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Just do it

4 November 2009 by John Swanagon

Nothing is more provocative or action oriented than those three simple words — “just do it”. Yes, the good folks on Nike’s marketing team came up with a brilliant tag line; but it is much more than that. In just three short words, one describes what is required to overcome adversity, to let go of one’s fears and worries, and to move forward with strong conviction. Just do it, put simply, is to gather up every bit of inner courage and try. Seriously… what is the worst thing that can happen?

I remember my Dad saying “just do it” when I was too scared to ask the girl to homecoming. I remember my Taekwondo instructor saying “just do it” when I didn’t want to break cement with my hand. In both instances, the question was “what is the worst that can happen”. In looking at it that way, really, what was the worst thing that could happen? Could she say no? Yes. Could I break my hand? Yes. But… what if she says yes? What if I break the cement instead of my hand? Choosing to try is choosing to succeed; choosing to try is choosing to overcome those fears instead of letting them win. In the end, I got the girl and I broke the cement; the score: Me 2, My Fears 0.

So, if you are sitting on the fence, just do it. Enough already. Choose to try. What is the worst thing that can happen? Could something bad happen? Absolutely. But what about something great? I have found, in my life, that trying far outweighs not. I have found that even when I fail after trying, there is a worthwhile journey there. Life is about choices. If you choose to try, you will never feel regret and you will likely get more than you would otherwise. So before saying no… before giving up… before surrendering to the fears… think of what you are saying no to. If what you are saying no to is too much to give up, just do it. Take a chance. Sometimes a leap of faith is what is needed to move forward. Just a thought.

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If they’re gonna… I’m gonna…

21 October 2009 by John Swanagon

My phone number is unpublished and is listed on the national “Do-Not-Call” list. I have anonymous (and blocked) call rejection turned on.With all that, you’d think it would keep unwanted callers from bothering me, but no. To some people and some companies, they don’t care. They’ll call and call, harass and harass. Some go as far as to fake a caller ID and call repeatedly until you buy what they are selling. Seriously, in today’s day and age, what is up with that?

Instead of putting up with harassing phone calls one more day, I decided to have my number changed. Yup, a quick call to Qwest got me a new number and over $100 in monthly savings by bundling TV, Phone, and Internet together. Hey, at least I got something after more than 6 months of trouble. This time, though, nobody but my family, friends, bank and employer will get my number. I don’t want anymore calls asking for John and demanding I buy this or that… or calls from New York where “Boiler Room” type people try to sell me this stock, that stock, or some kind of ridiculous commodity. No, I’m done and I’ve had enough. I tried polite and I tried nice. It didn’t work. The calls kept coming in. Well, no more.

You know, as someone who designs communications technology, I am appalled by how a few bad apples choose to employ it. Outgoing calls can be great for consumers and businesses alike, especially with technologies like reverse 911 and Avaya’s outgoing call system that doesn’t get you “silence” on the other end while an agent is being located. However, harassing people during dinner or while they work is downright wrong. Faking a caller ID in order to pose as a certain company or individual is pure fraud. There should be more security on our phone network, but there just isn’t; at least not yet. At some point in the near future, this kind of stuff will become a thing of the past. Unfortunately, for now, those of us who can’t deal with one more harassing phone call will simply have to get a new number.

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The Majority Syndrome

21 October 2009 by John Swanagon

The majority syndrome has been infecting our government for decades. It is the leading cause of massive deficits, a national debt out of control, unnecessary wars, and a government in deadlock. What is majority syndrome? It is a type of “cancer” characterized by a political party so obsessed with their majority status that they accomplish nothing for those who elected them and eventually abandon their ideals and principles to simply stay “in the majority”. Symptoms include severe pandering, electioneering, broken promises, corruption, an inability to accomplish anything of significance, on-going debate to prevent legislation from passing, and constant blaming of the minority party as a reason for nothing getting done. Sound familiar?

The two major political parties in the United States, the Republican and Democratic Parties, both have had majority syndrome; one is currently healing the damage caused by it while the other is catching it.

When the Republicans took over in 1994, they brought swift change to the government in an effort to cure the effects caused by majority syndrome. However, they ended up catching it. By 2006, the Republicans were just as corrupt as the Democrats had been. They tossed their values right out the window with people like Larry Craig and Mark Foley, they destroyed the balanced budget and the very idea of a balanced budget, they doubled the national debt, they supported two unnecessary wars, and they orchestrated electioneering in Texas and Colorado in an attempt to ensure — what Tom DeLay called — a “permanent majority”.

Fast forward to today. The Democrats are now catching majority syndrome once again. Look at people like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Speaker Pelosi — I believe — lied about reports of prisoner abuse during the Bush Administration so that she can blame Bush and the Republicans for everything in an effort to keep her job as Speaker. Senator Reid panders to every Democrat and Independent in the Senate so that he has “60 votes”; yet, he watches as those votes equate to no real power or influence. After watching this dynamic for almost three years, nothing has changed. Deficits continue to exist, pandering is in full swing, nothing has changed with Wall Street, two unnecessary wars continue to rage, and our national debt is making America look like a joke to the world.

I wonder, at what point will we say enough is enough? Will there ever be a day where we elect people rather than parties? Political parties accomplish nothing. They push agendas that don’t help our country or the people of our country. I recently registered as an unaffiliated voter in Douglas County, Colorado to rid my own self of the party system. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican and I won’t vote based on party. Rather, I will vote based on the person. I will vote based on what a person says and does. Honestly, I think that is how we should elect our representatives. Had we done so in 2000, 2004, and 2008, our country and really, our world, would be a better place today. We need accountability — and we are not going to get it by electing parties. We need to hold each and every one of our elected representatives accountable. We can’t do that if we try to hold a party accountable because what we get is a simple turning of the tables; one day Democrats another day Republicans — always the same result — majority syndrome.

You know, not being a member of a party will hurt my chances of becoming a Congressman.  But hey, I would rather lose doing the right thing that win doing the wrong thing. It’s like being hated for who I am rather than loved for who I am not. At some point in the future, I believe the American people will begin electing independents that answer only to their constituents and not a national political party. When that day comes, a new day will dawn in America and our future will be bright indeed. Think about it. Vote on it. Your vote matters. One person can change the world. It’s like lighting one candle and then another and another… pretty soon you’ve overcome the darkness.

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Having Faith

17 October 2009 by John Swanagon

Faith is extremely powerful. It can move the unmovable, it can stop the unstoppable, it can penetrate the impenetrable, it can shake the unshakable, and cure the incurable. Even so, faith is difficult for it cannot be seen nor can it be heard. There are many who don’t believe in it and even more that say they have it only to abandon it the minute it is tested. Yet, I have seen faith beat cancer, let people walk again, bring people together, and do things I never imagined possible.

So, why then, is faith so difficult for people to have and to grasp? Why is it so hard to believe that there is more to what we can see, touch, and hear? Is sight all that we are? People can’t see radiation, but it is there. People can’t see God, but he is there. [Most] people can’t see God’s angels, but they are there. I think it boils down to faith being a difficult concept to grasp. After all, we tend to rage against anything that challenges our beliefs. So, at our present stage of development, if we can’t see it, feel it, analyze it or break it down, it doesn’t exist. I guess that fits our historical patterns, right? I mean, wasn’t the world flat at one point? Come on.

Regardless of how one feels about faith, it is hard to deny it. Just recently, I saw a scientist trying to describe near death experiences as simply neurons firing in the brain at the time of death. These same people have told people I care about they’ll never walk again, or that they’ll pass away in six months from the cancer invading their bodies. Why then, can people describe, in detail, what doctor’s were doing to them from “above” their bodies while they were dying? Why then, does somebody walk again? Why then, does somebody beat the cancer? Why then, can I see and talk to my angels and know things that I wouldn’t — or perhaps shouldn’t — in any “traditional” sense?

Having faith is difficult. It is difficult to, without reservation or hesitation, believe in something you can’t see, can’t hear, and can’t feel. Honestly, I think faith is natural part of the universe and that God made it difficult for us on purpose. I think he made it easy for people to give up, easy for people not to believe, and easy for people to be mean. He made it hard to have faith when you lose a loved one, hard to be a good person in a sea of mean people, hard to persevere under trial, and hard to trust when a leap of faith is required to move forward. I can’t recall how many times I have wanted to cash in, give up, throw in the towel, or… worse. Yet, having faith is the only thing that has pulled me from the brink and I’m not alone.

To have faith, all one has to do is believe, with every fathom of their being. Believe that God exists. Believe they will walk in. Believe the cancer will go into remission. Believe that miracles do happen. Believe there is more to what they can see, hear, and feel. And that is the difficult part; especially when the chips are down and the standing eight count is being issued. If you want to overcome the impossible, you must have faith because it is the impossible where the scientists and skeptics give up. They want to believe we don’t have souls. They want to believe cancer can only be cured through medicine. And, they want to believe that someone with a disability can never overcome it. As for me, I have faith. I know that I understand not even one percent of what is around me, yet I know the other ninety-nine percent exists. It’s called faith and you must have it if you want to see the universe around you. Imagine that, faith leading to sight! Of course, those that see the world through the present lens of science will think I am crazy or some kind of a lunatic that should be locked up. Well, I wouldn’t be the first, I won’t be the last, and it doesn’t change the fact that I am right.

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It was a stunt

17 October 2009 by John Swanagon

Balloon boy — can anyone say the most unbelievable stunt of the year?! Never before have I seen something so outrageous; and, never before have I been embarrassed to be from Colorado. Yet, there it was on Thursday and before the world to see, one of the biggest frauds perpetrated on the general public in a while. The Heene family wanted a show and they used their kids to try and get it. They staged a scene that created panic for a state, a nation, and a world. People from all over worried for the safety of a 6-year old boy who, had he been in the balloon, could have faced grave peril. The “staged” scene involved multiple law enforcement agencies and even mobilized the Colorado National Guard. Can anyone say irresponsible? Can anyone say reprehensible?

Upon watching the airborne balloon, I was skeptical about the situation. I just knew that boy was safe. I told others around me that he was safe and hiding at home in the house. I also said that “something wasn’t right” with the boy’s family and considered calling the Sheriff’s Department, but didn’t figuring no one would believe me. Shortly thereafter, the balloon landed with no boy and hours later he was found hiding at home in the garage. Then — and here’s the kicker — the boy says they “did it for a show”. Unbelievable. Disgusting. And no, I am not talking about the boy. I’m talking about his parents, the people who are supposed to love him, take care of him, and be there for him unquestionably.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am ecstatic that the Larimer County Sherrif’s Department will be filing charges against one or both of the parents. I hope the other law enforcement agencies follow suit. I strongly urge Governor Ritter to ask the Attorney General to charge the Heene’s for the state’s S&R expenses as well as to direct child services to investigate possible child abuse and child endangerment.

I may not be a parent; but what those people did was wrong. They used their child to try to score a reality show. Pathetic. Life is precious and children are a gift — a gift from God. You don’t do that! When (and if) the day comes I have kids, they will always be safe. I will never put them in danger and I will never use them. I will love them with everything I got, even if it costs me my life. How dare the Heene’s! I say they go back to California where that seems to be acceptable. Coloradans don’t do that. As far as this native Coloradan is concerned, [the parents] aren’t welcome here.

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Puh-leeze

13 October 2009 by John Swanagon

I tried to hold myself back, I really did. Unfortunately I just can’t, in good conscience, not object to Barack Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I find him receiving the award deplorable. According to Alfred Nobel, the prize should be awarded to a person who “during the preceding year… shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses“. Please, for all that is good in the world, tell me where Barack Obama did any of those things?

To be forthright, I do not support Barack Obama — the man. However, my personal feelings toward him have nothing to do with my objection to his being awarded the prize. The Barack Obama I see is a man who can move people with his speech alone as well as a man of good intentions, but a man with absolutely no leadership abilities or accomplishments under his belt. How does that lend itself towards a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize let alone selection for it? To go a step further, where are the actions and the results to warrant and support such an award?

Barack Obama has not done a single thing to advance peace in the world. If I am wrong, prove it to me. The only thing he has done, in my purview,  was win an election by inspiring others to vote for him with words and phrases like “Hope”, “Change”, and “Yes We Can”. In what reality does that translate to advancing peace in the world? He vowed to make a difference to be sure, but it was merely a campaign promise. To date, he still hasn’t done one thing to advance peace in the world. The U.S. is still engaged in two wars, no new treaties have been signed, no alliances have been formed, and no accords struck.

In my opinion, he was awarded the prize for saying all the right things and for the “future potentiality” of him advancing peace in the world. That is what I find deplorable — the potentiality. How is it that one can merely speak their way to a Nobel Peace Prize? Whatever happened to having to earn it, to having to actually do something to advance the cause of peace? Honestly, if Barack Obama were to advance peace in the world during his Presidency or perhaps after it, I would support such an award; however, I don’t think we should be giving out peace prizes to people who simply talk a good game. There are tons of people in this world who can do that. They can talk the talk, but they can’t walk the walk. I believe Barack Obama falls into that category. I believe he talks the talk, but at the end of the day, he won’t walk the walk. He has shown it in every one of his actions to date. He folds under pressure, he refuses to take a stand, and he doesn’t do anything to “lead” people other than to point the direction from the rear (and from the safety of those in front of him).

To my great sadness, I believe the Nobel Peace Prize lost its luster, its prestige, and its distinction as a result of his selection. No longer will it be seen as valuable since anyone with good speaking skills can simply talk peace and be awarded it. If Barack Obama had any class, he would have said “Thanks, but no thanks”. However, like George W. Bush before him, he is on a power trip and thinks he can cure the ills of the world simply by being President. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. My hope, though, is that the good people in this world will continue to advance the cause of peace and prosperity despite the Nobel Peace Prize having no teeth. I’m sure truly good people will. I only know that, as one of them, I don’t need a peace prize in order to do something good. In fact, I’d rather not be recognized for it or given any attention. If I do something good, I’d rather someone just say thank you and pay it forward. But that’s just me.

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Ready to Jump…

1 October 2009 by John Swanagon

It has been a couple of months since I passed my 5th Degree Black Belt exam in São Paulo. My teacher, Senior Master Instructor J.W. Kim, is now saying it is time for me to teach again. I stopped teaching regular classes in 2006 and, instead, have been teaching private lessons with one or two people at a time. While this has been rewarding in many ways, Master Kim is looking to expand the school, which could afford me the opportunity to teach regular classes again. Although I am still an active instructor, I do miss teaching large classes, especially those for kids and teenagers.

In my seventeen plus years of teaching Taekwondo, I have been told by a number of people that I have made a difference in their kids’ lives or their own. One parent told me their son “found his confidence”, another told me that I would be “a great dad someday”, and yet another told me I “changed his son’s life”. An adult student told me I had a “special gift for showing or explaining concepts”.

As a student myself, I know — full well — the difference an instructor can make. I remember times when my instructors made a critical difference for me, especially when I was a teenager. When I was 15, my instructor told me I would one day “become President of the United States”. I don’t know why, but I still believe what he said; in other words, I still believe it is possible — even at 30. Motivating and inspiring others can change the world. Just some simple encouragement to a student might help them grow up to be the man or woman that cures HIV/AIDS, solves world hunger, or leads a nation into an era of peace. Heck, it could be as simple as helping someone believe in themselves so they can grow up to lead a normal life.

So, when Master Kim mentioned teaching again, I looked back on what I have done and who, by teaching privately, I might not be helping. As a result, I have decided that I’m ready to take “that jump” or “the dive” and make the commitment to teach again. I know I can get better as an instructor and I know I can make a difference. I don’t care if I help just one person — it would be one less if I didn’t. Plus, I’m fairly sure its what God wants and I’m not going to argue; although challenged with more than I thought I could handle lately, his love is considerably more present in my life. (I hope I continue to earn it!) No matter what, it should be an interesting ride, not to mention netting me a little extra money to upgrade my Yellow Jeep (something I consider a gift).

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It’s Called Leadership

26 September 2009 by John Swanagon

Barack Obama was elected to lead America into a new era of restored integrity, honor, prosperity, transparency, and justice. Since taking office in January, he has done everything but lead. To be honest, I don’t believe it is because he doesn’t want change. Rather, I believe he does. However, I don’t think he is capable of leading the change he promised. Let me explain why.

I believe any kind of change or action starts and ends with leadership. To me, leadership is one of those skills that you either have or you don’t. It isn’t something that can be learned by taking classes at a university or attending a seminar. No, I submit, that leadership is bred into our DNA as a binary on/off switch that, if on, can be refined and, if off, is as absent as oxygen in space. I define leadership as a person who sees a need or a problem and sets out to meet that need or solve that problem by determining the solution, bringing others together in a team, and empowering and motivating that team to realize the solution or vision. Put simply, leadership is action, not position.

Barack Obama raged against George W. Bush and the Republican party in the 2008 President Election — and deservedly so. The Republican Party took over a country in prosperity and handed it off in ruin. That point cannot be debated. As a Presidential candidate, he inspired many with slogans like “Yes we can”, “Hope”, and “Change”. It seemed we had a leader. It looked like we had someone who had identified a problem, came up with a solution, organized a team, and energized and motivated that team to fix it. It seems, however, that “problem” turned out to be, simply, the need to elect Barack Obama President of the United States and nothing else.

It is my opinion that since taking office, President Obama has lead from the rear, if there is such a thing. His actions indicate he doesn’t want to make anyone mad or let heads roll. I’m sorry, but I didn’t vote for that. I voted for a leader. I voted for someone that will lead the way, make a decision, and proceed forward with strong conviction. That is how I lead; and you know what? I make people mad. I create enemies. Yes, I do. But I get things done — that is what good leaders do. They lead the way. There will always be people around to say a leader is wrong. Personally, I value their input even when I disagree. However, once I make a decision, that’s it and there’s no debate. I try to make more friends than enemies; and, in the end, I usually do. However, leadership is hard. You can’t lead if you are pushing up the rear. You can’t tell people where to go if you wait to see what happens before committing yourself. That’s not only dumb, but in my opinion, cowardly.

So, where’s Obama’s leadership? I don’t like his healthcare plan, but if he was a leader, he should say we are doing it — period. He should organize his Democratic majorities and say this is what I want and get it done. Yes, the Republicans are going to complain, gripe, and try to stall. I say let them. If I believed in it that strongly, I would leave them at the side of the road — if necessary — do to what I felt was right for the country. (Hey, they lost an election, badly.) But no, we get compromise everything Obama. That was true with the stimulus, it’s true with healthcare, and it’s true with Bush-era policies he has failed to overturn. No leadership to be found. That isn’t “change I can believe in”. Instead, it is “failed change”.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I want a leader. I call on President Obama to resign and it’s not because he’s a bad person or because he doesn’t have good intentions; no, it’s because we need a leader and he should make way for one. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. We need someone, Male or Female, Black or White, Christian or Jew, Straight or Gay, whatever, to lead us into a new tomorrow. It’s time for leadership and Mr. Obama’s 15 minutes are up.  So are the do-nothing Congress’. I love my country and I am tired of this. Please God, we need you, now more than ever. I know you are here and I know you care. Please — help us to help ourselves. Please help us make the American candle burn bright once again.

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Jeepin’ in Arapaho

17 September 2009 by John Swanagon

Today, I went with my folks to the Arapaho National Forest in Georgetown, Colo. to do a little Jeepin’ with my new Wrangler. We entered the forest by way of Guanella Pass and traversed Argentine Pass. The views were spectacular, almost majestic if you will. I’ve lived in Colorado most of my life, yet I’m constantly amazed at how beautiful it is. Even in Highlands Ranch, I get amazed; especially on clear days.

Getting to Argentine Pass was hard as it wasn’t very easy to find. Guanella Pass is under construction, so there are no signs and construction traffic is everywhere. We ended up driving up to the lake before realizing we went too far — by quite a bit. We just laughed and turned around. On the way back, we ran into a cool guy working the construction site. He talked to us about the Jeep and helped give us directions to Argentine Pass. Honestly, I wish people were more like him. (Thinking about it now, I wonder if he was sent to help us. He really seemed different. I’ll ask later.) Anyway, we finally found the trail by turning up this windy road — if you could call it that. I spooked my Mom at first because she thought I was going to traverse the mountain side. LOL.

The trail started easy enough, but got rough quickly. It wasn’t a gravel road like some of the others I have tried so far. It was basically nothing more than big boulders and large rocks. It was uneven and created for some very sharp approach and departure angles. It was no match for the Jeep though.

Argentine Pass

Argentine Pass

Later on the trail, we got to some streams where I drove through lots of water. At one point, I stalled it. This would be one of at least five stalls. Yup, access the idiot module. I put it in 4 LO to get some more torque and ended up not fully locking the shifter into position. It popped out of 4 LO when we hit a bump, we got stuck, and the engine stalled. So, right in the middle of all that water, we’re parked. Well, I restarted it, stuck it into 4 HI and off we went. I wouldn’t stall it again until a really high incline. I am so happy I bought an ‘09. It comes with Hill Start Assist, a system that prevents the Jeep from rolling backwards until I can get it into 1st and get moving. Without that, I most certainly would have rolled back like crazy today. The manual was cool and the 4-wheel drive system (Rock-Trac) is something else. I just need to get better at modulating the clutch and gas as well as know when to use 4LO versus 4HI. (Couple that with figuring out how to put it into 4LO correctly!)

Streams in Arapaho National Forest

Streams in Arapaho National Forest

Overall, the trip was extremely fun. I got to spend time with the ones I love the most as well as have a good time. (I wish my brother could have been there, but I know we’ll go together another time.) This experience taught me I have much more to learn, try, and get better at. Since I’m a martial artist, I like to equate my experience to a belt level. heh. (My Army buddy does the same thing with military stuff). So, for me, I think I’m an orange belt in offroading. I think I graduated from yellow today. We’ll see what my friends say. LMAO. But hey… having more to learn, try, and get better at is what life is all about, right? So for now, the Jeep is in one piece, undamaged, and ready to go again. I’m ready.

For pictures of the adventure in ANF, click here.

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Microsoft Losing Ground

13 September 2009 by John Swanagon

Microsoft was founded in 1975, but it wasn’t until 1994, with the launch of Windows 95, that Microsoft became the great giant.  Almost overnight, Microsoft’s Windows became a worldwide sensation. I still remember attending the launch party at Microsoft and getting my very own copy of Windows 95. The excitement in the air was electric. (Hey, not only did it beat standing in line for hours upon end, I got it before everyone else.) After Windows 95, Microsoft got on a roll. They released hit after hit such as Office, Internet Explorer, SQL Server, Visual Studio, Exchange, and subsequent releases of Windows. Microsoft was unstoppable. Competitors were either bought or put out of business, or they became partners. Heck, even a monopoly charge by the Justice Department would not stop Microsoft. Their domination of the desktop market was impenetrable. Yet, today, Microsoft is slowly crumbling; all the excitement and innovation is gone, replaced by nothing more than just another “giant” business. My favorite, most admired company is falling apart. What happened?

I believe Microsoft hit its peak and began its decline when Bill Gates stepped down as Microsoft’s CEO. It was obviously a necessity in order to keep Microsoft intact rather than splitting it up into three companies. However, it ultimately hurt Microsoft. The company began transforming from a company with innovative, exciting, and easy-to-use products to a company that with one-size-fits-all, boring, and hard-to-use products. Just look at Microsoft’s generation of products under Bill Gates. The products were complex-under-the-hood, but extremely capable and very easy to use. Anyone could use Windows and anyone with savvy computer skills could develop for the platform. Not anymore. Now, you need a minimum of two weeks of training just to use Windows and you have to be a Master Programmer to develop anything for the platform. Plus, by the time a Master Programmer has picked up all the current concepts, they all change. Isn’t that insane; one of their key successes for market dominance being tossed from their playbook?

Let’s look at what happened and is happening. Windows Vista was the most difficult and complex version of Windows ever. They abandoned just about everyone and everything that made Windows successful. And Windows 7? Instead of reducing the complexity and increasing compatibility, they increased complexity and reduced compatibility; obviously learning nothing from their biggest flop. It is my steadfast belief that the most successful technology products are ones that are extremely capable yet easy to use. Just look at the success of TiVo, the iPod, and the iPhone. (Heck, my Mom and Dad can use all three without any help from me.) Given Windows’ complexity and Microsoft’s intent to make their development platform, Microsoft .NET, harder and harder to learn and use, people are ready to jump ship. The problem has been where to go. Businesses are already swapping Windows Servers for Linux and Solaris Servers in droves. Why? Linux and Solaris are more stable and reliable. And Java, one of the key development tools for Linux and Solaris, is easier to learn than .NET and runs on multiple platforms, including Windows. The next swaps will occur at the desktop, Microsoft’s playground.

I believe a change is on the horizon in the industry. Microsoft is about to be shown the door, no pun intended. Their biggest hit is ripe for a fall, and a big one at that. Right now, there isn’t a single user interface for Linux or Solaris that can compete with Windows and MacOS hasn’t presented a challenge due to lack of software availability. All of that is about to change. Apple is learning and Google is growing. In the next two years, one of these two is going to develop a compelling, easy-to-use, and rich operating system with easy-to-learn, easy-to-use development tools. When that happens, Windows at Microsoft will close. (OK, maybe pun was intended.) My money is on Apple. I’m not impressed with what I am seeing coming out of Google. Their user interfaces are not compelling; in fact, they are downright boring. Not Apple. I see them emerging as the new industry leader and don’t think that “little” switch from Motorola to Intel was small. No, Apple is ready to take on Microsoft and they are about to win — big.

As for me, I am saddened. I grew up with Microsoft. I became of successful software engineer because of Microsoft software. At just 18 years old, I was building components for America Online using Windows as a platform. Yet, since Windows Vista, I have shifted from Mr. Microsoft to Mr. Anti-Microsoft. It also didn’t help when I interviewed for a senior leader position at Microsoft and came face to face with the arrogance of Microsoft’s people. Today, my teams build almost exclusively for Linux and Solaris with Java and our backend systems are typically powered by Oracle. We’re now even programming directly for virtualized platforms such as VMware and Xen as well as building software for Apple’s iPhone and iPod. Microsoft is almost nowhere to be seen by the number one communications company in the world. And, as an advocate for my company, I fully support the strategy. As a steward of my company’s development dollars, I can’t justify investing dollars into technology that is in a downward cycle rather than upward one. I can only hope that Microsoft will reverse course. In order to do so, they will need to hire people in their R&D leadership that focus primarily on innovation and user experience rather than business. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. In fact, if you couple easy-to-use, innovative and exciting products with sound marketing, you’ve got a winner. But if you couple hard-to-use, run-of-the-mill and boring products with sound marketing, you’ve got what you have now: a company in decline. Good luck Microsoft. I hope you find what made you successful before its too late.

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