As I sat through Keith Townsend’s morning keynote at the Melbourne VMUG UserCon for 2016, I couldn’t help but think about how often I have heard the message around change in the IT industry over the past couple of years. It seems like every week there is a new disruptive technology or methodology being introduced, and we are constantly being told that we need to adapt or die. But as I listened to Keith’s words, I couldn’t help but feel that the message was a little too simplistic.
Why would I give up all the hard work and knowledge that I have spent the first 10-15 years of my career learning and mastering? All of that previous experience has allowed me to evolve into the technical and personal sense that I am today. If I hadn’t started working on Linux servers, configuring BIND or SENDMAIL, I wouldn’t have developed an interest in internet messaging, which led me onto working on Hosted Exchange Services, hosting platforms, and eventually virtualization and cloud management platforms like vCloud Director. This journey has now exposed me to consuming platforms differently via APIs, leading me into the next evolution of my career.
Don’t get me wrong, I respect community leaders such as Keith and Grant Orchard, who tweeted the message below from the Sydney VMUG UserCon. However, I feel that the message around change can sometimes be too harsh and abrupt. Change is not something that can be done overnight; it requires a gradual evolution.
As IT professionals, we need to evolve with the industry, but we shouldn’t feel like we have to give up everything we know and love in order to do so. Instead of feeling like we have to pivot drastically, we should focus on evolving gradually, building upon our previous experiences and knowledge. This will allow us to adapt to the changing landscape of the IT industry without feeling overwhelmed or left behind.
In conclusion, while the message around change is important and necessary, it’s essential to remember that evolution is a gradual process, not an abrupt one. We must build upon our previous experiences and knowledge, rather than discarding them entirely. By taking a more measured approach to change, we can ensure that we are well-equipped to handle the challenges of the ever-evolving IT industry.