For my last day with Kerry, I sent the following letter:

Despite having worked at Sprint for 11 years, I’ve only changed jobs one time. That was many years ago when Sprint absorbed AP so I moved from AP to AR. I still worked for Kerry, so that almost doesn’t count.

I’ve never been good at goodbyes, and this really is my first. Rather than a goodbye, I think some Thanks You’s are more in order.

Thanks to everyone for making this such a great team to work with. It has been nice coming to work and knowing that there wasn’t anyone here that I did not like. Thanks for always being willing to help me when I needed it. Thanks for your support when I needed it and thanks for simply being a friend.

Thanks for always teaching me more than I could ever have taught you.

In alphabetical order:

Brian: Thanks for your help in learning Java. Thanks for helping me to start a new journey, even though it was one I never wanted to take.

Curtis: Thanks for your endless help with SQL. You really should have charged me by the hour for the help.

Deb: Thanks for being the censor to my thoughts when dealing with customers. You always do say it nicer than I can!

Lee: Thanks for all your help managing projects I was involved with. You are greatly appreciated.

Lucas: Thanks for backing me up when I was gone and for being so great to work with for these past many years.

Siva: Thanks for your tireless patience with my endless Java questions. You have been a great teacher.

Steve: Thank you for all your help with credit card issues. You made a world of chaos understandable…well, somewhat.

Yuriy: Thanks for all your help with reporting issues and for always setting my head straight when I could not find something in a database. Congratulations to you, also, for your new job.

Finally, Kerry: When I was in AP, and first found out we were getting a new manager, I was in dread. It seemed like we were about to undergo a huge, horrible change that would ruin my job. Little did I know that the exact opposite was true.

Thank you for being so supportive, not only with work but also with life outside of work. Thanks for always encouraging learning and growth. Thanks for pushing and prodding, and never settling for anything less than excellence. Thanks for being a friend and a mentor. Thanks for making the last 10 years so much fun.
I had not planned to leave this department, and would actually love to stay, but it seems the time is right. It was not a decision I came to quickly or easily. Lots of prayer went into this decision.

Though I am incredibly nervous about my new position, I am also looking forward to it. Learning something new is always exciting, and I’ve already seen opportunities to apply what I know to the new job. For example, the guy I am replacing has nine, yes NINE computers. There’s NO WAY I am going to administer 9 PCs, so I’ll probably tackle those first. There has to be a better way.

Other than a select few, I don’t think that anyone at Sprint REALLY knows what Kerry’s team can do. Though my contributions seem small, it has been like working in a great think-tank. I will definitely miss that. My new team consists of 2 people, me being one of them. Not much to draw on, but I know where you all sit.

Thanks, again, to everyone. I will miss working with you on a daily basis. I won’t forget you and hope to work together again someday soon.

I received the following responses:

Morgan – one of the nicest and best written emails I have ever read. It actually gave me goosebumps when I read it. I know it must have been a terribly difficult decision and you should take comfort in the fact that you saved someone else’s job by doing so. You’re a great guy and I have no doubt you’ll succeed wherever you go.

Best of luck – and keep me on your IM list J I’m sure I’ll be needing your advice.

Debra McKinstry

Morgan thank you, it has been a pleasure working with you as well. Nine PCs what the hell? I’m sure you’ll be able to take care of that issue. – Yuriy

Morgan,
Thanks for the kind words. I’m very proud of you and am glad to have had the privilege to work together. I believe this is not so much a “goodbye” as a “see you later.” I’ve still got another 22 years till I can retire at 65!!! I think that gives us a good chance of our careers running into each other again (assuming Sprint can survive the next year).

Thanks for everything.

By the way… You heard Billy… he says we need to do work for more than just PO… so he’s opened the door…
Kerry B. Eikenbary