Last day at Six Apart

Today was Six Apart's last day. It became Say Media this afternoon. And end of an amazing company, and a start of a new one.

A colleague said Six Apart was sort of like college. We all worked and played together, and over the years, we started bumping into alum around the city working at new ventures. We are still a group, and are having a big alum gathering later in January to all come together.

Current Six Aparters will be with Say Media, but many of those I have worked with, especially from the very early years, have already moved on. This year in particular already felt like Six Apart was morphing into a new company, and there were only a handful from the "old school days." I knew my time at Six Apart, and the great experiences I gained, were past. I am happy to say I am starting a new job in January. I'll help launch an online service in the Japan market, and am excited for this opportunity.

In January, it would have been 7 years at Six Apart, pretty much a record only a few have. I probably should have left earlier, but I was so comfortable. Six Apart provided a perfect balance between work and family responsibilities. But even more pulling was just Six Apart. I can't imagine a better work experience - being at the very beginning, stumbling through the start-up hectic days, figuring out everything as we went along, becoming incredibly close to a bunch of dedicated brilliant people, and gosh, having fun. I got to work with Japan which was a huge plus. By the time Six Apart settled into a more mature stage, it was family, my second home. I got married and had a baby while at Six Apart. I had never experienced work where I could be completely honest about who I am, including Burning Man & other crazy habits. And I was exposed to a cool world of tech which I think I'll stay in.

My last day was Six Apart's last day. It was by coincidence since the final merge date wasn't clear. How apt though; to have been there from the start, and at its very last day.

It feels right. I need something new, and I also need confidence that I can be useful at other companies. Being at Six Apart so long, I wasn't sure how to market myself, so getting positive job responses has been good for me. Still, leaving today was hard. Saying good-bye to my colleagues who are just awesome people was hard. Sure we're all online, but it's not the same as working together.

I have so many more feelings, but not sure what to say. Basically a big thank you to everyone I worked with, to the people who gave me a very unique opportunity, and to good 'ol Six Apart.

Comments

[Kymberlie R. McGuire]

I will miss you so much! You've truly been one of my favorite co-workers at any job I've ever had.

I'm coming up on six years in December, so I know what you mean by old school! At least it will be easy to stay on touch online!

Good luck in the new job!

[Kokochi]

Aw, thanks so much. That truly means a lot to me. I just can't say how I loved loved loved working with you and Support. Really, the secret to Six Apart is Support, and I was simply honored to be part of y'all. With all the daily load, you still had fun, made jokes, encouraged me and others, and kept level-headed with customers. I will definitely stay in touch online : )
Miss you already!

[fumiakiy]

Mie-san,

It was pure pleasure working, and sharing some of good old days at Six Apart, with you. You have been so helpful to me both at work and at the critical moment I have faced... I can never thank you enough.

Now I know I shouldn't say something on behalf of the company I have already left, but you know that Six Apart still lives in Tokyo Honestly, no flattering, Six Apart KK couldn't have survived if it were not with you. I can't think of anybody disagrees that SAKK owes you sooooo much. You are always welcomed there, as a very important part of the "family" living far east.

I still remember the taste of Okonomiyaki we had when we visited you the last summer. :) Thanks for everything. Good luck in your new venture!

[Chieko]

Gosh. I'm certainly gonna miss you, Mie-san!
You were always so kind and helpful to SAKK staff and I liked your bonny smile so much.
Hope you'll have wonderful time at your new job too - though I'm sure you'll do well, since you were so wonderful at SA.
Hope to see you again! :)

[Account Deleted]

I don't know you personally but having been a TypePad user since 2003 over the years many of the same names popped up.

I heard about the SAKK while I kept a blog on Vox. The SAKK office was introduced and you are one of a number of great staff whose name was memorable.

Six Apart had near-perfect customer service and just a really nice, cool, smart group of people working together who were really good at and happy in, their jobs. It is sad to have seen many great folks depart over the last year or so. But life is change. Newness again.

On a personal note, thanks to 6A I got to be part of a group Q & A session which spoke with Anil Dash. Anil was a rock star in the web world and had been for years, so I was beyond thrilled. The Six Apart name will always be golden in my book.

You guys rock.

Best of luck in all your endeavors!
Cyn

[Kokochi]

Fumiaki-san, thank you for such a wonderful note. It really means a lot to me to hear I helped. Working with SAKK was very much the highlight of my overall work, and I really missed SAKK when not there. Your comment was very generous, and I'm so grateful. Hopefully someday we can share okonomiyaki again!

Chieko-san, thank you too for such a sweet note. I will be visiting SAKK soon since I will be in Tokyo. I miss you all!

Cyn, very cool that Six Apart could be such a great influence for you, and yes, the Support is amazing, especially when you know them. They are very genuine. Blogging has meant a lot to many people, but yes, things evolve. I'm very glad to have been a part of Six Apart.

[Nima Badiey]

Mie!
You are an amazing rock star and I am very glad we got to work together!

[golf trolley]

But life is change. Newness again. Good luck to you.

[Judy Gordon]

Good luck, Mie! You are smart and talented and a lovely woman. I am sure your light will shine in the new venture. I hold very good memories of the early times we spent together at Six Apart - you, Ian, Anil, Ginevra and all the rest. What a great place for me to re-start my career after many years raising kids - and I thank you for all that you did to help.

[miyagawa]

Mie-san,

I will never forget the day when we first met in rainy Akasaka at the restaurant with you, Nob, Ben, Barak and Sippey, and a few weeks later again in San Mateo, which made me decide to work for Six Apart. It was a great pleasure working with you and I can't tell you how I appreciate your help during my business trip stay and the move I did from Japan, 4 years ago.

I will miss you at our new work place but we'll definitely be kept in touch, ne? (Pot luck shin-nen-kai party?)

[kwmr]

mieさん
日本語で。；)

おつかれさまでした。

mieさん に Blogzineって、いい名前だよねって、いわれたこと思いだしてます。
さまざまサポートしていただきありがとうございました。
一緒にお仕事ができて、ほんとHappyでした。

あたらしいチャレンジの成功をお祈りしています。
またどこかでお会いできればいいな。

[Mark Simmons]

Thanks, Mie, for being a great co-worker. (And for a great blog post, the best send off a Six Aparter can give.)

[いちる]

お疲れ様でした！　Mieさんがいなければ、初期の日本でのSAの活動は恐らく成功していなかったでしょう。
まずはゆっくり休んで、次のより素敵な世界へはばたいてください！

[Kokochi]

Miyagawa-san,
I too remember that dinner. Chinese, I believe! We were all so excited for you to join 6A. And you adapted so quickly and so well, before long, it was me asking you for tips on Japanese things!! Yes, let's keep in touch. I'll be checking out your next projects, and yes, shinenkai sounds perfect!!

[Kokochi]

Kawamura-san,

コメントありがとうございます。とても嬉しいです。Blogzineの皆様とお仕事ができ、光栄です。楽しかったし、とても面白いチャレンジを一緒にがんばっていた気がしていました。これからも是非オンラインでお互いにがんばりましょう。ほんとうにありがとうございました！

[Kokochi]

Hi Mark,

Thank you! We had a great team for a while there, but as was the pattern at 6A, things were always changing. I am very pleased with my next venture, and I know it was really time to go. But I will still miss our little corner : )

[Торговые павильоны Киев]

Ага, теперь ясно… А то я сразу и не понял где тут связь с названием…