Post-Noogler Thoughts

6 Months of Googling

I'm halfway through my sixth month of being a Googler. At this point I don't think I qualify as a Noogler and I have to take off the silly looking hat.

So what have I learned?

Best and Brightest:

I've had the good fortune throughout my career to work with really smart people. But working at Google I find myself constantly running into people that impress the crap out of me. When I ask what someone did before joining Google the answer blows me away every time. I feel out of my league in a way I haven't since taking Parallel Algorithms (that class blew my mind). 

It is keeping me on my toes because I know I can't coast here. In order to impress people I have to be at the top of my game. I can't make stuff up and expect to get by. I have to do research and then make stuff up. (I don't think BS-ing will ever go away)

Showmanship Goes a Long Way:

My job is to impress. That's probably the simplest way to put it. Companies look to Google for innovation and excitement. You don't choose Microsoft as a technology partner if you are looking to be cutting edge. With that comes the expectation that the employees of Google know something special, something more than everyone else. 

While the products that I sell are better than our competitors in many ways, it still comes down to putting on a good show. Making them believe the magic behind the curtain. I've always enjoyed talking in front of groups. Perhaps it comes from watching my dad give sermons all those years, but I like standing up in front of people and teaching them something. Often times the people I'm talking to these days are some of the smartest IT folks you'll come across and yet there I am telling them how to revolutionize their business.

The Perks Matter:

The perks at Google are amazing. It's beyond the free food (which is great, BTW). I could list the elements that have surprised me but it would appear to be gloating. Suffice to say, I would be shocked if I left Google for another company. My compensation is good, but not mind-blowing. It's the fact that every area of my professional (and much of my personal) life is taken care of. 

If I return to management I want to take all this into account when hiring/dealing with employees. The knowledge that the company seems to really care for my well-being, even when it is a 40,000 person company astounds me. 

Picking my Battles:

I love not being micro-managed. I struggle mightily when I feel like someone is watching over my shoulder. At Google the management structure is incredibly hands-off. For someone who is still very new to the job I am given nearly ultimate freedom. I run my own schedule and accounts. 

But like all things this comes with extra pressure. I already worry if I'm biting off more than I can chew. It's hard to have all the knowledge of the world around you and not want to get a little of everything. I want to write Python and Go and deploy to App Engine. I want to be good at that. I want to be able to show off the capabilities of the system with my own code. I also want to be able to focus in on the Internet of Things and become an industry expert in this crazy world of connected devices. More than anything I want to be a good team mate and help sell our product.

When I look at all that I could do to better myself I drown in options. My focus will always be on my family first so there's only so many hours in a week I can dedicate to work. So I have to choose. I have to know that there will be things that I am not an expert at. I will have to be able to ask for help.