Hanging a Shingle
Written on October 1, 2007
Today is my last day as a Microsoft Employee. I originally joined MSFT out of college, left to do a startup / finish my master’s thesis, and then re-joined almost four years ago. The relationships, products, and skills I developed while at MSFT are invaluable and I am very thankful for how the company grew me. The unique opportunity to get involved with various internal efforts over the past 2 years was both enlightening and fun. Ultimately I learned that Microsoft is an incredibly complex organisation that has many understated positives and well discussed negatives. It’ll always hold a place in my heart and I’ll keenly follow how the company navigates the competitive & cultural challenges it faces nowadays.
Tomorrow I start my next gig as a full time entrepreneur. For as long as I can remember I have had the aspiration to start a company (even after learning how difficult it was when I first tried in 2002 - we closed shop in 2003). The desire to start one again has been growing over the past few months and I decided to jump in head first two weeks ago. There is no time like now…especially since I don’t have a mortgage, marriage or mini-me(s).
The upcoming few months will be exciting and a bit of a roller coaster. I’m planning to write about what I learn and experience as a San Francisco based entrepreneur on this blog. I suspect there are a few blogs focused on this out there so I’ll try to differentiate in a way that brings you back. Let me know if you have any suggestions to help do that.
Filed in: Uncategorized.
Hey Bubba, congratulations and good luck!
Keep on blogging, will be very interesting to see how things play out
Hey Bubba!
Ran across your blog link after updating my profile in “LinkedIn” and happen to see the start of your entrepreneurship! Enjoy the new direction in your career and I hope it brings you great satisfaction. Would love to catch up with you in the near future. I would be happy to put you in touch with one of my Cal Poly friend’s that started his own successful company (check it at at http://www.nexternal.com). Best of Luck! -cindy mihora
Good luck Neel. My layman’s opinion is always ready for ya. What is a URL (optional)?
you will be missed but looking forward to what is next.
Glad to see you now entered the world of the unknowns. After I left MS like yourself, I spend a few months of meandering and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Believe me, after leaving the corporate world and trying to make it on my own, I now know I won’t go back (mortgage or no mortgage). I hope you find the same kind of clarity I found and I wish you good luck on your new ventures. Knowing you, I am confident you will succeed.
C
Hey Bubba. Looks like you’re off to a great start and good challenge. Good luck! I’ll be checking your progress through this blog.
Good luck on your new ventures, Bubba! If you’re up in the Seattle area swing by Pioneer Square to say hi!
Thanks everyone! This is going to be one heck of a ride, and I apperciate the well wishes & interest in hearing how it goes.
Cindy - I’ll find you via linkedin so we can connect. It has been too long!
miss you already bubba. stay connected. go do great stuff…
Sounds exciting, and you’re right: the timing’s perfect. Best of luck, and stay in touch — as Lili says, miss you already.
jon
Go long, Bubba… Straight up the middle looks wide open…B-)).
Did not have a lot of opportunity to work with you Bubba, but from our limited interaction and my familiarity with your previous ideas I was really looking forward to it. I guess that is my loss. Best wishes and feel free to give a ring if you need anything.
Mike.
Woot! Good luck with the new venture — I’m confident your better suited “outside”.
Don’t be a stranger. Keep that mojo going!
Betsy
[...] their feet this week, as Erik Selberg from Live Search, Danny Thorpe from Windows Live Platform, Bubba Murarka from Windows Live, and Bungie all announced their intention to leave the company. People come [...]
Best of luck Bubba! Please share your experiences with us, I’m curious what behaviors you have learnt at Microsoft you feel help or hinder you as a real-time entrepreneur!
[...] their feet this week, as Erik Selberg from Live Search, Danny Thorpe from Windows Live Platform, Bubba Murarka from Windows Live, and Bungie all announced their intention to leave the company. People come and [...]
[...] their feet this week, as Erik Selberg from Live Search, Danny Thorpe from Windows Live Platform, Bubba Murarka from Windows Live, and Bungie all announced their intention to leave the company. People come [...]
Hey Bubba. Best of luck in your new project. I hope you succeed in your new business. What is it about anyway? If you need somebody to test what you’re doing, you know where to find me.
[...] employee officially leaves the payroll. I felt pretty comfortable being open and honest with my reason for leaving the company, but not sure if everyone would be. While this may result in a bunch of noise in the feedback [...]