I love where I work, and love what it stands for. However, we've become bigger and have to compete on a whole different level. I find myself surrounded by people who have been here for 5 years or less, some of them charged with defining MY company's "culture." It's ridiculous.

But it is what happens. We face much bigger challenges, and need to operate differently now than we did before, as much as I loved the way it was before. Small example: You can't just walk into the CEOs office any longer. Not like we used to. His schedule is crazy and he can't do that now, unfortunately. What he is doing are things that are in the best interests of all of this bigger company, even if he doesn't see us as much and chat about our families.

It's a fascinating thing. Yes, change is constant, but this kind of change at the root of what something is can be welcomed by some, and devastate others. Progress is hard. Sometimes it's bad, or at least poorly executed. But it always comes. Always.

VT is trying to reach another level in a competitive world. Maybe not the level of Alabama, Michigan, OSU, USC, etc., but much closer to that. I remember when we were barely a regional name. I mourn what we lost, and remember it fondly, while realizing we have to become something else, and I may not like aspects of that as much. I share your feelings and think about this stuff frequently. It's life, I guess. And now I'm on the other end of the process.
[Post edited by WestyHokie at 02/02/2017 2:56PM]