16 years, 9 months, and 29 days ago I was first introduced to the technology that would dominate so much of the next 6148 days of my life. I worked for the company that made software for just shy of 8 years of that time.
6 days ago, it ended in an email.
As we announced earlier today, we’re reducing our workforce… Unfortunately, as part of this reduction your role is being eliminated.
Email all too common now
For the first time in many years, I’m facing professional uncertainty. I’m working through the emotions…including a craving to explore those feels in blogging again.
I’m not planning to talk about Salesforce, its products, or business decisions. I couldn’t do the topic justice compared to other sources. I won’t try.
Instead, I’ll likely focus on my obsessions with technology learning, personal knowledge management tools like Obsidian and the power of community. Maybe some knitting progress, too. Topics that feed my soul and feel too constrained in 500 characters on Mastodon.
I started this blog site (first using the domain of momathome.com) on a whim 20 years ago today on January 9, 2003 when my kids were young and I was dabbling in freelance graphic design work.
At first, I didn’t think about the content. It was all about the fun of setting it up. I love tinkering with and learning technology, and then sharing and building community around what I learned. Back then it was all about installing and configuring MovableType on my own and just talking about whatever was going on in my world. I had no idea if anyone was reading. Back then, it didn’t matter. It was for me. When I got feedback and picked up some followers, it was about us.
Thanks, Copernicus, for my very first comment – wherever you are.
I blogged here regularly until 2013 and fell off when my employment in the industry made talking about the technology challenging and it was too easy to post on Twitter.
I ended up sharing over 1900 posts here.
Blogging helped me through Me 1.0 as a stay-at-home mom and freelance graphic designer.
It helped me make sense of Me 2.0 as an anti-cancer advocate trying to figure out how to start and lead a nonprofit organization.
And it got me to the beginning of Me 3.0 as an open source community and production support leader for a Fortune 500 company.
Hello Me 4.0.
Whatever she turns out to be.
Judi Sohn 
9 responses to “Me 4.0: Day 6. 20 years later.”
Hi Judi, just want to let you know that you are heard, and sending you positive vibes. Looking forward to learning about you 4.0 🙂 Take care!
I’m glad you’re going to be writing here again! Welcome back. I guess your commentary on Usenet was pre-1.0. 🙂
As a side note, it’s a bit odd to see ads here. Is that intentional? Or is that some default WordPress install thing these days?
Ha! Yes – Usenet was earlier for sure. That’s a story for a future post. 🙂
I think the ads are because I’m not paying enough to get rid of them? Certainly not intentional on my part.
Hello Judi. I’ve known of you through your online activity for years having started working on salesforce for NFPs in 2010. Your articles have always been so useful, well considered and have often confirmed that I’m not going crazy! Thanks for all you do. I wish you well in your new incarnation.
Hi Judi, so great to see you blogging again! Another long timer here, who always enjoys reading and learning from your posts. Thanks for sharing your journey. Looking forward to the future and seeing what this journey we call life brings. Rooting for you!
Thank you, Carol!
Welcome your next chapter! I look forward to your posts my friend.
My first thought when I read this was “how the heck can Salesforce lay off the most Salesforce person I know?”
Truly, you’ve been my hero in that space for as long as I’ve known you.
I look forward to you 4.0. Perhaps you’ll give me some idea where to go next. 🙂
Hi Judi,
You have been an inspiration to me ever since I started my journey on the Salesforce path. You were there for me when I needed guidance and I’ve looked up to you ever since. The SF community will suffer greatly from your absence. This I know.
Of course I have no doubt that you will land on your feet and that something better is out there for you.
Thank you for everything that you have done for so many of us non-profits. For the sprints you lead and the encouragement you have given.
Be well,
Kathy Partin