A retirement message I sent to my colleagues prior to retirement in August 2019. I was leaving the organization I had been with for nearly 20 years after a career that started in 1974.

1. Before I go….
A parting message from
Steve Estabrook - July, 2019

2. A day you dream about.
Your last day.

3. It’s bittersweet – great to leave
what has been unpleasant, sad
to leave what has been good.

4. But chapters are chapters. When
it’s time for a new one – it just is.

5. So here we are.

6. As an analyst, it’s hard to not
look back …and analyze a bit.

7. For me it all started on an 8k
machine.
You heard
me, 8,000
bits of
memory.
The IBM
System/3
Model 10.

8. It took two IBM
engineers
(and in those
days they were
technicians with
oscilloscopes
and logic charts)
two days to
upgrade to
16,000 bits.

9. Now you can
pick up a 32 gb
flash drive at
Walgreens. Often
on the counter by
the cash register.
Next to the mints.

10. To
access
the
system
we used
a 3277
Terminal.
All we were doing in those days
was adding things up.
And storing the results for later.

11. I could put a
buttered bagel
in a fold over
plastic bag on
the top of it and
in 15 minutes it
would be ready
– nice and
toasty.

12. And I also coded on
the monitor as well.

13. IT has come a long way.
Many things have
changed in my career –
but many have not.

14. How IT has
remained the same

15. Simple is still better.

16. Through today’s eyes, these early
days looked simple but for us it was
all new and complex in its own way.

17. Remember – there were no computers
generally available. There was still ONE
Telephone company. Sears was a big deal.

18. The idea of being involved in one of these
mystical machines was quite the thing.

19. They required a special room with
special power and air conditioning.

20. The simpler we could make things
then - the better – that should still
be our goal today.
Occasionally we
achieve that simplicity.
Occasionally.
Simple is still better.

21. Helping people is still
rewarding.

22. Today it is difficult to see
what good we are doing
when we often can’t see
those we are serving.
And that can be frustrating.
Helping people is still
rewarding.

23. You know what I mean.
Helping people is still
rewarding.

24. But when you can actually
help – that’s a good day.
Helping people is still
rewarding.

25. And if you can do something with
the least number of IT people
people involved – the better.
Helping people is still
rewarding.

26. That’s a better day.
Helping people is still
rewarding.

27. And for those of us in IT, if the
business likes what you did –
well – that’s even better.
Helping people is still
rewarding.

28. Clunky processes are
still clunky.

29. If you have a bad manual
process and you
computerize it –
what do you get?
Clunky processes are
still clunky.

30. A bad computer process.
Clunky processes are
still clunky.

31. You know where they are.
Clunky processes are
still clunky.

32. It was the same then
as it is now.
Clunky processes are
still clunky.

33. Hope we can get better
at that.
Clunky processes are
still clunky.

34. IT is still misunderstood

35. In my first real job – the company
knew they needed a computer –
but in reality they had no idea
what to do with it.
So they made it a part of
accounting so there could be
somebody to blame.
IT is still misunderstood

36. The computer was needed – they
reluctantly thought (and it was).
IT is still misunderstood

37. But the computer was a
strange, mysterious thing.
IT is still misunderstood

38. And the people involved with
it were also mysterious
and strange.
But the computer was a
strange, mysterious thing.
IT is still misunderstood

39. The business was running
fine without it – thank you.
IT is still misunderstood

40. AND you are costing
us money.
IT is still misunderstood

41. Things are still the same.
IT is still misunderstood

42. The business can
think we are strange.
IT is still misunderstood

43. AND we are costing
them money.
IT is still misunderstood

44. So as we part company,
remember….

45. Keep it simple so we can really
help people.
Avoid clunky at all costs.
And if you are an IT person, try
not to be so strange and
mysterious.

46. That goes for the
retirees as well!

47. From that day in November 2000
that I started as a contractor…

48. From that day in November 2000
that I started as a contractor…
To that day in May 2007 when I
was hired as an employee…

49. From that day in November 2000
that I started as a contractor…
To that day in May 2007 when I
was hired as an employee…
To today…it’s been quite
an adventure.

50. I’ve sent this to you because
you are someone who has
contributed to my career.
Contributions take many forms.

51. I’ve sent this to you because
you are someone who has
contributed to my career.
Contributions take many forms.
Maybe we were really close, maybe
not so much – BUT – we were in
this together and I am a better
person because of you.

52. We experienced some
wonderful, strange,
frustrating and crazy
situations.
Thankfully not all at
the same time.

53. Those experiences made us
who we are today – we just
haven’t stopped that
often to remember.
…or tell each other.

54. We have contributed to each
others careers and
experiences in many
ways over the years.
Let’s not stop.

55. I really appreciate the special
part you played in my career.

56. Be a blessing to those
you work with.

57. In the end…you will never
regret it.

58. Take care…

59. Take care…
And God bless…