Balancing the Clouds: Reflections on My Professional Journey

Hey there!

If you’ve been following my journey through my blog site, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of exploring, learning, and, most importantly, evolving in the ever-changing world of tech. But today, I wanted to share a more personal update—a sneak peek into where I’m at professionally and how it’s been shaping my own thoughts.

The Joys of Managing Multiple Clouds

Let’s start with what I love: managing multiple cloud platforms (even though I usually focus on one platform at a time). It’s genuinely fascinating to be at the crossroads of innovation, overseeing the orchestration of systems across AWS, GCP, Azure, and Huawei. Every platform has its quirks, strengths, and little puzzles to solve. And as someone who thrives on problem-solving, the variety keeps me excited. It’s like being a conductor for a symphony of clouds—getting all the pieces to play in harmony.

But here’s the thing: as much as I love the technical challenges, I'm noticing a pattern. When tasks become too routine, they lose their spark. Don’t get me wrong—routine is essential for stability, but for someone like me, who loves to push edges and implement new ideas, it can feel a bit like being stuck in a loop. Imagine being in a world full of possibilities yet tethered by repetition. That’s where the itch starts.

For example, focusing on an AWS cost problem regarding the billing and cost explorer, etc. can actually improve your knowledge in those areas since you're working in a hands-on type of way. But if the tasks become repetitive or continuous you start to feel somehow running in circles if you know what I mean. At least, that's how I feel.

The Challenges of Staying Neutral

Also, managing multiple cloud platforms is a bliss, but since you're seeing their ups and downs, so sometimes this can lead to understanding which of the cloud platforms is better and which is really bad, and not being able to ignore it. I know that I shouldn't really pick sides here but I can't help it. Sometimes those quirks may bother you and that leads to only wanting to work on that platform.

Another challenge I’ve been grappling with is the feeling of being shackled when I can’t implement best practices. Sometimes, constraints—be it time, managers, resources, or other external factors—can make it difficult to execute the ideal solutions. And while compromises are a natural part of any role, they can leave you wondering, What if we did it the "right" way?  What could we've achieved?

Big Tech: A Dilemma

Lately, I’ve also been reflecting on the idea of working for a Big Tech company. There’s a part of me that wonders if these corporate-scale environments truly foster growth in terms of tech, and tools. Because of my experience while working at Ericsson, I wasn't able to touch specific fields that I wanted to work on (For example, I wanted to create the k8s cluster that I would be working on, but that cluster and the infrastructure are already being installed and set up by another team). On one hand, being surrounded by some of the brightest minds and cutting-edge technologies is tempting and exciting. On the other hand, I question if the structured nature of such companies might stifle the creativity and flexibility I value so much. Yet, not having had that experience feels incomplete in some way, like there’s a chapter missing in my career story. It’s a dilemma I’m still navigating.

Finding Balance and Growth

This phase in my journey has made me reflect on myself. It’s teaching me to strike a balance between embracing the routine and finding pockets of innovation within it. I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It’s also a reminder that growth doesn’t always have to come from groundbreaking changes; sometimes, it’s about mastering the mundane, tweaking processes, and finding satisfaction in the little wins along the way. Although that may feel unsatisfactory.

That said, I’m also exploring ways to reignite that creative spark. Whether it’s diving into side projects, revisiting certification goals, or mentoring others in the field, I’m constantly seeking new avenues to keep the excitement alive. Who knows? Maybe the next big leap in my career is just around the corner.

So, that’s what’s been going on in my professional life—a mix of excitement, ambiguity, reflection, and a desire to keep pushing forward. If you’ve ever felt something similar in your career, I’d love to hear about it. How do you keep the fire burning when routine sets in?

Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and most importantly keep evolving.

Cheers!