
• been up at all hours of the morning for technical downtime and emergencies
• recovered a Novell network for an amusement park on Christmas eve
• been awarded consultant of the year by the local professional consultants' network
• served on countless boards as a technical advisor
• promoted FIRST robotics, and mentored kids
• worked with WEMOCO and local middle and high schools to mentor kids about careers in technology
• been the "boss" to any number of successful employees who have gone on to sophisticated careers
• Helped configure, specify and install every kind of tech imaginable
• Learned to be a CEO
• Learned to be a manager
• Taught myself everything I know about technology (remind me to tell you the story of how I flunked CS100 and went on to spend the next 42 years in a technology career :)
• I've worked in a pancake house as a short order cook
• I've worked in a fancy restaurant as a dishwasher
• I've delivered papers
• I've had loyal, kind and compassionate smart employees who are ALL smarter than me at what they do.
• I've had clients who have followed me for decades through 4 different companies
• I've done side development while working a full-time job
• I've created protection systems for my clients to help keep the bad guys out of their systems

And you know what? I'm tired.

I am at an age where I can become retired. It's a weird word, as I doubt, I'll be any less busy. I'll just be busy with different things. I won't be up till 4 in the morning worrying about if that customer's down system will come back up, or if my clients can't access the internet, or if their website gets hacked. I will be taking a step back and a step down from constant communications. I'm going to log out and log off and pursue some passions that I have set aside for the most part for the last decade.

According to everyone I've talked to who has (actually) retired two things are key:

• It's going take time - probably around 2 years - to actually FEEL retired and start a "new groove"
• I need to fill time with other things - or depression and anxiety will continue to pursue me.

So what will I be doing?

• Travel for one - we've been blessed in life to have experienced a lot of cultures outside the US. I feel that knowing and exposing oneself to new cultures expands your mind, and your world view. Much of what's wrong today comes from an isolationist attitude and a tendency to "other" people. I want to create a life where that doesn't happen.
• Relax and slow down - my life has been an adrenaline rush every single day. I want to spend more time being mindful and enjoying each thing, rather than rushing through it to get to the next thing.
• Spend more time with friends and family - it seems cliche, but we are only on this planet for a limited time and spending that with loved ones is super important, and not something my regular job has let me do enough of.
• Pursue some hobbies I enjoy from gaming (board and computer) to home automation to building Gundam Models, and of course - cooking, one of my major passions.
• Meet more people. Do more things. Have more experiences
• Will I continue to do tech? Almost certainly. But at a smaller scale. With fewer hours. And no instant messages, messenger pings, texts or other interrupting communications. I will ignore those. Because they will be 'harshing my mellow"

All of that said - you all - all 2000 or so of my connections here, the 1400 or so on Facebook, and the countless others that are friends in real life are who and what is important to me. So as I go through these experiences and go through the ups and downs (because no doubt there will be both) of retirement I hope you will all stay connected. Except for those trying to sell me something. You can just go away - because I'm not buying. If you're connected to me JUST BECAUSE you want to sell me something, rather than to enhance your network of fun and knowledgeable people - I'd suggest you terminate this link before I do :)

But what if I'm a client

Will I continue to do tech? Almost certainly, but only for a few friends and family clients, very part time, and very much not available for emergencies. OS-Cubed will remain an entity for the foreseeable future but at a much-reduced capacity and a more focused purpose.

I've arranged for 2 companies to take over the bulk of my clients. On the IT side I selected Synergy IT Solutions and employee-owned western New York based MSP and support provider with a deep technical bench. They have hired my employee Jim Rock my technical services expert who will continue to provide support to clients who transfer there. If you would like an introduction there, please EMAIL ME FIRST HERE so I can get you to the right person and help assess your needs.

On the web development and hosting side I've referred clients out to nvisionative a company with deep knowledge of the platform we use, and a host of advanced design and marketing services I've never had. They are hiring Patrick Richards my web development expert. They will take over hosting and development for the many websites we work with. Same goes for web development - I'd be happy to introduce you to the folks at nvisionative whom I trust and respect.

If you're a "friends and family" client you probably already have a letter from me, but if not let me know and I'll get back to you with a plan to either transfer services or continue under my new system.

This is not goodbye. But it is a new chapter and one I'm looking forward to.