That first step

Earlier this week, we held our annual intern “meet and greet” at Sun’s campus in Menlo Park. It was a chance for local law students to connect with attorneys in our organization to learn about internship opportunities and, more generally, what it’s like to work here. We had a great turnout with more than fifty students from a number of regional law schools. All of them were bright, energetic, interesting – and interested.

At the beginning of the event, I spoke for a few minutes about my career and the value of internships. I pointed out that few people are fortunate enough to identify early in life what their “perfect job” will be. Instead, for most of us, career paths are really nothing more than a process of elimination. You explore, try new opportunities and leave others until (hopefully) you find the right role. For me that journey has been a meandering path through several law firms, two companies (one of them, Sun – twice) and multiple areas of legal practice.

I arrived home last evening and with a glass of wine in hand, sat down and read our town’s local newspaper. On the second page, I found an article noting that Pat O’Laughlin, our former mayor, had passed away as the result of a rare disease called spinal arachnoiditis. Besides serving as mayor, Pat was also a very well known civil litigator in the San Jose area. Just about every local judge and attorney knew Pat and admired him for his intellect and tenacity in the courtroom. But it was Pat’s wit and frequently displayed humor that were his hallmark.

In 1984, it was Pat who gave me my start as an attorney. At that time, I had just graduated from law school and passed the bar exam. I had little concept of what it meant to be a litigator, but Pat took a chance and hired me. Over the following three years, he trained me and gave me increasingly more complex cases to handle. He clearly had far more confidence in my abilities than I did at that early stage.

It has been more than fifteen years since I last saw him. Ultimately, I realized that litigation was not what I wanted for my professional career and I left to a position with another firm. And from there… like I said, a meandering path to where I am today.

Lao-tzu famously said, “A journey begins with a single step.” In many careers that first step is the most important. But, equally important is having a person who helps you take it.

Thank you, Pat. You will be missed by many.

Seeking a bit of white space

Earnings announcement, board meetings, stockholder meeting and the continued melt down of global economic markets. All in all, it’s been a stressful few weeks. So, when a few friends offered the chance for a weekend of camping and hiking in Yosemite Valley, I happily accepted.

Yosemite Valley is always wonderful. But at this time of year, it is at its most beautiful. The leaves of the black oaks have turned shades varying from crimson to mustard and color the air with every breeze. In the background, the majestic icons of the valley – El Cap, Half Dome, Glacier Point and Royal Arches, all watch silently. I’m still astounded to meet residents of California who have never visited this sublime geologic wonder.

The hike itself was grueling. There was no trail to follow and we had to move at a good pace to avoid navigating in the dark – or worse yet, being included in the next edition of this.

Our starting point was Olmstead Point off of Tioga Road. From there we descended (and more than occasionally – stumbled) down Tenaya Canyon to the valley floor. Along the more than ten mile route we discovered the engine of a plane that had crashed in the late 1950s; had an encounter (thankfully, a friendly one) with a large black bear; enjoyed the adrenaline of a few rappels and the refreshment of a chilly swim in the Tenaya river. In this environment, it is impossible to think about work. Or, the economy.

Now, at the office a week later, my legs remain in pain and the blisters on my feet have not yet healed. But each time I experience a moment of stress, I reach down and touch my still aching legs. When I do, I’m transported back to Yosemite and find a moment of repose.

(Photographs courtesy of Rene Schaub)