Whenever I see a new ad on TV for a company I like, I always try finding the meaning behind the meaning then I ask: did they say what they meant?
Today it’s about relating and being real while standing comfortably in your own shoes talking about yourself, what you do and what you’re all about. I think social media has been an enormously helpful vehicle helping people express ourselves, build capital in ourselves through what they do, what we share and how they comport themselves. This blog has helped me evolve in many ways.
That’s what I like most about the Sponsors of Tomorrow, the ad campaign that I got to help share with people interested in Intel. My favorite of the two videos is this one:
From the get go, the music cracks me up. Then I totally get all empathetic — or pathetic — because I think how geek-fired up I get walking down the hall at Intel headquarters on any given day and bumping into Pat Gelsinger or Silicon Photonics guru Mario Paniccia. They always stop, look me in the eyes, ask “how are you doing?” and reach out to give me a firm hand shake. A handshake from Pat nearly lifts anyone off of their feet like Bam-Bam from the Flinstone’s cartoons.
Tomorrow is not a waiting game. It’s a “let’s give it all we’ve got today” ideal for creative and innovative people I work with inside Intel. Yes we get to see scientists revolutionize transistors, shrinking them down, packing more into computer chips. Maybe it’s for the sake of keeping Moore’s Law alive, but I really think it’s because…well, we just can’t help it. We’re wired that way. We want to stimulate change that will improve what we already made. We’re restless about today, but confident we’re doing all we can to make the most of it.
That’s what makes Intel different from anywhere I’ve worked before. That’s what makes the place special and useful to so many industries. More things have Intel inside, from big computers to tiny MIDs, from local school districts to government agencies on up to NASA and other research centers around the world. More than anything, this is because our confrontational collaboration with ourselves, teammates, goals and resources. Make a mistake, fix if quickly and prepare better for next time. Or, sucessfully meet your goal, look for how to fix something then prepare for doing better next time. Relentless, but for some, for many reasons its worth it. Intel is worth it, thanks to the people inside.
As a father of two, it reminds me of my internal desire to lead by example, learn more by teaching, invest in future education and devote time and resources to making the most of today. That happens inside Intel every day, with an eye and value on tomorrow.
This or the “Oops” 30-second commercial certainly didn’t evoke all of this, but the meaning behind the meaning did get my wheels spinning. I think the Sponsors of Tomorrow theme struck a chord in me that is real, and promising. We all have heroes, but to become one requires being yourself, your best self, and sharing it with others, especially those with whom you share a common drive.
Intel culture and abilities are different, but the people inside for the most part share the same drive that motivates others to build a better tomorrow.
Movin' Ahead 