"Why I left Microsoft"

[soniCron]

Scott Burkun, a program manager on the Internet Explorer project, writes about the reason he went to work for Microsoft, and why he left.

I thought it was very inspiring and relevant to the developers of this forum.

Read it here:
http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/essay41.htm

[siread]

Interesting stuff but I would wager that he has a nice little nest egg to comfort his fears.

[Anthony Flack]

So he left Microsoft in order to stop his life and get into debt? Or in order to play the guitar in conference facilities?

"I left Microsoft because I felt like a change. But it wasn't just any company that I left, it was Microsoft. I just felt like doing something different. Different from Microsoft."

I think I'm missing the point somewhere.

[soniCron]

I think he wanted to be a writer.

[Savant]

He did the Microsoft thing for 10 years and got the itch to do something different. I know where he's coming from as do, I imagine, many people on this forum. It's natural and good for him on following through.

[lakibuk]

Maybe he read Steve Pavlina's blog and decided to burn his bridges. :D

[Anthony Flack]

I think he wanted to be a writer.

Yeah, I know. I was just messin'. The first comment was based on the opener, "My reasons for leaving Microsoft were the opposite of why I went to work there [...] I was desperate to start my life, and get out of debt". The second comment was just based on that weird photo of him playing the guitar in what appears to be some kind of seminar.

Besides the afforementioned messin', I was just commenting that he didn't really seem to be saying much in that article. I expected more from a "why I left Microsoft" essay than, "well, I guess I just felt like trying something different, you know?"

I suppose it's true that it was brave of him to follow with it through, since so many people don't. Especially since he was working for Microsoft, and not just some bank or something. But I don't think working for Microsoft makes the essay any more interesting - though I suspect that only very well-paid people are able to quit their jobs with the intention of poking about with a half-finished novel.

Anyways, just messin' is all.

[smiles]

Or in order to play the guitar in conference facilities?

That cracked me up....yeah, it seems like the title should be "I left Microsoft so I can fulfill my needs of non-conformity and quirky lifestyle". After 10 years as a project lead on IE6 I'm sure his bank account isn't hurting. Seems like he's getting published in the project management field as well.

[Sysiphus]

Good luck to him. Nice decission :)

[Vorax]

I agree it's no biggy that he left M$, the article isn't really anything to do with the company, it might has well been why I left my 'job'.

[bpj1138]

Yeah, try pokin' around with a half finished game when you never had a job in the first place...

I'm not that much into web browsers, or apps for that matter, but being a software guy, I'd could probably deal with having a job working on such software and not feel like I was wasting my time. Goes to show you how people that have no interest in software end up in top positions in the industry. Then again, writing such software much be tidious as hell. Try fulfilling every MS-windows user's needs and desires when it comes to internet browsing. There must be a billion little icons all over the place and a trillion more 3rd party sponsored links, and you're tasked with tracking it all. This is the kind of reason I expected to find in the article, along with nasty company politics and tales of incompetence).

On the other hand, I don't wanna sound bitter, us Indies have a tendency to hate everything and everyone even in the face of something positive. So even if the guy quit his job for no good reason at all, I say more power to him!

--Bart

[arcadetown]

My current job is the longest running have ever had by a long shot. Previously was max 2 years at some fooltime job, tons of consulting projects that lasted weeks while one extended for years, and many odd jobs during college years. Have drawn paychecks from over 30 companies. Never been able to sit still. Can I piss off my current boss and get fired already?!

[James C. Smith]

>> My current job is the longest running have

Same here. I worked for 12 to 24 months at 5 jobs in 8 years. I help start Reflexive more than 8 years ago. So I worked at Reflexive longer than all my other jobs put together.


So he left Microsoft in order to stop his life and get into debt? Or in order to play the guitar in conference facilities?

"I left Microsoft because I felt like a change. But it wasn't just any company that I left, it was Microsoft. I just felt like doing something different. Different from Microsoft."

I think I'm missing the point somewhere.

Thanks for that highlight. Now I don't feel like I need to read it.

[arcadetown]

Same here. I worked for 12 to 24 months at 5 jobs in 8 years. I help start Reflexive more than 8 years ago. So I worked at Reflexive longer than all my other jobs put together.
Oh yeah... well my boss (me) is a bigger jerk than your boss (you) so boyah! Damn I just pissed him off again, now the jerk's really going to slave drive me :D

Wow I'm going on 8 years here also. Crazy to think it's been that long but yeah started as a little distraction project in fall 98 to learn Java.

[Grey Alien]

I've worked for the same firm for 9 years, first as senior developer, then manager, then consultant and finally as contract programmer. I have pretty much lost all motivation now as I have no contact with the clients any more, and having released my first game only makes me want to make more! The money was/is good, but, as was addressed in another thread, money certainly isn't everything! Designing a multi-site central ordering sytem is creative but it's "boring"-creative not fun-creative like making games. Although of course, finishing a game can be a be a bit of a chore, but at least it is yours and you can look forward to showing it to people.