Day n* of What's Next

Day n* of what's next.

I'm abandoning the ordinal approach. The next post will just be what's-next, and this is the transition.

Today it's Why Nike? How did I end up there? What made it a place I wanted to be? Why did I stay so long?

In truth that's a novella with self-discovery, but there are 2 key factors that I know I want to consider as part of what's next.

Fear, both of the Nike brand and the work, was a key motivator for me to seek a job at Nike. You could call it challenge, but to me Nike seemed just too big, too fast; it seemed like a story that I would read, not play a part in. I'd come to a point in my career where I knew I was pretty good at whatever it is that I do. I didn't have a traditional path into technology, no CS degree, no formal training, but I could hold my own. I wanted the chance to get that roller-coaster feeling, fear with a clenched smile, and Nike was the place. It would be my proving ground, either I'd step up to meet the moment, crash out, or maybe both if you look across my 18 years.

As I look forward, I know I want a sense of discomfort; to test myself. I want another ride on a roller-coaster.

Story. If I could design my dream job, I would make it 40% learning, 10% "work", and 50% storytelling. The appeal of Nike was its ability to be more than just a brand. I met so many people along the way, both before and after joining Nike. They would tell some version of "...the first time I put on that shoe..." or "...when I saw that play/race/moment..." that ignited a life-long passion for the brand. Being at a company that fostered that type of connection was everything.

Looking forward, I know I want to be part of something that builds deep connections. I want to co-author a lot more stories.