I’m Leaving Microsoft
I’m back from vacation and have some big news to share, September 1st is my last day at Microsoft.
Now it’s certainly been a great two and half years. I came in fresh from university knowing very little and with the help of a great team, a fun product, and a regular yearly release cycle I’ve learned what it takes to ship software at one of the world’s greatest software companies. But it’s now time for me to move on. I’m moving on for a number of reasons. For one, in the back of my mind, working at Microsoft was a two year commitment. I knew while graduating that I wasn’t yet ready to run my own company, I needed to learn more. So I could either go to grad school or get some real world experience. Being pretty tired of school, Microsoft was naturally one of the best places to learn how to ship software. Secondly and most sadly is that I was no longer, or possibly never was, performing at the level that I should have been. There are a number of reasons for this. A number of my projects in Vista got cut and then my post-Vista work was continually held up but the whims of other teams. There also isn’t the incentive system in place for me to want to break outside the ‘meets expectations’ ranks in a meaningful way and so I never would step up and really take the initiative to control my own destiny. There’s a few more reasons but I’ll save blogging about those until a later date.
To be clear, I am not leaving because Microsoft isn’t a great place (it is, I love my team and my co-workers, I’m really going to miss them but thankfully I’ve made some great life long friends. However, Microsoft is just no longer the place for me and where I am in my career), I am not leaving because Windows Vista is going to suck (it’s not we have tons of people putting their heart and soul into it and I prefer using it at home than Media Center 2005), I am not leaving because we don’t support DVB-x/feature XYZ/etc (do your homework on the size of those markets and compare them to the markets we are pursuing, then figure out what the technical effort is to enter those markets and figure out how many people we have) and I am not leaving because I’m an idiot (though it would be funny if I did).
So while there have been a lot of departures recently mine certainly won’t result in me taking a year off (like Vic Gundotra’s), the news won’t break via the blogosphere (like Robert Scoble’s), there’s no news conference planned (like Bill Gates’), and this post won’t be Dugg or TechMeme’d. But maybe it should be? What is Microsoft doing to build and retain top notch young talent at the individual contributor level? How are they moving them up the ranks? (For those in the know about what this means, I was a ‘blue chip’ candidate and in the College Select program.. Anyhow these are some great ideas for my post-Microsoft blogging).
What does this mean for this blog? (Not that this blog is anything special, I hardly pay it the attention that I should). It probably all depends on if my Media Center gets repossessed :).
Keep using MCE, it rocks!
[…] I’m back from vacation and have some big news to share, September 1st is my last day at Microsoft. I blogged more about this on my work/Media Center blog, I’m Leaving Microsoft. […]
Good luck in all that you do brother…
And Grad School isn’t such a bad place.
Incredibly honest post, Matt. This seems to be a problem in a lot of large companies. Obviously companies can’t promote everyone. Individual contributors that get their work done well and on time just have a hard time standing out. :( Then there is a bubble of individual contributors that do well but just have stagnant careers.
I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago, and I’m very sorry to see you go. Good luck, though!
Matt,
I just wanted to say I really appreciate your blog and you hanging out in the media center newsgroups. You were always around to answer questions, thanks!
Good luck in what ever you do next.
Shahn
Matt,
I can only wish you success and luck on whatever you are going to do. You deserve it.
Keep it up man.
Thanks a lot for all that you have done.
Julio
I am sure that you will make your way, Matt.
Always enjoyed this blog and all the articles and help from you. I hope you will be in touch with (Vista) MCE in future.
Unfortunately, we have not met personally yet. Just ping me if you are around Germany some time.
Good Luck!
Hi Matt,
I came across your blogsite at the beginning of August. Since then, I’ve been using this as well as the Green Button and Chris Lanier’s blog for Media Center development. That all said, thank you for your contributions and the best of luck in your future endeavors. Keep us posted.
Cheers,
Carl Rogers
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Good luck Matt, I have been a fan of your honest blogging on all things media center. Just because you won’t be on the inside doesn’t mean your thoughts on media center wont be valued so I hope you keep blogging, if you have time and the repo man doesn’t get your media center ;)
I totally will miss your inputs, since discovering your blog I visit it daily ! Great Luck on your new ventures.
We’ll miss you Matt! You were a fresh voice from within Microsoft and really made me feel plugged into the MCE development. I’m sure you’ll do great things in your next gig.
Best,
Chris
Best of luck to you Matt, you’ll be missed! I really appreciated your contributions to Media Center, enjoyed chatting with you in Redmond, and loved reading your blog.
Once it makes sense to do so, you’ll have to let us know where you end up.
[…] Well boo! I really like Matt and what he’s contributed to both the media center product and the media center community through his blog. Matt is a Waterloo grad who went to work at Microsoft right out of university and now it appears that he’s looking for something with more room to grow.For those who don’t know, Matt’s most visible work is that done on the DVD player in Media Center including support for DVD changers and upcoming support for HD-DVD.Good luck Matt, and thanks for everything you did! […]
Hey Matt!! Sorry to hear you’re leaving us. You’ll be sorely missed!
[…] This really disappoints me. Matt Goyer has announced he is departing Microsoft the 1st of September. […]
Best of luck to you Matt.. Keep us in the loop.
best of luck!
Matt, Thanks for everything you have done for the Media Center and blogging community! We will all miss your insight.
Sorry to see you leaving, best of luck on your new project. =)
Chris
Hi Matt
I first read about you after finding your Larry Smith quotes page. I then found out that after your graduation, you went to work with Microsoft on a product that I was really interested in (Media Center). I finally had a chance to meet you at the MVP Summit in 2005.
It seems like so long ago that I first encountered your name, but I’m sure that even with your departure from Microsoft, we’ll still hear about you and the things that that you will be working on in the future.
All the best to you
Jason
Matt Goyer is leaving Microsoft
http://jtsang.blogspot.com/2006/08/matt-goyer-is-leaving-microsoft.html
Hi Matt,
As everyone else, I am very sorry to hear this - no doubt that your blog has been one of the most open and informing when it comes to Media Center.
Whatever you will be doing in the future I wish you the best of luck, and hope that you will still be a part of the community around Media Center as a private person - on TGB and in other places.
Regards,
Brian Binnerup
“[…]do your homework on the size of those markets and compare them to the markets we are pursuing[…]”
Maybe you’re the one who should do his homework. The market you’re not serving is a lot bigger than the one you are serving. Take look at Microsoft’s own WinHEC presentation (the one you linked) which is pointing that out clearly! Anyway, best of luck to you…
Sorry to here you are leaving. I enjoyed getting you on the show and love reading your blog.
Good luck with what ever you do in the future
Where are we going to get all those insider titbits now :-) not to mention the heated discussion.
Thanks Matt for sharing and good luck.
This has been the most useful and informative MCE blog that I’ve seen. And I’ve been paying attention to several.
I’ll miss the little “in the know” tidbits that you seem fairly skilled at leaking without getting yourself in trouble (or so I assume!).
Thanks for your work in this area. I think we’ve all appreciated it.
Aaron
Wow, surprising news! Congrats, and let me know what you’re up to! Good luck on your future journey.
Please don’t go Matt we need you at your desk in Bills World on 2nd Sept ;)
Oh no, the cutest guy at Microsoft is leaving? How sad. Well, good luck!
Oh without knowing the full truth of what goes on behind microsoft doors… but there appears to be a high turnover of staff… all citing similar reasons - and us on the outside world will really never know…
But having siad that - its obvious that the expectations of the current generation of newly graduating staff, having their first job for a couple of years expecting the accolades for their endeavors…. Gee Matt you appeared to get promoted into responsible jobs, yet now your crying that M$ has not looked after you in your career choice.
I find it insulting that the 20 something generation expects to be CIO within 2 years in the IT industry - you need to learn, take the time, show responsibility and grow into a proper business acedemic now… and if that means promotions and pay increases take their time - so be it… As your not indisposible, as the next generation of graduates are eager and waiting to take your place.
You are wrong on several points lately - market share / directions and to understand these it would take time.
Either way - Matt I congratulate you on a job well done at M$, on breaking the mould and communicating things through your Blog efforts… and wish you all the best for the future (so is it true your going to help out with DVB stuff on Medial Portal ? lol !!! )
Man,
I am not sure why, but this sucks. I am an MS fanboy. I am definitely an MCE fanboy. Reading this blog offered me insights into Software program management at a large co. Plus, Matt’s a canadian guy like me. Dammit, back to reading those other boring-ass blogs from outsider who just b*tch and moan.
Good luck Matt. I came across this blog when I was interviewing for Microsoft and have been following it as I have been employed at Microsoft. I’ve always found your writings informative and thought provoking. All the best in the future.
Just from your blog, it doesn’t seem to difficult to figure out how all the “walking on eggshells with Hollywood” nonsense at Microsoft has brought you to this Matt.
Your history includes Napster alternatives and pirate radio stations, and your dislike for DRM methods is obvious. Microsoft hires you into their digital media division, and gives you responsibility for features for features that deal directly with Hollywood content such as DVD’s. Then the powers-that-be at MSFT decide to hop in bed with Hollywood and embrace DRM methods figuring they’ll control it all in the end. But in the process, they totally stifle creativity in the area they just made you responsible for. The conversations wouldn’t be hard to imagine…
MattG: “Hey boss, I’ve got some great ideas regarding DVD streaming and archiving in our new Vista Media Center. I wanted them in Symphony, but like you said, we just weren’t there.”
JoeF: “Uhhh, Matt…we’re still not there. We’d rather not rock the boat just yet, so we won’t be doing HD-DVD’s this time around either. Next release though, I promise.”
Matt: “But DVD’s and Movies are my feature…don’t I have any say in this?”
Joe: “Sorry Matt, talk to licensing. We’re just not there yet.”
Oh well I was hoping for some more tid bits on HD-DVD support in the next few months. Sorry to see you think you are under appreciated. Hopefully you find fullfilment somewhere else.
Hey Matt,
Just wanted to add my 2c worth of best wishes, and thanks for all you’ve shared here.
I’ve been an MCE early adopter (outside the US just to add to my woes) and this has been a little place I could go for handy tips and encouragement.
Hopefully they’ll let you keep your MCE rig… after all, you’ll probably make a very good active reference ;)
Well that just plain sucks. Sorry to hear you’re leaving Microsoft - I really enjoyed your Media Center posts. It’s clear you have a passion for the project, and it sounds to me like Microsoft is the one that’s losing out on a great employee.
Sorry to see you go. You are undoubtedly the pusher who enabled many good features of MCE and the Vista OS. Your energy and love for MCE is obvious to all you read your comments.
You will be sorely missed. I do hope you continue to blog a bit about MCE and Vista as you may personally encounter features, problems etc. on the outside.
Your departure is a great loss for Microsoft and the MCE comunity. I know that your replacement(s) will have big shoes to fill. And I hope he/they will be bloggers as well.
Will be looking forward to further personal posting you may make as a “civilian”.
It’s too bad that you go.. But I believe you know best what to do. Goodluck in your career.
One thing that bothers me extremely though is the way DVB-C/S support is being pushed to somewhere around 2009… How on earth can MS make a decision like that? IMHO this is an absolute priority no.1 in order to make Mediacenter the worldwide marketleader.. How is it possible MS is only focusing on US market for live tv solutions..
What added value does Vista MCE have for Europe if we cannot watch digital (HD) TV via our mediacenter? Are we still destined to use our crappy analog tv cards? Not very next-gen.
I cannot imagine MS doesnt have a very good reason to push this forward..
I sincerly hope microsoft will clarify this as this all sounds very depressing..
Good luck, Matt. I enjoyed reading your blog about MCE. I got the your other blog on my RSS reader too.
I agree with everyone else that DVB-C/S support should be in Vista MCE. The open source project, Media Portal, have support for it (and support for many more tuners than MCE) so it really cant be all that difficult to add support for it. They dont get paid a penny for that and you guys get paid to do this, its your 8-5 job for crying out loud and they do it in their spare time, so there are no excuses for cutting it.
Cheers to you, Matt. Best of luck
[…] http://mediacenter.mattgoyer.com/archives/2006/08/23/1170 […]
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Well boo! I really like Matt and what he’s contributed to both the media center product and the……
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