Terry Stein - It's an IW World, and I'm Just Living In It!

Hmmmm...the best job at Microsoft?  Interesting question because there are just so many of them.  One of the things that I most enjoy about working at Microsoft centers around impact.

Remember when you were growing up and people would ask what you want to be when you grow up?  Many of us would reply with answers that amounted to vocations that put us in a position to help other people, or maybe even save the world.  In my mind, there's nothing better for me than being in a position at a company that allows me to make a difference in people's lives; to do something that has visible impact into the way others live.

Microsoft provides so many of these types of opportunities; the chance to make a difference in someone's life...the opportunity to change the world!

I'm lucky enough to be in such a position. About 2 weeks ago, I moved into a new role on my existing team that will allow me to work with a technology that is relatively new for Microsoft, rapidly changing in the industry, and will change people's lives.

It's the world of unified communications, or UC, as some people call it.  I get the opportunity to work with Microsoft partners, not just in Heartland Area as in the past, but across the entire 18-state Central Region.

I'm going to help our partners learn how to sell and deliver our UC solutions, so that we have the ability take this new technology to every customer. Yes, it will change lives for those who embrace it. 

You've probably seen the demonstrations by now where we allow people to easily communicate with others through either instant message, video or audio call, or generating multiple party conferences all at the click of a couple buttons.  It's very cool stuff!

So, you're wondering how it plays out as a business benefit?  Imagine if you could reduce your travel time to other offices for meetings because you can now video conference using a simple webcam, microphone, and an Internet connection.  If you've checked the price of airfare lately, you'll know that it wouldn't take long at all to pay for the solution.

How about easier communications?  Most people have multiple phones, multiple e-mail address, and so on.  I have one Voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone number that people can reach me on because when that number rings, it simultaneously rings my work phone and my mobile phone.  I answer whichever is more convenient.  If I don't answer, the call goes to voice mail, which then lands in my E-mail inbox and I can listen to the voice mail later or forward it to another colleague to listen to.

Do you spend time on your laptop at home sitting on the coach so that you can be in the same room as your family...and you count it as "quality time"?  Maybe that happens because you're behind on e-mail from being on the road all day, or in meetings.  I take advantage of speech enabled messaging by calling my e-mail server and having it read my e-mail to me over the phone while I'm commuting to and from the office.  I can reply, forward, or delete the message using voice commands and never take my hands or eyes off the task of driving.

It's going to be fun...and yes, I have the best job at Microsoft.