The Short Goodbye
Thank You Veer & Goodnight
After seven and a half years I’ve left Veer.
When we started the company, I believe we all wanted to create something special and I still believe that it was. We wanted to be part of something different and how we created the business reflected that – even down to the name. It wasn’t simply a cool name or a tiny URL – it was a philosophy about how we believed we needed to approach every part of the business. While we hoped (and occasionally prayed) that it would resonate with customers it was a philosophy that kept us excited to come in to work. We questioned everything we did – what was the motive? What did it say about us? What story did it tell? Sometimes the discussions were fiery and exciting, other times they were draining. Sometimes they simply felt annoying – but not often. It was a great time.
It was also fabulously hard work. When I got the call to help out I honestly worked 6-7 days a week, 10 – 16 hours a day. There was a stint of 33 consecutive days – my best stretch at neglecting the rest of my life :) And therein lies a truth for me – business is intensely personal for me and therefore extremely difficult to balance. Some people don’t like that and others do. Personally, I’m fine with it. But with any venture there’s a cost – and Veer was no different. I invested everything I had into my part of starting the company – my talent, my limited resources, my tireless energy and *all* of my time. In the end, the focus (perhaps misguided) cost me my marriage – though I wasn’t the only one who suffered through that experience. Still, I was growing & learning things – things I had no idea existed. It was exhilarating to feel like Veer was growing into something I’d be proud of. Somehow, everything seemed worth it.
I’ve had some amazing moments at Veer. One night, just as we hit 150 or so people, I walked through the office and what we had accomplished suddenly hit me. The families we supported, all the stuff in the office – it was all the outcome of an idea that started with a small group of people and was elevated beyond our own imagining by every new person who joined the family. It was unimaginable to me that so much could have come from so little.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people – some of whom I’m lucky enough to call friends. Now, when I travel to Chicago, Berlin, London, NYC, Austin, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Toronto and San Francisco I have people I can share dinner, drinks (sometimes) and some great conversation with. Some of these people were my heroes before I started at Veer – how cool is that? Sometimes this life presents opportunities that simply leave me speechless.
Then there are the people I work with. I feel like I’m surrounded by some incredibly talented people – they’re always teaching me something and do so with grace and humility. For them I’m eternally grateful.
It’s going to be strange not having Veer to wake up to everyday but, to be honest, I’m happy for the change. As the old standard goes – I’ve grown accustomed to her face – and the time is right for me to move onto something new. We don’t get along as well as we did – she’s comfortable and I’m feeling the need for adventure. Staying would be easy and I don’t seem to do well with easy. So, thank you Veer, you’ve been fantastic – but now, it’s time to take a break, recharge, then build something new that I can be proud of.