One of my customers, Mindsharp, has a contract to train Special Operations Command (SOCOM) personnel in the use of Microsoft software. Because of the size of the project, Mindsharp hired me to be their project manager for the effort. As a result, I was with the Mindsharp team at SOCOM HQ last week. Our project focused on relatively boring office software, and none of us have security clearance, so we didn’t see or hear any important information. We did have the honor of rubbing elbows with giants for a few brief hours.
If you aren’t familiar with SOCOM, they are the super-stars who go after the global bad guys to keep us all safe. They are the combined command for the various elite soldiers in the U.S. military. These men and women are the toughest of the tough, and I was a little apprehensive about how they would treat a computer geek like me. I needn’t have worried, they were unfailingly:
- Polite
- Patient
- Soft-spoken
- Helpful
- Generous
- Honest
I guess that you don’t have to act tough when you really are tough. Before the meeting I attended began, I had a chance to mingle with the various high-ranking men and women present in the briefing room. I had a chance to tell them that my kids think I’m 6” taller just standing next to SOCOM personnel, and that they are heroes in my household.
In short, I had the rare opportunity to say “thanks” on behalf of my friends and family. They all smiled.
They also gave me all kinds of stickers and things for my kids. Don't tell anyone but I kept a couple of the SOCOM stickers for myself.