Executive Decisions
“We’ve decided to rescind the Creative Director position offer. Heart breaking, I know.”
My heart stopped.
I was in the parking lot at Pike’s Market in Seattle. I had just received an email from EllisLab and was reading it on my iPhone. The above was the first line I read. It was followed by a paragraph of why.
I could not breathe.
The day before I had given notice at Amazon. I had told them I was leaving to be the Creative Director at EllisLab, the result of a month long journey that included soul searching, mind wrestling and creating my first Key Note presentation, that I was not able to present with the animations and panache I had practiced.
I scrolled down.
The first sentence of the second paragraph was… “Instead, I’d like to offer you the position of Chief Creative Officer at EllisLab.”
The air I had lost, came rushing back in a wave of emotions.
This was it, the big time. The culmination of my eleven year journey from kitchen table to CCO of the company that makes the very software that built the site you’re reading, and many more like it before, and many more to come.
Tears began to roll into my giant moustache.
I turned to my wife, and I read aloud the first sentence, she began yelling “No! No! No!” and grasped my arm, repeating “No!” I began reading the second paragraph and choked up, tears burst forth and my throat locked. I handed her my phone and she finished reading the offer email out loud to the boys and I.
I could feel the car swelling with pride.
Eleven years ago when I got laid off from Les Schwab in Portland, so soon after having our second son. I promised my wife, that if she supported me at trying to make web design work for us by starting my own business, that she and my sons would never want for anything again. I would provide for them the life they deserved. We deserved. You see I knew all along, that web is what I was supposed to be doing with my life.
Amy, Liam, Bryce, Cameron. I started this journey for them and me, I stayed the course for a promise I made.
I’ve dragged them all over the country, following my career, trying to get to the point where I would be leading the design charge, not just pushing pixels and painting screens. Where I could have the best of both worlds. Somewhere I could make an impact on the community I love.
EllisLab stepped up, and offered to take a chance on this humble man, and not unlike my family, I’m not going to let them or the community down.
This is where I bring the DazzleThunder.
Steven Grant – 26th May 2011
Welcome - looking forward to what you’ll bring to EE and a great back story too :-)
All the best
Chad Crowell – 26th May 2011
Well, DazzleThunder sounds pretty sweet. Welcome to the community James. Can’t wait to see what you can do!
Love the story above, btw. Following a dream is hard on everyone in the family. Congrats on your success!
Sam Wilson – 26th May 2011
Wow, this is amazing, am very happy because you deeply deserve it… *and* I am thrilled to be the first to tell you: knock the cover off the ball!!!!
Graham Huber – 26th May 2011
I, for one, welcome our new Creative Overlord.
I’m already struck by your passion and commitment to the position. EL and the community need you!
I’m very excited to see what you have in store.
Welcome aboard!!
David Higdon – 26th May 2011
Awesome news! Congratulations!
epalton – 26th May 2011
Good heavens, I can’t believe EllisLabs started their email like that! It’s not funny or clever—just terrible, terrible form. Sounds like you took it with a lot more grace that I would have.
At any rate, congrats on the gig! I’m a huge EE fanboy and look forward to seeing what you can do to help the product.
Carl Crawley – 26th May 2011
A very warm welcome to the community - I’m sure you have a very very steep hill to climb, but a great backstory and I’m sure you will do us all proud!
Seamus Holman – 26th May 2011
congratulations! this is the opportunity of a lifetime and it sounds like you’ll be an outstanding addition to EllisLab.
Erwin Heiser – 26th May 2011
Welcome to the fold, really looking forward to what you’re going to bring to the table.
No need to tell you you just joined one of the nicest and smartest communities on the planet!
Anton – 26th May 2011
Huge congratulations to you, sir!
Marcus Neto – 26th May 2011
I love it. We are all so excited to have you on board. I’ve known your work for years so it makes me super happy that you were our choice!
Bring the DazzleThunder!!
Kenny Saunders – 26th May 2011
You realize you just put us through the same experience by reading your blog post right?
Congrats hommie, can’t wait to see what you do there.
Matt Brett – 26th May 2011
No kidding! My heart was aching as I read along as quickly as I possibly could.
Massive congrats are indeed in order! All the best, to you and the family.
Jeremy Latham – 26th May 2011
Congrats! Looking forward to your contributions!!
Aaron Lax – 26th May 2011
Congrats, dude! Great story and looking forward to seeing more of your work!
Geof F. Morris – 26th May 2011
Dude ... that’s awesome. You had me there for a minute, which I’m sure was 0.007% of what you felt.
Kelly Packer – 26th May 2011
Congrats and welcome! You will impact a great many people with your work. Looking forward to the creative solutions you will come up with.
Mrs. Flinger – 26th May 2011
So excited to have you. More so because our now front-end developer and our CCO live in the same city. The world very well might implode. Or at least I might. :-)
Frederick Polk – 26th May 2011
Congrats my new friend. I look forward to seeing great things from you at EllisLabs. Bring the DazzleThunder!
mrscamacho – 26th May 2011
Welcome to the family, James. I know you’ll fit right in. :)
Derek Jones – 26th May 2011
Mathias in the hizzouse (or something more contemporarily hip)!
James has just given his readers a taste of what he’s about to bring to the web publishing world. What the man weaves in words, skillful and amazing as it may be, pales in comparison to the skills he was hired for.
I find myself wishing that in November of 2009 chatting with you at the Pfunky Griddle in Nashville, TN, whilst cooking some delicious pancakes, I had been able to foresee the future. I would have lost a lot less sleep in our search for this key component to EllisLab.
Leslie – 27th May 2011
As the person who wrote the opening sentence, let me just say that when I wrote it I felt I knew James well enough to pull his leg a bit. Whether he knew me well enough… probably not. But now he does!
Welcome aboard James!
Luke Williams – 27th May 2011
Well done! Now this is exciting as I’m a big fan on both you and Ellis Labs, can’t wait to see what emerges from this :)
Mark – 27th May 2011
A wonderful story that keeps on getting better. Congrats James. You deserve it.
Tony Geer – 27th May 2011
Welcome James! I’ve been a long-time fan of you work and a bit of a lurker. Super excited to see what you’ll have to offer. No pressure, of course!
Chris J. Davis – 27th May 2011
Congrats brother, well deserved. Have a fun time over there.
Erik – 27th May 2011
Wow, James.
I love this story, particularly the journey that eventually led you to this opportunity. How exciting for both you and the rest of us.. can’t wait to see what you come up with for EE/Ellislab.
Amy – 27th May 2011
You’ve worked SO hard to get to this point and you are amazingly talented. You have completely earned this success!
I love you!
p.s. Can you get the truck washed tomorrow? Thank you. =)
Love,
your wife
Shawn Grimes – 27th May 2011
James,
I can’t express how happy it makes me to read about this. I wholeheartedly love it when hard working individuals such as yourself finally get the credit, recognition, and position they deserve.
Huge congrats to you and much respect for keeping on the course and getting to this point in your career.
Best of luck to you and your family! EllisLabs is lucky to have you on board.
Rob Hodges – 27th May 2011
Congratulatorox! Looking forward to seeing what you bring to the lovely EE community
p.s. Can you wash my car too?
j.a.mathias – 27th May 2011
@Steven Grant, thank you, and I’ll try to bring the best solution to the table.
@Chad Crowell, thank you sir, it has been rough, but this means I can finally settle down an let the family have a stable life in one place
@Sam Wilson, thank you Sam! I hope all is well for you.
@Graham Huber, Muhahaha great comment, and thank you!
@David Higdon, thank you!
@epalton, thanks, and it’s no big deal, it was a humor thing between Les and I and if I had not read it on my phone, I would have seen it all at once and the reaction wouldn’t have been as dramatic. I thought it was not only clever, but something I have and would do in similar situations.
@Carl Crawley, I’m going to take my time climbing the hill, rushing up won’t help anyone, thanks for the welcome!
@Seamus Holman, thanks Seamus, that is my favorite celtic name by the way.
@Erwin Heiser, thanks Erwin, I agree and I hope I can live up to expectations and the kindness shown to me.
@Anton, thanks Anton, you are top notch people!
@Marcus Neto, I am pumped too Marcus, really excited to get started!
@Kenny Saunders, my plan exactly! Thanks Kenny!
@Matt Brett, thanks Matt, I truly appreciate it!
@Jeremy Latham, thanks Jeremy!
@Aaron Lax, thanks Aaron, I’m looking forward to getting started!
@Geof F. Morris, yeah it was really dramatic, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
@Kelly Packer, Thanks Kelly, Hope I can live up tot he expectations
@Mrs. Flinger, I’m looking forward to working with you Leslie, you’re cool people!
@Frederick Polk, Thanks Frederick, I will do my honest best.
@mrscamacho, Thank you SO much, I feel like you are big part of why this happened for me, and I appreciate it to the end.
@Derek Jones, Wow Derek, thank you! What nice words. And although I agree, I think this worked out exactly the way it was supposed to. I wasn’t ready for this back then.
@Leslie, it was spot on perfect. I love that it was written that way.
@Luke Williams, Thank you Luke, I’ll try not to let you down.
@Mark, thanks Mark!
@Tony Geer, no pressure, I’ve got nothing but love for EE and the community and I would never do anything to make things worse.
@Chris J. Davis, thanks Chris!
@Erik, I’m really excited to get started, thank you Erik!
@Amy, I can’t even begin to express how much this is all your fault! As a man and a designer and a father I am NOTHING without you. You lift me above it all and carry me when I am too weak to stand, you hold me when I’m too sad to smile and you love me even when I don’t deserve it. You are the most important person in my world, and I love you with all of my organs!
PS: Yes, I will wash the truck this weekend, and that made me laugh out loud on the bus, by the way, a guy carrying a TV looked at me funny.
@Shawn Grimes, Thank you Shawn, you and I have been walking this industry together for a long while, and I’m super pumped to have you in my corner!
@Rob Hodges, thank you rob, and yes if you’re local I guess I could.
Sean Cannon – 31st May 2011
Congrats James! Well deserved my friend!
This news is enough to make me start using EE again. ;)
Jérôme Coupé – 7th June 2011
Great news & congrats! Let the EE CP be praised by clients and devs alike for its ease of use ;o)
Paul R – 20th June 2011
Major gratz James!
What a journey you’ve been thru! I still enjoy popping back here every now and then to see whats kickin’
I love EllisLab’s stuff and use CI every day. Best of luck for the future, I know you’ll rock it!
Paul
Josh Lee – 21st June 2011
So awesome, glad you were able to make it happen. I toast your DazzleThunder with a pint of AwesomeSizzle.
Natetronn – 19th August 2011
You inspire us all James!