It’s never easy to say goodbye to a colleague, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it with a bang.

After a good run of 8 months, Noah is wrapping up his tenure here at CoachAccountable to run operations with a new venture started with a few good friends in his own town.  And frankly, while his leaving CA bums me out and the news hit kinda hard, I’m delighted and I daresay even proud of what he’s got for himself next.

And why is that?

As Noah explained when he first said hello in these parts, it was not easy for him to leave a stable, even if slightly life-draining career for a new opportunity with our merry little band, doing our thing in the coaching world.  Doubly so because that coaching world was, for him at the time, merely the stuff of “hobby” (however passionate).  He left the ranks of 299,999+ other employees of his last company to be with little ol’ me and Jaclyn.

If you’ve ever been a family man with two young children, you of course know that’s a real leap!

What makes me proud is that his departure is NOT back into the warm, pillowy bosom of corporate America, but into a real entrepreneurial adventure, being again part of a small team, and doing it with friends who will get to see and work together face-to-face on the daily.

Because for as awesome and flexible as remote work is, what Noah’s going to makes me more than a little wistful and nostalgic for those days of having colleagues to laugh and lunch with in real life.  Zoom is okay, but it’s not the same.

Noah rocked support and the sort of hand holding calls we like to avail ourselves for.  Just today during my Office Hours an attendee mentioned having had a great call with Noah, and I was not surprised in the least to hear it.

Beyond this, though, Noah created “CA Coffee”, a thrice a week institution of a standing date held on a Google Meet link.  It was a clearing for Noah, Jaclyn, and indeed sometimes I to just show up and hang out for water cooler chat.  Revolutionary?  No.  But it was a stand for having that sort of friendly banter and camaraderie for us staffers, one that is just as easy to NOT have if you didn’t think to do it (and before Noah, we indeed did not).

We’ll miss you, sir!

Thanks Noah, for your service.  You leave in your wake many coaches who were touched by your intelligence, patience and caring during your time here.  I think I speak for many more than just Jaclyn and I when I say: we all wish you good times and great success with your new endeavor!