Why are you still here?

On regular intervals people ask me, “Why are you still at Sun?' And my answer might surprise you.

I started at Sun at the peak of the boom, October 2000, when they hired plumbers to do marketing programs. Most of the plumbers are gone, yet those of us with passion are still here.

I have a checkered career past - black-jack dealer, travel agent, corporate travel manager, customer service manager, partner manager, marketing program manager for telecommunications . . . One of these isn't like the others. . . and if you don't wonder how this happened, I sure do.

Sun promotes scrappy behavior. I learned very quickly at Sun, no one trains you. No one helps you. You have to figure it out. And if you can, you'll get things done. Once you get things done, people learn your name and your personal network grows. Scott McNealy's tag-line is "the network is the computer." At Sun if you don't have a personal network, you can't get your job done.

Fearless is also a thriving skill at Sun. As an employee you can't shy away from any conversation or situation. Maybe that's why so many Silicon Valley CEO's used to be Sun Microsystem employees?

For me, everything that came before Sun was my training ground for learning about my strengths, weakness and how to be a better communicator. Working at Sun has been about growing personally AND growing my career. It's rare to find a company that allows one to make a difference and grow your resume at the same time. I've had many opportunities at Sun and I've made the most of them.

So back to that question: Why Sun? I love Sun. For as much as one can love a company. Am I shocked at the news this morning? No. If there is another company that promotes scrappy & fearless behavior in it's employees, it's Oracle. West coast, meets west coast. Culturally, it's a good thing.

So sit back, but don't relax. I'm still here, for now. Scrappy and fearless are both skills that will come in handy at Oracle.