Go west young man

As some of you may know the NC Grissoms will most probably be moving west, to Dallas in fact. The target is the last of July/the beginning of August.

There are not too many people that are particuarly happy about this decision but at this point. But I feel it is the best thing for my career and the family as a whole. I will be the first to admit that this poses a significant upheaval in peoples lives, particuarly the kids. I have been told that I do not understand how terrible this will be for the kids, Kyle in particular. I won't say I know exactly how he feels. I do understand why he is upset but I also know this is not the end of the world.

The reasons for uprooting the whole family are primarily job related. I changed positions within Nortel last May; A move to a more stable division of Nortel. While many that sat around me are gone, I managed to survive. My new position is with a group in Richardson Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The deal I made with my new bosses was that I would be able to telecommute from Durham at least through the end of this current school year and we would see how it went from there.

A couple of week back I discussed my performance and future etc with my manager and director. I am not in any danger of loosing my job, and no one is, at this point, forcing me to move, howerver, in separate conversations, both managers recommended the move.

Let me elaborate a little....
It is difficult for me to learning new products, processes and procedures when I the knowledge base is located 1100 miles away. I can get on the phone and call them, I can IM them but these are no substitution for face to face communications. I will be able to interact with the group as a whole and be apart of the daily banter and over the wall problem solving interactions. And be exposed to the daily issues that I do not hear about. Camaraderie is also an important element in the corporate environment, specially in my line of work where we work crisis issues and must work as a team to not only resolve the issues but pacify customers and draw on the strengths of the other members of the team without letting pride get in the way.

My personal interactions are now limited, even know I sit in the same cube I have sat in for years now in NC. I do not interact with my old group much, those who are left, because they have moved on to different projects. I am busy and they are busy learning their new roles. In essence, my social contacts and professional "networks" are withering; neither situation is particuarly healthy.

One of the top performers in my group also worked originally in the Raleigh/Durham office. This man is legendary for his technical skills and ability to get to the core or an issue very quickly. He too experience the exact same issues I am. He moved to Dallas within a year. I guess the point there is that I am in good company in this regard.

I also have a desire to move from the front lines into a management/leadership role. My managers support me in this desire and in fact has signed me up for training for the end of this month. This is another reason for the move. I could not distance manage, specially as a new manager. If I want to move forward in my career with Nortel the move necessary.

I do have a choice. I could stay here in Durham and do my best to acclimate. From all accounts this will be an uphill battle and a significant long stress for me and the family. I could try and find a new position wittin Nortel in RTP. The type of work I do, for the most part has been moved from the RTP offices and any position I did get would result in at least a 10% pay decrease. And the future of the RTP design community is questionable still. I could try and find a job locally outside of Nortel. While employment in RTP has begun rebound, the market has changed. Jobs in this area are not what they use to be. I would be hard pressed to be able to move companies making anywhere close to what I am making now. I know plenty of people who left Nortel over the past several years who had to take significant pay cuts. With 2 college tuitions staring me in the face starting next fall, I am in no position at this point to reduce my income.

On top of employment and long term financial concerns, there are personal/selfish reasons I want to move as well. I won't go into great detail but the gist is that I am not satisfied with how things are going around me, and a new environment and a new challenge will hopefully shake things up a bit, break the negative patterns.

I do not dismiss how difficult this move will be for everyone involved; Myself included. Nortel is not, at this point offering any financial assistance in the move. That will be a concern moving forward. Selling and buying a house is always stressful. And there is a possibility we will have to move 3 times depending on when we sell the house in Durham and when the new house in Texas is available. That is not a pleasant thought. I too am leaving friends, co-workers, a community I have lived in for close to 18 years. We am leaving Bob and Tyler to go to school in NC. We will see Tyler most of the summer at least the first year or so. Bob will visit as he can. This will be difficult. We will get through all of it and we will make it the best decision.

We could end up hating Texas. I could end up loosing my job 3 months after we move. But I also know that I could loose my job if I don't move, or I could get hit by a bus or one of the kids could get shot by a Durham gang member. Of course there are probably different social issues in Texas.... You just don't know what will happen. As an adult, you weigh the options set before you in life, make a decision then go with it. You make it the best decision. There is no use looking back. The move could end up being a big mistake, but only if we make it so.