About 5 months ago, I left my cushy job as Director of Product Management, for a gig as an ordinary old product marketing manager. So far, I am exquisitely happy with the change. Great products, great people, small org (in a huge company) so I can really make a difference.
But I did give up a few things. My office. Where I am at now there are only cubes. VP’s of production? Cube. Director Marketing? Cube. VP/GM? Cube (or, actually on an airplane for how much he travels. The only negative so far is that I have to use headphones for my music. I guess I can cope.
I did give up direct reports. I no longer manage people. And I am super happy about that. I can do it, and my employees all are super satisfied with my management. But, truth be told, I am far happier as an individual contributor. Hope that lasts.
I miss the MSDN account. Being able to get your hands on all of Microsoft’s products was pretty bitchen.
I miss a non-managed laptop. I had pretty much free reign on my laptop there. Here? Not quite as locked down as at a bank, but certainly more restrictive than anywhere I have ever been (PGP whole disk encryption is the devil). And for the love of god, don’t update Java until they tell you to, or you can no longer access Oracle.
