Journey ever on…
I grew up in Northern California amongst the Redwood trees, salmon fishing on the Eel River, backpacking in the Trinity Alps, and listening to music by artists such as Dan Fogelberg. And as time has gone by, the words of one of Dan’s songs plays through my mind:
“May the trail rise up to meet you, May your heart rejoice in song, May the skies be fair above you, As you journey ever on…”
When I joined the Equinix team in 2008, I was attracted by the opportunity to be involved in something truly special — protecting, connecting and powering the digital world. And while the possibilities were indeed game changing, I also came for the people, and soon discovered they were not only talented, but authentic, humble, and kind, with big, caring hearts. I saw people committed to a mission and to each other. Equinix is a great place to be.
When I celebrated my 10th anniversary with the company last August, I realized there were other, more personal journeys I was longing to explore. In his most recent article, “After 25 years studying innovation, here is what I have learned,” Clayton Christensen stated that “your decisions about where and how you allocate your resources — time, energy, and talent — ultimately shape your life’s strategy.” I’ve been honored to serve as Chief Information Officer, Chief Customer Officer and Chief Product Officer during my tenure at Equinix, and now I’m ready to embrace a new chapter in my life and career.
I’m calling this my “exploration year,” as it’s all about making the time to explore new places, learn new things and gain new perspectives. As Marcel Proust once said: “The real voyage of discovery consists, not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
If you run into me over the coming year, you’ll find me spending more time with my family; visiting new places where I can see new things and meet new people; reading in the Stanford library; advising startups and private equity companies; continuing to serve on the Lumentum and Talend boards; and volunteering more in my community. It will be a year full of exploration and I hope to have new eyes at the end of it.
As Lao Tzu once said, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” and I will be taking the first step of my new journey at the close of business on April 5th, my last day at Equinix. Until that time, I will be working hard to transition my responsibilities to my very special team…I know they are more than ready to take on the challenges ahead, and Equinix’s future is extremely bright in their capable hands.
I am so grateful to have been a small part of the Equinix journey, and I wish all of our wonderful employees, amazing customers, and can-do partners nothing but the best life has to offer. Good luck and Godspeed to all of you.
May the trail rise up to meet you as you journey ever on…
Brian
“Take care of those whom you love. Take care of your health. Do not limit yourself to what you know. Try and learn. Share your life. We are not meant to be alone. To the future!” — Ben “Gentle Ben” Go, June 2013
