A retrospective: My time at Hashrocket
TL;DR: My time at Hashrocket is coming to an end. It's a very bittersweet experience, leaving this company that has come to define me over the last several years, but it is become the season for change and I'm ready for my next challenge. Ping me if you're looking for a consultant experienced in ruby and rails.
I have a tattoo of Hashrocket's logo on my right calf. It's an odd thing, people say, to have a corporate logo on one's body. But for me, it's completely natural. When I'm in the presence of conversations regarding ruby 1.9's new hash syntax or my upcoming departure from Hashrocket, I inevitably get asked: "What about that tattoo on your leg?"
At first I was confused by the question. It took me a while to get to the source of the confusion: folks seem to have a base assumption that regret follows when the meaning of a life-altering body modification changes. I have only this one tattoo on my body, and it comemmorates what is thus far the single most awesome experience I've had. Regardless of what happens from here on out, I will treasure and honor the myriad experiences I've had as part of Hashrocket. I've earned the right to wear that tattoo, and I'm honored to give those square inches of skin on my leg to help keep those experiences alive in my memory.
In my time at Hashrocket, I've had the great fortune to work alongside some of the best developers in our field - in a company whose original members included the likes of Obie Fernandez, Desi McAdam, Jon Larkowski and my brother Jim Remsik. I've learned more about consulting and client relations than I ever dreamed I would. And I've learned a ton about what Agile means, and how to stay flexible among changing team and client dynamics. A friend pointed out recently that I've been at Hashrocket almost as long as one attends university; this observation feels especially apt given the amount that I've learned and grown.
The memories of my time at Hashrocket will last a lifetime: a year in Hashrocket time feels like 5 anywhere else. I'll remember our "garage", where we first came together as a company. I'll remember the RV trip to the Ruby Hoedown, getting our new digs in the tallest building in Jacksonville Beach, the Hashrocket Hot Hackers Hump-day Happy Hours, the pool parties, the 3-2-1 launches, the rescue missions seemingly uncountable, the Halloween parties and that birthday where Mark sat in his cake, and of course the video that tpope gifted us commemorating three years of Hashrocket.
There's been almost as many downs as there have been ups: I know I'd certainly like to forget 2010 and all of it's troubles. We had multiple robberies (which were solved, thanks to anti-theft tech on our machines), we had some management shakeups, and even several situations that could have meant the end of the rocket. But we celebrated New Years 2011 as a company: we made it through the crucible as a whole, finding ourselves in an an awesome position throughout 2011.
I was given an opportunity a little over a year ago to come work at the Chicago office, shortly after it opened, and I jumped on it. It took some time, but it's blossomed into an exceptional office. I'll remember fondly, too, memories from up here: post-6H karaoke, the Josh, Yoho, and Bernerd eras, the ever-present and always-welcome Corey Haines, the grand opening party for which we "needed" that 55" plasma TV, the company game of Whirlyball featuring David Chelimsky and Neal Sales-Griffin, the apartment debachles, being the lonely sole rocketeer in the city, and two Tuesdays ago when we were a party of nine at Six Flags Great America.
It's a bittersweet time for me, these last two weeks of my employment with Hashrocket. There's a pride in knowing that I helped make our office what it is, and a sadness knowing that it will go on just fine without me. But you can bet I'll be back in the office visiting whenever the chance arises!
So, what's next? I'm not yet sure. I'd like to work on a product for a while, or at least cool my heels from the continual churn of consulting. I'd like to work with a group of awesome everyone-together developers that value continual learning and the occasional code-based flame war. And I'd like to use the knowledge I've gained during my time at Hashrocket to help another team achieve success. Know a place like that? Email me at almighty@veez.us.