Yes, I'm still here. I know it's very out of character for me to go almost a month without posting on my site, but it's with good reason this time. As I alluded to in my previous post, I have started a new job. Before I get into the details, you know how when you start a new job, you're just sitting around for the first week or two, twiddling your thumbs, reviewing documents, etc? Not at this job. I hit the ground running. On my first day I had a two hour HR orientation and then I was in meetings for the rest of the day. In one of the meetings someone said "Alex, we're looking to you for guidance on this," and I had a room full of people looking at me. My first instinct was to say "ummmmm, I've been here for like 3 hours." But I didn't, I told them what I would do and it was greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm.So here I am, exactly one month into my new job and I finally have a chance to take a breath. Not since my time at Cathay back in Hong Kong am I able to say in all seriousness......I love my job. I finally feel like I'm living up to my potential, I finally feel like I'm being challenged, I finally feel like I'm using all my skills, and I finally feel like I'm being given the responsibility I deserve. It's a very different environment as well. Smaller company, new industry, etc. I'm wearing a shirt and tie every day. I'm in meetings with CIO and Senior Vice Presidents, and get this, they're actually LISTENING! Imagine that. When I speak, they listen. It's very refreshing. So I'm happy. I've gone from getting 9-10 hours of sleep a night, to getting around 6 or 7, but I have more energy than I've had in ages. Deanne has been wonderfully supportive and has answered the question "Does this tie go with this shirt?" about 600 times in the last month. Anyway, I've started a new chapter in my career and, as a result, my life. Let's see how the rest of the story goes.