Hello I'm Rich Brown and this is my personal website and blog. I'm just your simple, average, down to earth, professional, out gay man and aspiring circuit boy, living in Phoenix, Arizona with a few things to say while trying to find my place among all the scary, conservative, religious nuts in this sick and twisted world.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Finally My Big News!
This post has been a while in the making and comes with much excitement and just tiny amount of anxiety. While many of you already know what's going on in my life, I've only recently given some hints here on my blog that I had some big news to share.
Over the past few years since I've started frequently blogging, I've written only a few postings regarding my work, all being very vague and having no specific reference to my employer, or my personal feelings about my job. I've always made a conscious effort to avoid that path for fear of job related repercussions for anything negative I may have been tempted to write.
Well all that's about to change. For those of you who don't already know, I've been working for Bank of America as an IT Manager responsible for the Risk Operations Business Intelligence team. It's really been a very stressful, love-hate relationship over the past 4 years, and I'm happy to announce that Friday, February 2ND will officially be my last day with Bank of America.
While this is significant, it's only one small part of the big news I have to share. The reason I'm leaving Bank of America is not because I've found a better job, but rather because I had an amazing opportunity presented to me which would allow me to finally take real control over my life, my career and my future. I've decided to start my own company and become an independent consultant. My new company, Aventera Consulting, was formed on January 1, 2007 and as of February 5, 2007 I will officially become the first full time employee of my new company working on contract for move software & move marketing.
Leaving a large corporation to start a company, and follow your dreams can be both exciting and extremely stressful. Justin and I have talked in detail about the direction I'm taking, and he's been incredibly supportive of me taking this step. I can't even begin to express how great it feels to make this decision, and how much of an impact it's going to have on my stress level and overall happiness.
After 4 years, leaving Bank of America was not an easy decision to make. Great benefits, 5 weeks of vacation, bank holidays, some job flexibility and a small amount of perceived stability are all difficult to give up. Only a few months ago I had personally resolved that I would just plan on staying with Bank of America and continue to create a long-term career with the company. While many factors influenced my final decision, it really came down to the point that I would now have to ability to work for myself, make my own decisions, and ultimately be responsible for my own success. At this point the future of my success all falls upon me, and I'm content with having that weight on my shoulders.
After much soul searching I decided that I really didn't want to pursue the path of executive management, but rather continue back down a more technical road, further sharpening and broadening my technical skill set. I've had several long conversations with Mark and other friends regarding this trend, and while some say the next logical step for technology professionals is management, I now know that I disagree with that thought. While management may be a good step some, Mark and I both agree there is so much opportunity out there for technology professionals like us with broad backgrounds and many years of diverse experiences.
With so many changes caused by the merger between BofA and MBNA, this past year has been a rough year for many of us at Bank of America. Working for Bank of America has been a great learning experience. While I've had the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of fun people, it's also been an exercise in navigating the waters of a global enterprise while trying to deal with an enormous amount of corporate politics, some dysfunctional personalities, and even some incompetent people harbored by the safety net of a well defined HR policy. Be it good or bad, it's all just one more experience I can put under my belt to help me become a more effective technology consultant.
Well I know this was quite a long post, and if you've actually gotten this far then you've probably learned quite about bit about me. With that I'll end this post with a few final comments and thanks of support. First to say thanks to my good friend Jerry Timms, of Timms Media, who helped me make this decision and introduced me to the great people at move software & move marketing. To say thanks to my best friends, Andrea, Philip & Bernard for listening to my concerns & helping me to make a rationale decision, and to Mark for his insight, encouragement, support, guidance and friendship over the last 12 years. Lastly, thanks to Justin for his unconditional love, being extremely supportive of me and believing in me and my crazy ideas. I'm extremely happy right now and excited about my future. Cheers!
Congratulations! That is a very huge step to take. I hope that your new venture brings you much joy and success!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jeremy Ryan @ Monday, January 29, 2007 10:17:00 PM
Rich I'm so happy to be working with you, I'm glad you took the leap :-)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jerry Timms @ Monday, January 29, 2007 11:42:00 PM
Congratulations! I worked 7 years in a bank, it's tiresome and draining. Glad you left.
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jeff Skybar @ Tuesday, January 30, 2007 7:48:00 AM
This post has been removed by the author.
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by SilentBob @ Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:22:00 AM
Wow... Big news!
I know that changing poisitions and throwing things to the wind can be daunting, but I have never regretted my decision to change career fields a couple of years ago. I have no doubt, but that you will be a great success in whatever you do.
Lots o' love killer! ;)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by SilentBob @ Wednesday, January 31, 2007 5:23:00 AM
WOW! Congratulations! This is BIG news! I am glad to hear you left the "evil empire" of B of A - they really need to become more customer friendly, and their home-banking service is just average given that they are so huge! I have accounts there (secondary ones) and have not been very happy lately. Also, I worked as a bank manager and as a trainer for a large bank holding company for years (Meridian Bancorp, now Wachovia Financial), and got so burned out; tons of politics and ass-kissing. Yuck! I have little tolerance for that anymore. Taking risks is what life is about, and I applaud you! I "walked away" from a high paying, high pressure non-profit administrator position in 2005 and have not looked back. Keep us posted on how things are going! P.S. - you look handsome in these pictures. ;-)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by J. David Zacko-Smith @ Wednesday, January 31, 2007 11:54:00 AM
Congratulations Rich! Yes you're right it's a big step but it's most likely the best change you'll ever make. :-)
I send you my best wishes for the future, and I'll even do a happy dance for you in all the snow in my front yard! (we're getting more of it as I type this)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jude @ Wednesday, January 31, 2007 9:18:00 PM
That's simply mahvelous!
Congrats!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Darin @ Thursday, February 01, 2007 11:20:00 PM
Congrats!!
There is nothing like owning and running your own business. so I'm told ;)
It sounds like you've put a lot of hard work and thought in your decision. Good luck :)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jason @ Sunday, February 04, 2007 5:02:00 PM
Congratulations Rich!! I wish you a very successful future with your company! Need any other employees?? hehehe..
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by NovaStorm @ Monday, February 05, 2007 8:36:00 AM
And on a side note, since you are not longer a B of A slave, does this mean you will have more time to blog?
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by SilentBob @ Tuesday, February 06, 2007 8:28:00 AM
Rich that is awesome! Congratulations!!! Now does this mean we won't see the Circuit party pics as much???
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jimmi @ Tuesday, February 06, 2007 11:02:00 PM
Adding my congrats and wishes for success! :)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Tracey @ Wednesday, February 07, 2007 10:26:00 AM
Congrats on your "new life" !...I'm also an ex-BofA employee myself! Good Luck Rich!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Christopher @ Thursday, February 08, 2007 12:43:00 PM
Rich- What a brave move! Congrads and best wishes!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by AJ @ Saturday, February 10, 2007 10:48:00 AM
Congrads, and good luck to you! :)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Joshua @ Sunday, February 11, 2007 4:44:00 PM
