Scott Kirsner’s article in the Boston Sunday Globe has prompted me to get back to the blog today. He did a fantastic write up on the RunMyErrand story, covering all the ins and outs, including the genesis of the idea, and my decision to leave IBM to pursue it. I can’t believe it has been just over a year since I left. I still remember what a gut wrenching decision it was to leave, but in the end I knew this was the right path for me to pursue.
I asked whether Busque had ever second-guessed her decision to leave IBM, especially as the economy continued to get worse through the end of 2008. “I did think around September, ‘Oh God, was this the right time?’ ’’ she acknowledged. “But one of the most fun parts of this past year has been networking and talking to people and getting their perspectives and input.’’
It’s a lot different, she says, from her old, somewhat solitary job of writing and debugging software code: “This is my idea, and I want to do this.’’
I remember when Scott asked me this question, and I’ve repeated the answer many times, even when not specifically prompted. It is that moment that I’m sure we all have at one time or another. The truth is, I loved being a programmer. I loved engineering. I loved coding and creating software. I loved working with my team to develop new and innovative features that were pieces of a larger product. I loved all of that. That being said, I had the feeling that I had other skills to offer on a daily basis that I would never be able to utilize in that programmer role. In the past year, I have really enjoyed using skills that I never even knew I had. Things like marketing, sales, legal work, negotiations, and business strategy. These are areas I have grown to love thinking about on a daily basis, and they shape the entrepreneur I have grown into today. When you put it like this, it is easy to see that this was the right path for me and there is absolutely no reason to look back.
My old team at IBM is so supportive. After the Globe article came out I got a special email from my old project lead, that just made my day. We caught up via phone this morning, and knowing that I was able to take that leap and have the support of my old colleagues 12 months later means so much.