That's So City: Big Thanks To Josh T.

When I started at Google nearly 5 years ago, I was struck by a very passionate fresh college grad out of UCLA who was a temp with me in AdWords. He had a keen interest in design and doing good for the world. His name was Josh T. He kept it real, said what was on his mind and most importantly was out to make sure everyone succeeded.

He also was on the heftier side, like myself. When I first started Google, I was nearly 300 lbs. I'd imagine he was somewhere near that range as well.

One day, Josh and our temp teammate, Greg, started to work out at the corporate gym during lunch. They became workout buddies. I noticed Josh slim down a little and thought... "If he can, Why can't I?"

Josh was a "thinspiration." I jumped on the bandwagon after a reality check (well, two really --- 1. Not fitting on a ride at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and 2. Being told by my friend Jack's mom that she'd like to see me thin.) I was then in search of a workout buddy. A new guy had just joined the temp team. His name was Nai. He sat in the same cube as me. He was from Oklahoma. Within 30 days of working at Google, Nai put on his "Google 15."

I asked Nai if he wanted to start to work out together. We did. We started slow since we were both severely out of shape. Nai was 30 lbs heavier than when he started college. I was a good 100+ lbs overweight. Getting me to lift any weights or do anything on a cardio machine was a challenge.

We stuck with it. I suppose in my mind it was a mini-competition between Greg and Josh vs. Nai and I. It was a supportive one at that. Josh and I would regularly check in with each other to see what kind of progress we'd make or any roadblocks we'd hit. We were in it together as well. I mean, how could you not be?

It finally got to a point where Josh and I reached our weight loss goals. Then we focused a lot of our conversations on work and dating talk. We'd also talk about fitness goals beyond losing weight. He got into running long distances. I wasn't about it. I remember once when he told me he walked from his home in Cupertino to San Francisco. I was floored. He also started to train for a marathon. I was super supportive because I know how hard he worked to get to a point to where he could even run a mile.

Funny enough, once I shunned running long distances as it wasn't for me. I was an elliptical boy. Now I just finished my first half marathon a few weeks back. It's funny how things change sometimes.
I guess the point of this entry is one of thanks. Josh has always been there for me. I'd always be there for him. For that, I'm eternally grateful.

I visited him a couple of weeks ago and he broke the news that he was about to leave the GOOG. He got a new design focused job as the CEO of a startup in Half Moon Bay. I couldn't be more proud of the guy. He can do anything he puts his mind to. I'm also glad he's getting back to his roots and his passions.

He sent out a mass customized email to what would be a select few letting him know his last day at GOOG was on Monday.

Here it is:

Hi Will,

After four and a half years and 13 managers at Google, the time has come for me to move on to my next adventure. I had plenty of adventures during my time at Google from beginning as a temp reviewing AdWords ads "in the bin" to leading the company's customer email marketing efforts, sending more emails in more languages than I could count.

Being able to share those adventures with you—whether launching an email campaign to a million users from the base of the Himalayas, riding the conference bike with Conan O'Brien, or hosting Authors@Google events in Mountain View—was the highlight of working here. For that, I am nothing but grateful.

Perhaps, none of those experiences influenced me as much as my trip with fellow Googlers to Tanzania, where I met an artist whose work I was able to bring to a greater audience with the help of Google. It embodied what I felt was at the core of Google's vision—to use technology to better—really better—the conditions under which people live, no matter how remote they might be from us—technologically, geographically, or culturally.

It's that end to which I hope to direct my passions for technology and design in the coming years, as I'll be devoting more time to running my nonprofit, BRUTE LABS, and a new incubator for socially responsible, design-oriented businesses.

And although I'll no longer have the privilege of working closely with you, I don't doubt that the people I met here will continue to be a great inspiration to me in my new work. And if any surfers want to come to Mavericks, my new office will be there. Surfing or not, I'll hope you'll stop by or keep in touch!

On to my next wave,
Josh

I plan on visiting Josh in Half Moon Bay once he's all settled. He's one of the few people I can honestly say changed my life. He's made me a better human. He also helped challenge my original thinking of it's only worth doing if the impact is "large."
Good luck on your next wave, buddy.