I’ve resigned from Microsoft and will join the Amazon Web Services team at the start of next year.  As an AWS user, I’ve written thousands of lines of app code against S3, and now I’ll have an opportunity to help improve and expand the AWS suite.

In this case, I’m probably guilty of what many complain about in bloggers: posting rehashed news reported broadly elsewhere without adding anything new:

·         http://techhermit.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/microsofts-container-progenitor-to-leave/

·         http://www.techflash.com/microsoft/Key_data_center_architect_leaves_Microsoft_for_Amazon36057114.html

·         http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2008/12/12/james-hamilton-leaving-microsoft/

·         http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1765

·         http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/12/amazon_goes_containers/

·         http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/amazon/archives/156853.asp

·         http://www.readwriteweb.com/jobwire/2008/12/james-hamilton-leaves-micfroso.php

·         http://blogs.msdn.com/stevecla01/archive/2008/12/12/dick-hardt-in-james-hamilton-out.aspx

Job changes generally bring some stress, and that’s probably why I’ve only moved between companies three times in 28 years. I worked 6 years as an auto-mechanic, 10 years at IBM, and 12 years at Microsoft. Looking back over my 12 years at Microsoft, I couldn’t have asked for more excitement, more learning, more challenges, or more trust.

I’ve had a super interesting time at Microsoft and leaving is tough, but I also remember feeling the same way when I left IBM after 10 years to join Microsoft. Change is good; change challenges; change forces humility; change teaches. I’m looking forward to it even though all new jobs are hard. Onward!

                                                                --jrh