Welcome to the CATWALRUS blog

CATWALRUS, an uncommon pair. Showcasing our experience in a range of technologies, answering questions, and inspiring others through the journies of a mother and daughter in this exciting industry.

First, we'd like to say thank you for visiting our blog! Whether you were looking for something specific or ended here by mistake we are excited you are here. Welcome to our first blog post.

After years of talking about technology with each other, answering questions, and getting excited about innovation; we have decided to start a blog to share our passion with whomever is interested. We want this to be a place to engage with others and maybe learn a thing or two along the way.

Getting started is the hardest part

If you are anything like me you have a to-do list a mile long and somehow those pesky things you need to do always seem to take priority over the things you want to do. Well writing a blog has been on my list of things I want to do for some time but never trickled up to the top of the list. But really waiting around for something to become a priority is not exactly the best way to make it a priority. It is actually doing the opposite. It pushes it further and further down the list confirming the idea that it is not important.

That is why I am glad that my mom is the biggest dreamer I know. She has a thousand ideas before breakfast and to her, there is no time like now to start something new. She encouraged me that we should start the blog together because we never seem to stop talking. And in her typical fashion, it shouldn't be in a week or a month. It has to be right now. And so it is.

Finding a voice

I think the first time I thought about writing was in college and I didn't know what I wanted to say. What did I have to say that meant anything. What experience did I have to share with anyone? At the time I couldn't find my voice so the idea went to the bottom of my to-do list to get shoved aside for a few years. But my biggest problem wasn't my procrastination. My biggest problem was that I didn't think I had a voice. I went around thinking I had nothing to contribute, that I didn't know enough, that I couldn't make a difference until I knew everything.

Well, my first job out of college I was fortunate to work for a great company with leadership who poured into me from the beginning. Even in the first month I worked there my project manager would go over something, an idea or a solution that was being proposed (in a room full of people much more experienced than me) and he always made a point of calling on me to say "What do you think?" or "Do you agree?" and even "How would you approach this?". I felt terrified each time he asked me. I probably mumbled something incoherent about how I agree and that I have no idea what was going on because there were about 12 acronyms they used that I didn't understand. But even with my horrendous shyness my manager kept calling on me, kept pushing me for more. I started asking more questions, learning more, and trying to contribute without this dreaded prodding. Eventually, it became second nature. I could speak easily and freely knowing that they valued what I had to say and could add to the conversation. My manager valued what I had to say before I did and that made all the difference. He helped me find a voice when I didn't think I had one.

I am thankful my team fostered a place where the right answer was more important than being right. That the newest person on the team could toss ideas around with the most senior person and be treated as equals. They created a safe place to be wrong which was the fastest way to grow. I have been able to learn so much from people who have so much patience and grace as I was starting out who were as eager to teach as I was to learn. I hope everyone can find a place like this in their careers.

Now I know what it is I want to say. I want to encourage others like me who are in the early part of their careers who are shy or afraid or who are waiting to know everything to get started. I want my part of this blog to be a place to share what I have learned, what I am currently learning or what I hope to learn. I want to talk about how my career is changing and how my dreams are evolving and bring along whoever wants to follow. I have a voice and I am going to use it.