It has been 1.5 years since I walked away from full-time employment in semiconductor manufacturing. Friends have asked me: what have you been up to in the past year with your consulting practice since separating from one of the largest semiconductor manufacturers in the world? Initially, I needed to learn the basics of the business of consulting, and I appreciate the amazing mentorship and friendship from Norm Weiss, Mark Wilhelm, Breanna O'Connell, PE and Stephen Malmros.

So yeah, I jumped in dumpsters. But more importantly, I learned a lot. That’s what made the difference.