tow.com

“It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that today is (once again) my last day at Palm.” That’s how I started my goodbye email to my friends and colleagues at Palm, Inc. Today marked the conclusion of my second tour of duty at Palm. My first stint spanned parts of 1998 and 1999, while this one took me from September, 2000 to November, 2001. To say that it’s been an interesting ride is an understatement. it was certainly full of surprises and intrigue around every corner, every week.

Today turned out to be Carl Yankowski’s last day at Palm too. It is ironic that we ended up leaving on the exact same day. I wonder if there was any connection? Well… “that was more of a statement rather than a question.” Carl’s been with the company since December, 1999. I remember when I first joined Palm in 1998, Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky had just left 3Com to pursue “outside interests,” interests that eventually coalesced into Handspring. After Jeff and Donna, Palm had an interim head in Janice Roberts, a high-level executive at 3Com at the time.

After a lengthy executive search, Janice was succeeded by Robyn Abrams. Abrams was only on the job for 6 months before she jetted to Chemdex in pursuit of dot-com (dot-bomb) riches. Alan Kessler took over from Abrams, and he ran the division until they hired Carl. Carl presided over the separation of Palm from 3Com and now he’s gone, on the eve of Palm’s separation into two distinct units. Who’s the boss now? Interim-CEO Eric Benhamou, the former CEO and Chairman of 3Com. It was Eric who decided to bring Palm (then with U.S. Robotics) into the 3Com umbrella. Funny how after all those years, he’s now at the helm of the ship, isn’t it? It will be interesting to see whom the company hires to steer the corporation ahead into the future. It’s certainly clear from the list above that there has been significant executive turnover in Palm’s history. Phew! Makes for an interesting book, eh? Hmmm…

This morning, I dug up the photo that I took of myself on my first day at Palm (September, 2000). Wearing similar clothes, I tried to recreate the picture, but there were some differences to be found. The hair is a little longer, and I’m a little heavier (i.e. fatter), no doubt a result of Fanny’s sugary sweets and spicy nori. I look back over the past year and I remark at how much has happened in my life and the lives of my friends and family. Lives were created, lives were lost. The world was forever changed. People worked, quit their jobs, and started new ones.

This afternoon, I had a small yet prodigious going-away lunch with Greg and Jon at a sushi restaurant in Sunnyvale. We ordered tons of nigiri, tempura, edamame, and green tea. It was nice to dine with the two people who brought me back to Palm. I’ve learned much from Greg and am appreciative of the help and support he’s given me over the past year.

I was very happy to see many of my friends come by my cube to say goodbye. We’ve been through so many adventures and journeys in our time together at Palm. I remember the late night working with May Tsoi and others before the big Palm conference in 1998, creating those clear-case Palm VII wireless connected organizers. The Laser Tag games we used to play at Shoreline with the rest of the DTS crew, David, Bruce, Maurice, Cheri, and Gary were always memorable. I remember all of the staff meetings I attended with Greg, Jon, Fermin, and Carl. Today, I’m not a 0, I’m a perfect 10! Stereo sound! Surround sound! Late-afternoon talks with Trevor, Niraj, Ryan, Vinay, and Fanny… who could forget ’em? Lawrence Olivier, anyone? And, I can’t forget my “consultations” with Frank Canova about shaving my head and joining the “Bald By Choice” club!

It’s these people — more than the work — that I’ll miss in the coming months and years. For most of us, the work is more or less the same wherever we go. The people, on the other hand, are always different; they make or break your work experience. I’ve been fortunate to have been associated with a great group of people at Palm. I wish them the very best as they continue the projects in the hopper and for the projects that are to come.

Now, what’s next for Adam Tow and tow.com? The next adventure is just beginning. I’ve taken my first steps towards working in a field of my own design. Throw in a little photography and film to a boiling soup of technology and writing, and I think you get an idea as to what I’ll be working on in the near future. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a fantastic ride!

The next section below highlights many of the people who came by to say goodbye. Special thanks to “piss boy” for taking all of those great hallway receiving line photos! Y’all know how to reach me. Stay in touch, everyone!

Wait, there’s one more thing! To see more pictures from my last day at Palm, click on the link below!