On this day, exactly eight years ago, I had a chat with Matt which led to him extending an invitation to me to join Automattic. At that point, I could not have imagined this relationship would ever last this long. But the constant stream of ideas and challenges has kept me busy, and time flies when you're having fun. Alas, the day has come. As of April 3rd, I'm no longer part of Automattic.
A quick look back
It was a good run. I've been fortunate enough to get experience in a lot of the portfolio. Over the years, I contributed major features to WordPress.com, Jetpack, Tumblr, Gravatar, Cloudup, and more. Say what you will, but I believe at least some of these projects are significant chapters in web history.
This journey has taken me all over the world – from Tokyo to Vancouver. Whether it was getting stuck in a snowstorm on top of a mountain, indulging in wildly irresponsible amounts of Kaiserschmarrn, or organizing an impromptu birthday party in a New York restaurant – it enabled me to forge what I hope will be life-long connections with people all over the world. The people are easily what I'll miss most.
Especially in a globally distributed setting, it takes a lot more effort and intention to stay in touch. Without some help, the chances of running into each other on the street, or going out for a coffee are near zero.
It's not goodbye
To say goodbye would be to give up on each other. I'm not into that. Companies come and go, but it's really the people around us that help us to new opportunities, or support us through the tougher times. I'm deeply grateful for everyone that reached out post-layoffs, regardless of the side they ended up on, and rest assured I'm keen on keeping these relationships going. This is not a goodbye.
With that out of the way, there are a few groups I need to call out:
- Team Hyperion and the OG Guardians – Thank you for bringing me on board and teaching me your ways!
- ACME Signal Co. and Greenhouse, past and present – We did some of the coolest stuff. Thank you for the ride!
- Jetpack – Thank you for the trust you put in me, and for helping me get through probably one of the most brutal periods in my personal life. I'm forever grateful.
- Tumblr – For keeping it weird!
While it's tempting to try and name everyone, I just want you to know this: I really appreciate every single interaction I've had in the last eight years, as big or as small as it might have been. You helped me be a better engineer, leader, and person overall. Thank you!
And if there's anything I can do for you now or in the future, please reach out! I'm never more than a DM or email away.
What's next
While change often means letting go, it also creates new opportunities. I'm still figuring out what exactly that means for myself, but I'll do my best to pass on all the wonderful things I've learned to even more people along the way, while remaining humble and forever curious.