I got a message today from a former skip-level boss congratulating me on scoring the new gig and having a good year at SeaWorld Parks. It meant a lot to hear from him, as he felt that I was unique and not the "same old" among technology folks. If you know me personally, I'm sure you understand why I liked to hear that.
I felt the same way about him in his role, because he stood out from his peers. I'm not sure if that helped or hurt him professionally, but regardless, I respected him for his ability. The funny thing is, I don't really expect to respect the people I respect the most. It's like they're kind of off the radar until your circumstances change, and then you realize how awesome they are.
Conversely, it's almost crushing to see someone crumble under the weight of your expectations. That's when someone you really admire turns out to be a total dud. I'm astonished at how often that happens. You think someone has the professional capability to ooze awesomeness, only to find that they're more title and tenure than leader and superior geek.
I've said it a hundred times, that it's other people who ultimately make you better. That's why these let downs and surprises are so tricky, because you get invested in people, and you don't always know who will have the greatest impact on you. Maybe it's just me, but I like to think that I'm usually a pretty good judge of character.
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