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More => Old Versions => Media Jukebox => Topic started by: JimH on November 13, 2002, 03:17:18 pm

Title: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: JimH on November 13, 2002, 03:17:18 pm
Around 6 or 7 years ago, one of my neighbors said, "I've got a friend who's got a couple of Russian kids staying with her.  One of them is looking for a job and can't find anything.  She thinks he can program.  Would you mind talking to him?"

"Sure", I said, thinking it was probably a waste of his time and mine.

When he came to see me, he smiled a lot, but it was obvious that English was difficult for him.  His eagerness counted for a lot.  I could see he wanted very badly to do a good job, any job.  He seemed bright.  It's something you can often see, but it's hard to define how it is visible.

I gave him what I could, which wasn't very much at the time.  An old PC, in an old room in the 1880's brick hotel we used for our offices.  I could see right away that he was pouring himself into this little opportunity.  He began to grow.  He became a very good programmer.  He met Natasha.  He bought a house.  They had two children.  They bought a new house.  

If you don't mind fast forwarding to this morning, you can find out what's happened so far.  Nikolay Sokratov took hold at JRiver, learned to earn his way, then began to pay dividends, then began to lead by his skill and dedication.  He did very well for himself and for JRiver.

This morning, he stood at my door, having been our CTO for the last several years and the architect and prime mover of Media Jukebox, and announced that he had been accepted in the MBA program at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.  He said he and Natasha had opened a "very good" bottle of wine the night before on hearing the news.

Congratulations, Nikolay!  A job very well done!

(http://www.jriver.com/~jriver/misc/nikolay.jpg)

Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: Charlemagne 8 on November 13, 2002, 04:06:21 pm
  SA-LUTE!!!
Does that mean he's leaving JRiver? That would be unfortunate but a person needs to try to better himself at every opportunity.

CVIII
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: JimH on November 13, 2002, 04:40:31 pm
Cheese, I hope not!
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: Barbatus on November 13, 2002, 04:50:11 pm
Congratulations, Kolya!

I mean, POZDRAVLYAYU! :)
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: Scronch on November 13, 2002, 06:52:29 pm
Congratulations, Nikolay.  But be careful--MBA programs have destroyed a lot of good technical minds.  If you're going to destroy your mind, do it with the wine and beer!

Scronch
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: Cmagic on November 13, 2002, 08:53:41 pm
Felicitations Nikolay !

and, well I don't know in russian, but in polish,

Nazdrowie !
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: Fastyves on November 14, 2002, 12:12:19 am
Congratulations Nikolay

You already earned an MMJ, could it be more difficult to get an MBA ?  ;)

Yves.
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: WolfWalker on November 14, 2002, 12:16:40 am
good luck and may the books be with you
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: michel on November 14, 2002, 02:11:48 am
Quote
Does that mean he's leaving JRiver?


No, that means he will become the boss of JimH   ;)
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: Nikolay on November 14, 2002, 05:08:18 am
Wow! This is very flattering. Thanks a lot. I'll try to do my best at the school.

Meanwhile, my team and I will continue surprising you with new features of Media Jukebox. We'll try to surpass all of your expectations.

Thanks a lot to all of you,
Nikolay
Title: Re: A Salute to Nikolay
Post by: zevele10 on November 16, 2002, 05:17:41 am
No fun i congratule you in russian: i have more russians speaking around me here than lf living in  Moscow.
I just have to ask one of my friends and you get a long post in russian..
So ,let me do it in -for once- good hebrew:

brahot im itkublutra ve triliat lemoudera le Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

I understand you keep your job at JRiver.
How and when will you learn?
Like here ,in the evening and one day a week? [people works at 80% of the time for 80% of they salery]

Do you keep your work because you like it or because you need it?

Any way good luck and ,first of all, strength and energy for all the time of your studys .

Have a nice week-end