My career in technology began before technology became my job.
In 1987, I was selling parts. My largest customer was a relatively new company that provided industrial maintenance services. They ordered a considerable amount of product from me every week.
Whenever I visited, I also found myself helping them with their computer.
One day, the shop steward took me aside and said:
“Dan, you are a lousy salesman, but we keep buying from you because every week, when you show up, you fix our computer. You need to change careers.”
It was blunt advice—but it was also good advice.
So I changed careers.
I left a job I hated and took a chance on doing work I loved. Technology eventually became a career that took me around the world, introduced me to remarkable people, and allowed me to spend decades solving problems.
I have loved the work ever since.
Sometimes another person recognizes an ability in us before we recognize its value ourselves. That shop steward saw something in me that I had not yet learned to see.
Sometimes the safe decision is not the right decision.
And sometimes, you have to take a chance and do what you love.
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