Conference 7.286::digital

3195.0. "#59's Last Letter" by ICS::DOANE () Wed Jun 22 1994 19:41

     From May 1960					      to June 1994
                             Goodbye My Colleagues
     
     I've done many things since 1960 for this wonderful company and for 
     our customers.  And my friends and colleagues have done many wonderful 
     things for me.  I've grown and developed from a naive and insecure 
     nerd into a happy and confident adult.  You, the people of Digital, 
     have contributed in *major* ways in my life.  So as I leave Digital to 
     expand my work as an independent product developer, I want to say:
     Thank You!  And for those I havn't reached in person:  please *do* 
     take this gratitude personally!
     
     AN APOLOGY FOR MY TONE
     I won't track each acquaintance or even each friend down in person, so 
     I wanted to write this letter to reach those I won't get to speak with 
     directly (and even those I don't know.)  It may offend some, because I 
     won't write as though I allow for the strengths and accomplishments of 
     each person who reads this.  I'm going to climb on my soapbox and 
     reveal my basic arrogance by presuming to dish out advice.  Think of 
     this as a rhetorical device, please.  I don't mean to say that I know 
     all this stuff, and you don't.  It's just that as I kind of hastily 
     express these goodbye-gifts I'd like to leave you in written form, 
     they will tumble out sounding preachy.  It would take a whole lot more 
     time than I feel I have, to rewrite and rewrite to correct this tone.  
     I realize I'm just reminding you what most of you already know.  I 
     don't really intend any lack of respect or any insult to anyone.
     
     TWO WISHES I HAVE FOR DIGITAL
     In recent years I've been working two issues.  Now that I won't be 
     here pushing on them everyday, I will summarize in three paragraphs:
     
     First, it's obvious that management scrap and rework is unaffordably 
     high and is growing.  My solution is:  when things get complex, allow 
     *eyes* to participate in managing.  TQM, Re-Engineering, RAMS, QFD, 
     TOP-mapping, Teamwork Tools, managing-complexity-by-eye.  I don't care 
     what you name it.  I do care that Digital's people get skilled in 
     listening for complexity.  I do care that when you hear complexity, 
     you put something on the wall to illustrate it.  Don't attempt the 
     impossible:  managing webs of interconnectedness on the serial 
     sequential channel of language and numbers.

     
     Second, I want a rebirth of generosity.  Being competitive may be a 
     popular slogan but as a theme for a business, it's dumb.  Making a 
     contribution:  this is the theme that does work.  Be in touch with 
     customers' *unmet* needs, and find ways to profitably meet some of the 
     *unmet* needs.  Competing for the honor of meeting needs that are 
     already met is bad for profits, and it isn't worthy of the working 
     lives of our people.  Being market driven simply doesn't work well, 
     and never has.  Being customer driven works;  and everyone wins.
     
     Both of the above depend on seeing with your eyes.  You can't be in 
     touch with customers' unmet needs through language and numbers.  The 
     "voice of the customer" without watching customers where they work, 
     while they work is as useful as the subtitles from a foreign film 
     you've never seen.  And running a meeting with only the serial channel 
     of language and numbers, when the topic is complex, is like being 
     stuck with a tape file while others can afford random-access disks.
     
     PRICE OF ALIVENESS:  DISCOMFORT
     Seeing customers' skilled work being performed generates discomfort.  
     Putting a diagram or matrix on a meeting room wall is uncomfortable.  
     All new learning is uncomfortable.  All new thinking brings grief.
     And I think this underlies what ails Digital.  We became a company 
     where "are you comfortable with this?" and not risking grief could 
     sometimes outweigh lively discomfort in new learning and lively grief 
     from new thinking.
     
     I've never been comfortable for long at Digital;  I think that's 
     because I continually ask ignorant questions and opt for new learning.  
     And I'm reasonably skilled at managing my grieving;  I think that's 
     how I can afford continual new thinking.  I believe this is why I've 
     prospered and grown for 34 years at Digital with all of the changes 
     that have blown through our industry and this company since 1960.
     
     But it doesn't look good.  At least, not at the time.  Awkwardly 
     practicing a new way or uncertainly trying out a half-baked new 
     thought:  it's obvious to others that I don't really know what I am 
     doing.  I feel foolish and in danger when I look like that.
     
     I think this is the price of aliveness.
     
     Digital for me has been a place where I could pay this price over and 
     over again, and not get killed for not looking good.  I'm not saying I 
     havn't ever been punished or victimized.  But often enough I've gotten 
     away with it.  That's what I've loved most about this company.  I've 
     gotten away with continual choices to prefer aliveness over comfort.  
     I've gotten away with growing, having fun, and contributing.  Over, 
     and over, and over again.  Through job changes, through technology 
     changes, through management changes, through changes in the company's 
     fortunes, I've been able to get away with aliveness!  And if I can get 
     away with this for 34 years, I think each of you can get away with it 
     day by day by day for years more.  If you're willing to pay the price.

     
     IT'S A PERSONAL CHOICE
     Each person chooses the discomfort of new learning or avoids learning.  
     Each person manages the grief from new thinking or avoids thinking.  
     
     Whatever else happens in your lives I want to leave you, my friends 
     and my erstwhile colleagues, in the presence of this stark choice.
     
     Choose aliveness, with all of its awkwardness.  Make the generous 
     contributions you can make for your customers and for your company.
     
     Or kill your life moment by moment, and look good.  Choose comfort, 
     and become a reason for others to give up.
     
     	      	 				   I wish you aliveness!
     
     	      	 						    Russ
                                                     

    I also want to be sure nobody feels inhibited about extracting anything
    I've written on Notes files and mailing them to any Digital person.
    Either the preceding base note or my reply at 3107.94 ("I'm History")
    or any other entry or reply you see, I intended to contribute to the
    Digital community.  Feel free!
    					Russ

    Just to save anyone the trouble:  if you might be interested in other
    multi-page letters I've written recently, you could look at 3124.6 and
    3116.1.  I've been told over the years by a few people that they have a
    "Russ Doane" file, and this compliment has done wonders to inflate my
    ego.  Thus inflated therefore, I offer the above as pointers for the
    bibliophiles who may be lurking out there	  (:-))
                                     

    Mods:
    
    Why can't all of the goodbye notes be consolidated?

    
    Because some deserve to stand by themselves?
    
    Case in point...
    

    re -1
    	but most don't, this conference is becoming cluttered with 
    goodbye notes from people I don't know, and people I have never
    even read a note from in this conference until they say goodbye.
    
    We have 20,000 to go, do you really want to read another 100
    new 'goodbye' notes?
    
    Brad.

I vote that we only allow separate "good-bye" topics for two-digit
badge numbers.

     
    
    re .3
    
    	with a 2 digit badge i think that the author has paid
    	the dues necessary for a stand alone note. if you don't
    	agree, well NEXT/UNSEEN works just fine.
    
    rth

    the question was asked, with no malice toward any one particular note,
    but by the unfortunate dozens we're seeing daily...consolidate all into
    one place.

    
    
    except when its you, you'll want a separate note.  Besides what if
    someone didn't follow the rules?  Would you TFSO them?  I'm outta here
    tomorrow via TFSO anyway.
    
    Chuck

    
    
    re .5 -     RELAX BUD!!
                Maybe you'll be ONE of those 20,000 and then you won't
                have to worry bout reading ALL of those goodbye notes.
    

    It is amazing what some people will complain about. Hey, if it hurts,
    stop doing it! Are you one of those "new Digital" managers?
    
    Ken

    It is amazing how much written garbage people are willing to tolerate.
    
    Brad.

    FWIW, I agree w/ Mr. Warrenfeltz - consolidate 'em.

    .13
    
    Thank you.

    Russ,
    
    You don't officially know me, but I have listened to your voice over
    the years.  Yours is the voice of intelligence, ethics and forward
    thinking. You can see what others cannot, have the courage to
    articulate that vision, and the morale fortitude to evangelize the
    truth.  
    
    We talk about the "old guard" in Digital, and sometimes denigrate these
    persons are those who have got us into our present troubles. However,
    among those "old guard" are persons, such as yourself, who are like
    a talisman, meaning that amidst inevitable change and obscuring
    confusion certain persons could be relied upon to remind us of our
    direction, purpose and even ambition. And when appropriate like David
    before Goliath, with one small, well place stone, slung in the right
    direction, could slay false directions, inane strategies, or inaccurate
    directions. Russ, you are such a person, whose voice was a true one.
    And it shall be greatly missed, for your presence was certainly a
    comforting and reassuring one.
    
    My Digital life is better for having known you, for having used your
    ideas in my own endeavors, and for calming my troubled waters knowing
    that your pearls of wisdom would alwasy be available.
    
    Thank you for that you have given.  It was neither lost, nor
    undervalued in my life, professional and personal.  I wish you well in
    the future, and hope that you continue to write. Your perspective needs
    to be told to the masses!
    
    Regards,
    
    Paul Rondina