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The trip to Dallas was incredible.
Seeing my team was awe-inspiring. The evenings especially, with the after-class meetings, planning, and histories were really something amazing to take part in. Some information I knew, some I didn’t know. What really floored me was that even growing EllisLab has not hurt our bond as people, even with more of us to participate. The added faces changed the dynamics, but we were all close. I’ve been in companies before riddled with stress and tension; but there’s nothing of that drama with EllisLab.
Instead we were a group of people with a shared experience, shared bond, and a shared purpose. It is both humbling and life altering to realize that somehow I am part of that team.
But it did show how I need to grow, as well, in my interpersonal communication with others, especially as “Senior Director of Operations”. In the airport awaiting boarding, I picked up a number of books through PersonalMBA.com, focusing on leadership and communication. This is a major juncture in my life, it’s a place I’ve not been to, and I have learning to do. I am serious about improving myself, and my role with EllisLab. This could be a pivotal moment in my growth; I refuse to be an observer, instead I will actively participate in that growth.
Reading is just the beginning. But it’s an important beginning, and it’s the first step down what I hope will be a long and prosperous road.
We learned about Agile Scrum - nearly all full-timers are now Certified Scrum Masters and Certified Scrum Product Owners. Both, not one or the other. All full-timers are at least one of the two.
But most importantly we grew as a team; being distributed is a distancing situation - coming together, humans, co-workers, and friends - is vital. It energizes us, it unites us. The importance here can’t be overstated.
The failures were personal. The heater in my fish tank failed, and I lost nearly all of my cyprichromis - though the others are doing just fine.
I also gained 2.8lbs. Even having prepared myself for the possibility that I would gain weight during this trip; it felt like a huge failure. To get on the scale Saturday morning and see that number was devastating.
So I ordered some Pizza Hut ....
I kid!
I went to LA Fitness and I swam. I swam and swam and I went 8 laps beyond my previous best, hitting 50 laps. That’s .72 miles. I did it in excellent time, well under a minute per lap, even though I did take some water breaks to stay well hydrated. I kicked my old best out of this universe - and that felt GREAT!
That was a victory.
Meanwhile, my team are some of my strongest supporters. They’re all cheering me on, encouraging me to continue on this quest to regain my fitness. Some have been down this road; which I was not previously aware of. I was given brief introductions to CrossFit and the Paleo diet. I found a local CrossFit gym and intimidating though it is, I am going to talk to them tomorrow afternoon and see what happens. The Paleo diet will take a lot of reading. It is a very large departure from my current diet and I can honestly say I’m not sure about it right now, but I’m interested, so I shall read and learn.
All in all, the week’s successes eclipsed the week’s failures. I am already looking forward to seeing everyone again at EECI.
And most importantly, I’m refreshed and revived, excited to be part of our growing company, and ready to see all of my people thrive, succeed, and prosper. Because if it’s not about people, then why bother?
It’s all about people I’m extremely proud of, and people that inspire me, and people I look forward to talking to and working with.
It’s all about people. My people.
-Lisa, on March 6, 2011 at 7:58 pm