A few weeks ago,you might have read our friend JustinRiray'sblog post "Should You Leave the Company You Love?"  His love for his colleagues,Ciscoas a companyandexcitement for his future rang loud andclearthrough his words and pictures.And,in his message,he mentioned a futurestory abouta "boomerang"employee-or, an employeewholeaves and thenreturnstoa company. 

It's me. I'm the boomerang (one ofmany Cisco boomerangs, by the way). 

When the idea for this post came up, Ireached out to Justin.I hadn't caught up withhimin some time, so when he got my message onWebexTeams (which gave him a cluethatI wasin factback) his priceless reactionwas,"OMG YOU'RE THE BOOMERANG?!?!" Ithad us laughingout loud,along with a multitude ofsharedemojis, that we'd be connected in this way. 

Upon first seeing Justin's post, one might think, "Why would Cisco talk about employeesleaving?" But here's the thing, at Ciscowe know that sometimes employees mightbenefit fromtestingnew watersin orderto grow, and to maybe-one day -come back to the "mother ship" with stronger skills and a fresh lens that comesonlyfrom an adventure that is beyond your comfort zone. 

This isthe storyof one Cisco boomerangemployee. 

The First Catch 

I joined Cisco in 2004 after a long stint with a global IT consulting firm.Back then, I knew I wanted to stay close to technology, but yearned to be part of a companythatbuilta product versus thesometimes-transientnature of consulting assignments.A close friend from my childhood had been working atCisco for many years and made the connection. I started off as part of Cisco's Technical Assistance Center and then spent the balance of my time as part of Cisco's Global IT organization.  

Simply put, those years were some of the best inmy career. 

The Throw 

In mid-2016, I remember turning to a colleague at a team picnic and saying, "You know, this might be one of our last ones."I didn't know what was next or when a changemight happen, but I felt the firethat sustained me for well over a decade starting to flicker out. I tried several different internal assignments that I enjoyed, butsoonrealizedwhat I truly needed; to takea risk and try a completely new environment.And, so, I left Cisco to spread my wings a bit, excited to join my former boss and many peers in late 2016 as part of another companythat wasundergoinga complete transformation.While there, I wasalsoable to experience "the other side of Cisco" as a large-scale customer.Whether it was implementing new global data center technology, the collaboration portfolio or ongoing support and operations -Ciscoalwaysshowed up like no otherfor theirpartners.Seeing that dedication from the "other side" was inspiring. 

Around this time, I hadstarted following more media on Ciscoand was reminded of how they continuously showed up for each other, the industry, and the world at large. Whether it was the numerous, globalGreat Place to Work awards(along with being named the#1 World's Best Workplace) to supporting California wildfire relief, raising funds for thehomeless, and responding to global events in ways only Cisco can -it always left me energized to see the company and my former colleagues flourishing.

After aboutthreeyears, Ialsorealized that that firein mefor Cisco was neverreally extinguished and, in fact,was growingagain.But could it reach the same levels?How would itreallyfeel?

The Return Catch 

Earlier this year I knew I was going to faceyetanother transition. I started hearing more about Cisco's broader transformation-fromnew products and services, go-to-market modelstothe charter of Cisco's continuous focus on people and global teams(that truly makes this the#1 best place to work.)Through a series of great conversations, I was actually able to rejoin my prior organization in Cisco IT -bringing back years of new experiences, and eager to apply that knowledge toa great evolving team. 

If you've ever actually thrown a real boomerang, you know that it's not simple!So, here are a fewthings I've learnedon this journey. 

1. How you leave sets the trajectory of your potential return.I was extremely grateful for the opportunities Cisco provided me and my family in "Part 1." Andbefore I left, Igot this feedback fromone of my favoritebosses who said, "People will remember your entire legacyin your lasttwoweeks"-so I led with that mindset.Your reactions, how you respond, and the bridges you build to help you connect will be incredible assets throughout your career -but perhaps no more so than when you leave a company.

2. Stay close to your starting point.What this means is keep the right level of personal and professionalconnections. Outside ofmynormal social mediainteractions and presence, I would make a point of attending special events for my closestcolleagues. Manytimes,in theterminals at the San FranciscoInternationalAirport,I would seek (and find!) manyCisco teammatesin baggage claim.And I would go to theFazon Tasman(near Cisco HQ)so often, the hostess thought I never left! All those interactionswill help tokeep you "top of mind"for when the opportunity might present itself.

3. Keep throwing! It's rare to catch the returnof a boomerangon your first try.I was inquiring about several different rolesat Cisco before ultimately rejoining our IT team. So, stay focused on your end goal, even if you take another role in between. It's worth it!

It's important to know that when you leave -that doesn't necessarily close a door forever. Perhaps this is your moment to spread your wings, fly beyond your comfort zone, and test new waters. And, maybe -just maybe -once you've gainedthat experience, you'll boomerang back to Cisco.? 

Whether it's a right fit now, or a right fit in the future, here's how you'd find opportunities.Apply now. 

Read Justin's Blog: Should You Leave a Company You Love?

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