As I look out here at everyone, at everyone’s smiling faces, I cannot help but be proud. And amused, quite frankly. Life is a strange thing. The things we believe we’ll take pride in are not always the things we retire having treasured most. Am I proud of my accomplishments? Am I happy that I was successful in my job? Well, of course, but I’m not proud of the work I did specifically because the work got done. I’m proud because I had people I cared about along the way. They were the ones that helped me be successful, and it’s the only word of wisdom I can pass on to anyone in this business. Take care of the people around you.
In the course of a work day, you can be many things to many people. I believe that, on the whole, I will be remembered as a friend. When your computer went down and I.T. was too busy dealing with old infrastructure, I stepped in to help get the computer running again. When the printer wasn’t working, I knew just where to hit it to get it to start working. More than anything, I hope I’ll be remembered as a guy who was at the right place at the right time. I wasn’t there just to get my own way, mind you. I was there to help others get their way, too.
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I mean, really, with all the help I gave, they should probably build a small statue of me in front of tech support. Kidding, of course, but I do hope it’s what I’m remembered best for. During my time as a member of the ACME computer services, I worked my way from a small time member answering phones part time, to a middle manager that nobody in corporate will remember. You know who will remember me? The people I was in the trenches with. As head of the customer support division, I made myself a decent middle American income, but, to be frank, who wants to hear me talk about numbers? I don’t want to depress you all, especially considering how many of you will be sending kids off to college soon.
I was surprised to land in that field, though. I began my career at ACME working part time while I got a degree in psychology. As you can probably guess, I didn’t put that degree to work. Going to college was pretty expensive at the start of the 21st century and it hasn’t gotten any easier. Like many others, I needed that extra job to get through. Turns out, that’s where I met everyone that would be important to my professional career.
When I joined the support center, Big Ben Murdock was head of the department, a little lower down the chain than what I was considered when I put in my notice a few weeks ago. To be honest, I don’t know what he thought of me. He probably thought I was just another college kid trying to pay for his ramen. But we got to know each other, and he taught me the most valuable lesson I ever learned: appreciate others.
That’s how I learned to love my coworkers in the department, and why I stayed. Over the decades, I made enough to say I can happily retire. My house is too expensive at around 250,000 and I’ll have a few thousand coming in over my retirement. I suppose I could cash out if things ever got desperate. My kids better graduate soon and start taking care of their dad. Kidding, Tim and Sarah. You two finish graduate school.
Just, to say one more word about Murdock. He meant the world to me and showed me the value of a hard day’s work. Your job doesn’t have to be glamorous, but you have to be good at it. More than that, you have to be a good coworker. So, in the end, outside of my wife and kids, I’d have to say the biggest influence in my life has been my coworkers, people like Murdock, that I worked with every day for a few decades. It was never glamorous, but you guys made it fun.
Because of that lesson, I tried to make a difference in my community, committing time to my local community center. There will be no streets named after me, no community centers or buildings. Unless you build that statue in front of tech support I suggested. Kidding, really. No, my name will really only be carried on by my children. You know what, though? That’s worth more than any building or landmark you could ever have your name on. So that’s what I leave you with. Appreciate people, not places or things. Thank you, and good night.
