This year marks 20 years that I professionally work with Unix and Linux servers. Coincidentally I also turned 40 years old. It could be considered that I've reached "halftime" in my professional life.
Time for a quick breather and review.
I taught myself how to create websites (HTML+CSS) at the age of 13 (1998), followed by learning PHP as first programming language (after throwing a book about JAVA into a corner).
Back then I knew I had to push my local site via FTP to a "hosting server" on the Internet. This is when I learned about file and directory permissions (chmod). My first "touch" of a Unix server.
The whole concept of "building" something on your computer fascinated me. The websites I created had quite a large number of visits and international success (in the DACH area), especially considering the still young age of the WWW.
Years later, after completing my federal certificate in 2005, I eventually got the chance to work as a "Systems Administrator" with servers running on AS/400, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX and... Linux!
Because I am still that young boy at heart and I still learn something new almost every day, definitely every week. There's nothing more constant than change. And this applies perfectly to the IT world. Although there are sometimes doubtful (to say the least) trends, the big picture shows an advancing and improving technology.
Along the way I worked with many people and learned new (human and program) languages, applications and systems. Many of these connections shaped me how I am today (the good AND the bad parts). I had the chance to work with technical field experts and learning from the best. But I also learned about different cultures, mindsets and strategies - not only from colleagues and friends, but also on organizational levels. And I keep on learning, applying, reviewing and learning again.
You learn and grow with your mistakes. That's why, I suppose, I would do it all again - even the mistakes.
However I would tell my younger self to appreciate people how they are. Not everyone loves to work, not everyone is ambitious, not everyone is always motivated. However everyone has a life - and life isn't always easy. Be patient with these folks. It took me quite a while to accept this and not get frustrated. Now I consider myself a bit wiser and know which task I can entrust to whom.
Besides, I am really, really bad as a handy man (just ask my wife!). Any attempt at another profession and it would be a major failure. ;-)
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