Yesterday was Day One at Microsoft. All day orientation. An interesting experience.
Part of the day included an incredibly detailed description of Microsoft’s health plan. Two hours. My new boss summarized the plan as "Microsoft pays for everything." After a point, hearing how this is covered and that is covered got a little dull: I started doing the crossword puzzle.
There was also a long discussion of Microsoft’s culture and perception in the marketplace. You know, tell us what your friends said when you announced you were off to Microsoft. "The Evil Empire. Now you’ll know what it’s like to live inside the Death Star. Who are you off to crush?" Then it went on to how the company wants to change that perception.
Showing up at the office today was a huge revelation as well. First off, everyone’s office is decorated. Posters, personal stuff, furniture. At Oracle, you aim to have only as much stuff as you can fit in one box: you just never know when the marketing "housecleaning" will take place. But you know it happens every couple of years.
The personal interaction was also completely different. There were only a few people at Oracle that I had a close enough relationship with that we would slide into the gutter, make off-color jokes, etc. And finding those people took months (well, except for Brian, but that’s because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut about… well, let’s just say I’d had a few drinks). I think it took five minutes for someone to crack the first wickedly off-color joke. This is such a more collegial, friendly company.
I think I’m going to like it.