This is the end, of the line. My last days in IT.

sactownchad · 2014-04-03T16:30:04.000Z

Well, after 20 or so years of IT, I have reached the proverbial end of the line. My final day as an IT professional will be April 18th.

I am in a unique position to truly “follow my bliss” which is a statement that I would have mocked from others as recently as a few years ago. I used to believe that men should work hard and make lots of money, mental and physical health be damned, and this has kept me in a field that I have not been passionate about since the very early 2000’s. With the support of my wife and my SCORE.ORG counselor, I am off to work in a brew pub, entry level, to gain experience which I will leverage in the opening of my own location in the next few years in my home town. I will be paid to pour beers for people, and talk about beer with people, I still can’t believe it. Less money, sure, but I can’t tell you how excited I am to be working in a field that I am genuinely passionate about!

To the young guns reading this. If you live and love IT, go all in, study hard and be the best you can be. If you ever lose that passion, make a go at reinventing yourself in IT and if that doesn’t work, try to figure out what you are passionate about and work toward doing that. Don’t wait! If you don’t love learning and growing 24/7, IT probably isn’t the field for you.

To my fellow vets, you know who you are. The ones that know what ATDT typed into a terminal program does, those that understand what an IRQ is, 0x378 anyone? For those that remember where they were, probably in an office testing, that morning of Y2K. To you, I take a bow and wish you continued success and adaptability as the IT landscape continues to change so quickly around you.

Thanks again spiceworks friends for your knowledge and camaraderie for the past 4 years. I will drop in now and again to see if “I still got it” and try to keep helping until my knowledge is completely irrelevant.
Cheers,
-Chad

jimmy-t · 2014-04-03T16:34:02.000Z

Well written and good luck on your new venture.

theschnak · 2014-04-03T16:34:26.000Z

brew pub??? as in maker and seller of varous ales and elixers to soothe the soul?

jeremyb · 2014-04-03T16:34:28.000Z

Best of luck to ya! Don’t hesitate to hang around here though.

vwernicke · 2014-04-03T16:34:51.000Z

Good on ya and God Speed.

ranhalt · 2014-04-03T16:35:46.000Z

Chad.w:

If you don’t love learning and growing 24/7, IT probably isn’t the field for you.

Pretty much any field that isn’t digging holes and filling them up. That’s pretty much as good as it’s gonna get. But desire to learn isn’t exclusive to IT, at least it shouldn’t be.

daveboring · 2014-04-03T16:35:59.000Z

I applaud you for living your dream! Best to you in your pursuits!

robertcritchet1845 · 2014-04-03T16:36:15.000Z

Alas, one of the venerable few who held the sacred knowledge (ATDT, IRQ, 0x378) is passing beyond the Pale… we are getting fewer and fewer…

gabrielle.l · 2014-04-03T16:36:26.000Z

Congrats on your opportunity of a lifetime! Do drop by occasionally and make us all jealous – er, let us know how it’s going.

lizdrury0112 · 2014-04-03T16:38:16.000Z

Congrats - I applaud you!

I hope someday I will do the same.

shayne · 2014-04-03T16:41:41.000Z

good on ya for following your passion… you sound like an alcoholic but that was probably me just wishing it was friday already. smile

sqlrage · 2014-04-03T16:41:53.000Z

So long and thanks for all the fish!

torrey · 2014-04-03T16:45:04.000Z

Cheers to the Tech Vet who has evolved out of IT. Though if Ray Kurzweil & Google have their way, the beer pub spouts will require system updates, and robot bartenders.

Wishing you the best…

edgrauel · 2014-04-03T16:45:57.000Z

Congratulations, sounds like it will be a fun new chapter!

sactownchad · 2014-04-03T16:46:48.000Z

SW-Desperado:

good on ya for following your passion… you sound like an alcoholic but that was probably me just wishing it was friday already. smile

To quote the Onion, “I am like a Chocoholic, but for booze!”

russellkuhl · 2014-04-03T16:50:38.000Z

Congratulations! I’m probably just a few years behind you - - not to the brew industry but maybe something to do with dogs. I’ve been toying with the idea of working weekends with a dog trainer to get some experience under my belt.

Your advice about passion is right on the money - - as soon as IT stops becoming fun, it turns to drudgery very quickly. And I’ve also seen too many people try to get into IT for the money and they just don’t love it/live it and, therefore, they never get to be really any good at it, either.

joelazaria3601 · 2014-04-03T16:51:48.000Z

0x378… yes, good times.

Chasing passions; the only things worth a damn… Best of luck to you!

davidgoldberg · 2014-04-03T16:52:20.000Z

I hit 20 years in IT this past January, I’ve had the same thoughts and dreams (coffee house/bagel shop/brew pub anyone?).

Sometimes I do regret not pursuing that dream, but now I’m at a pretty cool software company, so I’ve mellowed that regret a good bit over the past few years.

Good luck!

sactownchad · 2014-04-03T16:54:10.000Z

@Goalie, do it! I can’t believe I got this job. I walked in to the interview and just said “I’m shooting for worst handwriting and least relevant resume awards for this interview session” and tried to pour on the charm. I scored well on the beer knowledge test and I think they were intrigued by my honesty about wanting to open my own tap room (not brew pub) someday. I am so excited, and obviously, I just can’t hide it. You might even say that I am about to lose control and I think I like it.

vericomitguy · 2014-04-03T16:57:52.000Z

I so look forward to the day I can say that. My true interests in IT started 15 years ago but did not really get into it professionally until about 9 years ago. Even in that short of a time though I find myself feeling burnt out and ready to give it all up and move on to something different. To be honest I would have if I did not have a family to support. As it stands though I do so I cannot quit just yet but I am waiting on the day.