A little over two weeks ago at the Global Scrum Gathering in Vienna, I was honored and privileged to become a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) with the Scrum Alliance. Almost ten years ago, that fire was kindled by a fellow CST, and it was at that moment, I knew I wanted to have the same kind of impact on the lives and careers of others just beginning their own journeys.
I’m truly humbled and blessed with this opportunity to represent such an amazing organization and share what I’ve learned over the last 20 years serving people and organizations. I cannot begin to thank everyone who helped me along the way, but I do want to take the opportunity to thank a few:
Eric Tucker…What can I say…you poured gasoline on the fire and fanned the flames, and with everything that has happened in my life over the last couple years, I just wouldn’t be here without you.
Bob Schatz, Kert Peterson, Catherine Louis, Mike Vizdos, and Rick Waters; thank you for your feedback and help to continuously improve my courseware, delivery, and overall classroom experience.
Peter Caradonna and Patrick Sinks…thanks for being with me every step of the way and encouraging me when I truly needed it the most. Life can sometimes throw you lemons and you guys helped me make lemonade. Kim Brainard, thanks for being my “sister from another mother”, and helping me find my center and remember to “just be me”. I’ll never forget our conversation last summer, and more importantly, I’m so grateful for your friendship and advice these last few years.
My Scrum Alliance friends…so many people I could list here…everyone who makes each Scrum Gathering special and memorable. Each and every Scrum Alliance staff member…man, you all really bring it! You give so much to our entire community, and you inspire me to do the same. Howard Sublett, Melissa Boggs, Lisa Reeder, Kseniya Kreman, Veronica Ohl, Alexxis Holquin, Erika Massie, Victoria Whitley, and the rest of the gang, thank you for all that you do for this community, and what an impact you’re having in transforming the world of work. Love you guys! Anu Smalley, Arne Ahlander, and Pentti Virtanen, thank you for such an amazing TAC experience, and I’m so grateful for your feedback and encouragement. Thank you for your passion, dedication, and service to our community. My PathtoCTC.org friends, Michael de la Maza, Brian Milner, Brock Argue, Stuart Young, Nigel Baker and so many others who I haven’t listed here (you know who you are), you all have been such amazing friends and colleagues. You are all family, and I’m so grateful and appreciate each of you.
And to my sons, Joshua and Caleb, who have endured so much over the last couple of years . . . this one’s for you.
This has been one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors of my career, and I can honestly say that I’m a better trainer, coach, and person because of it.
And as a great poet once said:
“The point of the journey is not to arrive.
Anything can happen.”
I’m looking forward to the next leg of the trip…
#ScrumThePlanet