Today (June 9, 2017), marks the first time since I started my professional work life in 1989 that I do not have an employer. This wraps-up my telecommunications career as I’ve known it for almost three decades. I’m Free!

I’ve been passionate about networking since I started in my chosen field in 1989. Sometimes, too passionate as my work took priority over almost every other facet of my life. For the past 19 months I’ve been working in a part-time consulting capacity. This one-foot-in-one-foot-out model still offered a strong pull away from the things that I wanted to have in focus: my health, family, friends, etc. I can now prioritize every second of every day however I choose.

I helped build the Internet (along with millions of others in my field). How cool is that? My career has been a dream. I was able to make a great living doing something that I often loved. I had a handful of dream jobs that made up my dream career. Today, I’m leaving to pursue my dream life.

“I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” –Steve Jobs

Have you looked in the mirror today?