When you hear the word technology, what comes to mind? Is it associated with IT? Or does it mean technical as in an aptitude for engineering and technology?
For me it meant the latter, which was rather demoralizing when I was thinking about moving to IT. Before I began at Rackspace, if you asked me what an API was, I would have told you it was the American Petroleum Institute.
While engineering is absolutely associated with IT, my world dealt with controlling pressures up to 20,000 psi at depths of 1000’s of feet below the ocean floor. My world was metallurgy, volume metrics, manufacturing, and sealing technology that made drilling and producing oil and gas safer than it’s ever been before.
But I knew the aptitude was there and wasn’t going to let what I didn’t know hold me back.
A year now into IT; I’ve conquered a whole new dialect of acronyms and I’m becoming more fluent every day.
Regardless of the role you’re in (Project Management in my case) the traits that matter when you change industries are being a team player, developing an understanding of the products you’re managing, and working towards a greater goal while being able to adapt to constant change.
Regardless of the company or industry you’re in, you’ll have a team, a department, and a role. How you embrace each will determine your success. Your personal brand is something that you’ll carry with you everywhere and is crucial to your network.
Don’t be afraid to span outside of your comfort zone. My nickname my first year (actually used for most of it) in oil and gas back in 2004 was Sponge Bob! My job was to shut up and listen and soak it all in. While I get to talk a little bit more now, Learner is one of my top strengths so I still hold those lessons dear.
I’m not a programmer and I don’t know Linux, but I love that not a day goes by that I don’t learn something new. Take it from Sponge Bob here that leaving your industry and comfort zone for a new one doesn’t have to be scary if you bring your determination, work ethic, and aptitude with you.
Category: Rackers Tags: Learner, Learning on the job, Life at Rackspace, Linux, Project Management, Strengths
Excellent post, Tony. I completely agree with what you said about moving to different industries. The core principles, inclucing integrity and character, are principles that span the globe and are not affiliated with any one industry. You can have as many degrees as you can afford to complete, but without integrity and character, you will not be successful in your endeavors. Thank you for your post.