borge3000

There is an old joke among economists that states: A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose your job.

What’s a recession? How do we know if we’re in one?

Well for starters you’ll have to check your neighbors. Are they still getting up in the morning and going to work? Well I don’t know about my neighbors, but I do know several people that more or less voluntary have changed positions the last few months.

Of course it is not equal for all countries or even all industries. In the US we can see that most industries have been hit pretty hard. While in Norway we can read that retail, construction and the likes have had a much harder impact of the economic crisis than my industry, IT.

Is this about to change? For the first time in the 35 year long history of Microsoft the company is not growing revenue anymore. At least on a global level.  However, being a company where the stock price is partly based on growth, this is alarming news to both the management and the market. Bear in mind that the company is not losing money (yet), it is just not growing its income as much as it used to.

There is a reason for why Microsoft has managed so well over the years, and this is the amazing ability to change and adapt to the markets. Not always being a market leader, and sometimes playing it safe. But when a change in the market is recognized by the company, it is pretty aggressive on tackling these changes.

So it is with the current economics as well. Seen with traditional Norwegian social-democratic eyes it seems odd to let people go when still making money.  But this is the fact even in Norway. The Norwegian subsidiary had to let 12 people go.

I was one of these 12.  

Sad, but true. Well, I could start a rant on how pissed I am on the company and the decision to get rid of me… But I won’t. I’ll make it clear that I disagree on the choices that Microsoft have made around evangelizing and creating architectural guidance to Architects, which partly resulted in my position as an Architect Evangelist being dropped. Now that that is said, I have had a tremendous time in my time working for Microsoft. I have worked with, and learned from some of the best minds in the industry in Norway, Western Europe and even in the world. For this I am very grateful. (Thanks for the opportunity, guys)

So what’s next for yours truly? Truth be told, I don’t know yet. I will (probably) not start working as a carpenter, or take up a career as a florist. That would probably be a stupid move, at least with my talents and in these times. I will stick to being a software developer of some sort. But whether I will seek a career and fortune in a software company, in a consulting company or simply as a contractor is yet to be decided. I just got the news a few days ago, and have to let it sink in.

One thing I know for sure is that being an architect evangelist has taught me to appreciate the impulses and feedback from others. I will engage with the communities, give talks now and then if anybody will listen and try to contribute to the developer population.

After all is recession a crisis or an opportunity? I think the latter.

You haven’t seen the last of me.

Thanks,

Børge

BTW: If you got any great ideas for cool stuff we could do together give me a ping.