From Infosearch Media, Steve Doria Signing Off
I joined TrafficLogic, Inc., now known as Infosearch Media, over a year ago. They gave me a software development opportunity, which I desired, when other companies were more interested in the software quality assurance abilities that I listed in my curriculum vitae. When I took up my appointment at TrafficLogic, I knew nothing about the technologies they used. I could only give the people who interviewed with me a promise to quickly learn and adapt to their business needs. TrafficLogic made a risk by accepting me, and I hope that I have provided adequate returns for those risks.
TrafficLogic has influenced my career path significantly. Before joining the company, I was very interested in becoming a team member in a standard software development environment that uses traditional programming languages like C++ or Java. I never considered Web applications development in the past, but TrafficLogic exposed the exciting opportunities that the Internet provides. Fulfilling the business needs of the company and its clients also motivated me to develop myself as a computing professional in several areas of expertise.
Aside from providing an environment where I was able to develop and exercise my skills, TrafficLogic futher developed me as a person. The people of TrafficLogic were the most significant of the company’s factors that affected my personal development throughout my stay. There was friction at times, and I now realize that I created a lot of it, but we worked together and had fun.
Without Sunil Bhanot‘s ability to “remember me” after my dismal interview, I would not have had the opportunity to meet some very awesome people. David Gagne‘s progressive management style is consistent with one that Google’s CEO prescribes. He successfully assembled an adept team, which acted in the company’s interest without requiring intrusive oversight. I view Kelly “the Kloser” Bakst as the great facilitator. He has performed at least two responsibilities very well. Firstly, he coordinates collaboration within the team. Secondly, Kelly exerts his best efforts in minimizing detriments to the team’s progress. As a corallary to the second, he has done his best in providing the means to produce results and addressing the personal needs of each team member so that their focus is more on developing solutions that will bring the company to the next level and less on dealing with their personal problems. Josh Axelman helped me remember about me, especially during times when I worried about other people and lost focus on what I was doing. I did trip out on him once, but he’s a bigger man and I am really sorry. Andrew Pineda has really stepped it up these last few months. He’s been dutiful since he started at Infosearch Media, and his consistency helped us recover from some grave mistakes. On many occassions, Andrew has also been successful in preventing me from being a hazard to myself. That was good looking out.
The members of the technical team resemble siblings such that, although things got intense, bad feelings did not remain permanent. A lean team requires its members to depend on each other. It allows team members to take on varying responsibilities. It also provides opportunities for team members to receive recognition, which increases their productivity and generates cause for future recognition. With this positive feedback loop in effect, the team has gotten things done, and they continue to do just that. Each member of the team has earned my respect, and I’ll continue to cover their six.
There are also many others whose presences I got to enjoy. I miss all who have left the company before me, and with the direction I’m taking in life, I will be missing many more. HW represented the company well. His presentation of the company was comprehensive and filled with optimism. HW has pitched and closed deals with the company’s service vendors, even though it was beyond his role in the company. He inspired selfless action that benefited the company without needing the company’s praise or recognition. I explored solutions with SP. Our deployments would sometimes fail, but we overcame the problems we faced. The experiences between failure and success were amazing in itself. EY got me to get up after falling, and I had a good time. RG gave me a beer on St. Patty’s Day and a couple of very fun moments. LM insists that I just go out there and dance. I’ll get around to doing so. SR gave me some pretty good financial advice. I’ll be able to take advantage of compounding interest and dollar cost averaging someday. TE encouraged people to go full force, but also reminded them to know when to take it at a medium pace. AP pushed people to operate at 100%. BC was with me as the last two people remaining after the party was over, twice. KW let me crash at her place once, and JD hosted gatherings at his place a couple of times. TT got people on the phones, and HS provided some very exciting months. JP and LMW took care of my CPA verifications and cushioned clients before forwarding them to me. LMW also provided me with a favorite drink, which is sweet and razzy. SP and DB provided music, and “I’m searching my soul tonight.” Err… wrong company.
Thanks for some great memories.
“How do I get from intern to CEO?” Steve asked in return.
Hua replied, “You need to get hired first,” in a tone that suggests the answer’s obviousness.
An exchange between me and Hua at the beginning of my employment solidified my personal objective. Voicing my ambition made my goals more apparent to me. I must not settle on the safety of a secure job. Life is a game with two fundamental choices: play it safe or play it smart. An opportunity with some risks has presented itself. It is an opportunity for higher levels of success, and I cannot resist its attraction. Working at TrafficLogic has prepared me well. Now is the time for me to continue adventuring through life. I’m Steve Doria. Good night, everyone.
