Here I am packing my suitcase and getting ready to participate in a couple of conferences coming up at the end of the month. I will be participating on a panel, discussing the emerging trends of SDN — the virtualization of the network, at CP’s Cloud Evolution Conference. Then I will be heading to the NSCA Pivot-to-Profit Conference for a presentation on successful models of integrators that have pivoted from selling products to becoming cloud resellers. In addition, I will explore models of integrators that have chosen a different path and are building their own competitive cloud solutions. Both conferences will be very interesting and I am looking forward to attending. When you move toward the end of your career conferences are great ways to stay connected.
But one of the most important parts of the conferences is meeting up with friends, industry acquaintances, even my former competitors. However, it has been six months since I handed over the keys and said goodbye to the company that I sold at the end of 2016. I have always been very collaborative but there were a few times I held a little back based on the audience at the table. Not anymore. I am free from my 256-employee company and $156M revenue goal that challenged me to think differently every year. Don’t get me wrong: I miss the people, the families and the challenges.