Success is in staying on course technically and spreading wings along the way
Stories of Role Models
It has been a 20 year deep dive into technology for me. Yet, it seems like yesterday that I started working. I guess this is what happens when you are in love with what you do.
I did my engineering from Calcutta university in computer science. It was 2001.
After passing out, I worked my early career making friends with device drivers and real time operating systems.
Four years passed by. Then another 3 at Aricent, working as a Tech Lead, as I transitioned from services to the products space.
It was time for me to have my 7 year itch with the romantic relationship of my life - my work.
As I looked at myself, I did not see myself automatically moving into management roles like many friends.
I was good at working with others but technology had the first pull. Yet, there was not much I could say, that made me different from so many others.
I thought about this. I decided to stop coasting along. That made all the difference.
I stopped restricting myself to day-to-day technical tasks. I urged myself to see the big picture and begin painting innovations and inventions into the work I did.
Around that time, India was opening up to taking ownership of engineering products from right over here. I wanted to stay around in India because of my aged parents and I could now do it without sacrificing on the work front.
I changed how I worked. In addition to deliverables, I began to actively collaborate with able colleagues. We did white papers. We wrote patents.
I also did not change how I worked. At a moment’s notice - today also - I could roll up my sleeves and dive to hand-on depth.
The relationship between the two is not either-or. It is an And - A ‘Tatha’. Easy for me to remember, because my friends call me that too.
I continue to do both of these upto today and now have more than 30 patents to my name.
Many friends chose to remain technical because they find it hard to interact - especially in case of conflicts.
It is ironic, as they grow into technical roles, their success becomes more dependent on persuading others, especially without any formal authority.
I sailed past this chasm - but if you are technically strong - do invest time in ensuring your persuasion skills are at par. Else it is easier to be a manager and just thump the table :)
I have also found that diverse experiences enrich your technical depth. I did a MBA from IIM Bangalore with no intention of becoming a manager after that.
Yet the breadth of subjects that I studied gave me appreciation for different perspectives. An essential - for an architect - who sees the big picture.
Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. So I find fine folks to interact with. They help me learn and grow.
I have since then also balanced my tech-immersion with exposing myself to different things.
For one thing, the technical landscape itself is rapidly changing. In 5 years, you can be obsolete, if you do not update yourself.
I am presently also doing a MS in Data Science along with my work. It will keep me on the edge for some more time.
Last month I managed to break my leg too. I was learning to play tennis and all that :)
In all this, I did not deprioritize my family. I owe everyone around me a big thanks for that. I am glad that my children and my parents got to enjoy each other, while my dad was still around.
Today, I play outdoor games with my children or we watch some TV together. They hate it when I forcibly try to make them study.
I do hope that instead they see that I enjoy studying too. I do it in front of them, all the time.
I hope they see that my work is my play. If they pick that up, that will be a good enough legacy for me. Because, playing they like!
My insights are my tathas :) -
Deliver the deliverables - and go beyond them
Do not duck conflict - and collaborate with able friends
Spread yourself in other dimensions - and Stay on the tech path