Will Lukang

My view of life is that it is a series of learning.   Every day I learn something new.   The experience comes in many forms, learning from others or going through it.    The lesson gained from experiencing a situation yourself is that hardest one. However, it is also more meaningful and impactful; therefore it sticks with you.    It is important evaluate the outcome and capture lessons learned, because it gives you the opportunity to capture key information that will be valuable in years to come.

On May 9^th, I reached another milestone: twenty years of experience as an Information Technology professional.   That it is one accomplishment I am very proud of. Throughout my career, I have had my highs and lows and learned many hard lessons that helped me get to where I am.    But nothing prepared me for what I encountered that week.     I encountered an issue and was not quick enough to react to the situation.   During the incident, I thought I handled it well.  In the end, it all turned out well, but nonetheless it made me question the decision I made, and I felt disappointed that I did let the team down.  However, no one on the team complained about the way I handled the situation and in fact they offered moral support.    The lesson I learned is that sometimes you have to sacrifice a few for the benefit of the many.   What does that mean?  It means that you have to make hard decisions that will save others.   In this situation, I’m referring to data.   

In the midst of the issue, you can get caught in the weeds, because you are too close to the problem.   It helps to refocus by stepping back.  In the end, you need to come up with the right decision.  The key to making the right decision is taking things in perspective.  An example would be to step back; by doing so, we can see our tree from the forest, thereby helping assess the situation objectively.  It is also critical to bring in the right people that can help the situation.    It is important to not over analyze the situation but do a due diligence in assessing it.    Also, do not be afraid to ask for help. 

Personally, the challenge I encountered helped me grow and develop.  Therefore I did not regret experiencing it to begin with.   In life, I believe that you either pay now or pay later, but either way you have to pay.    In my many years of experience, the one thing that is constant is learning.    I learn something new every day and that is what makes life interesting.    Let me know what you think of this article and share your thoughts and comments.