Collect ‘em all … All 4 Microsoft Badges

STATEMENT: I am the only person I know that has had all 4 colors of Microsoft badges.

QUESTION: Am I the only person that has had all 4 colors of Microsoft badges?

My statement is correct. But, I’m asking you for help on the question. What Say You?

Below is My History in Badges with a run-down on each color. What’s your story?

Are there other colors?

I’ve heard that my former colleague, Rob Bernard, had a green one. Because he was working on “Green IT” back when that was a hot issue. But, I never saw it.

My Requests to you:

• What’s Your Badge Story?
• If you have had another color please share in the comments.
• If you have had All Four Colors please share that too. No need to send a pic. I’m not sure Microsoft would appreciate that.

Perhaps we can make a club. And, our “club meetings” will be at The Treehouses.

My History in Badges

My history with Microsoft spans 25+ years, starting at Kofax in 1992, but my history with Microsoft badges spans just under 2 decades.

Most people have seen and heard of Blue Badges and Orange Badges. With the latter having an occasional disparaging comment.

But, most aren’t as familiar with the Purple Badges and definitely not with the Yellow Badges. This is not a treatise on Microsoft Badges. I’m sure you can find that online somewhere.

Below is a semi-brief history of my time with Microsoft Badges:

• Blue Badge – Full Time Employees (aka FTE’s) have blue badges. When we moved to Seattle in 1999 so I could start my career at Microsoft I was an FTE. I loved it. As noted in several blogs posts and speaking sessions I thought I’d never leave. But, like all good things … they must come to an end. So, I left and went to work for K2 – A Microsoft Partner --- where we won Partner of the Year just a few years later. 
• Orange Badge – Later I worked with the ever industrious Agnes Rennie (nee Darazs) on projects for Carlo Malaguzzi. So many things have changed since then, but the friendship with them continues and I suspect it will continue to do so.
• Purple Badge – I was working for Kodak when I had a Purple Badge and a very small office in building 25 --- thanks to the ever awesome David Hayes (he runs a restaurant on the Oregon coast now called Alloro Wine Bar & Restaurant -- if you visit Bandon Dunes … make sure you stop by)
• Yellow Badge – The new “business guests” are yellow badges. When I began working with the Microsoft Alumni Network I received my first Yellow Badge. I have to say I smiled when I saw the new color. I also smiled when people, even FTE’s, asked questions about it. It

My Future

Will I ever have another Microsoft badge? Who knows?

I have tried to get back into Microsoft as an FTE, but I don’t fit the current demographic for Microsoft hiring … or so it seems.

C’est La Vie … I will always be a friend and a fan of the Microsoft machine. I’ve met great people, done great things, and have incredible memories from too many trade shows, partner events, and yes … parties (they are legendary).

What does all of this really mean?

Nothing. This is just me having some fun and reminiscing. Thanks for taking this ride down memory lane with me.

I hope the Gods of Redmond aren’t offended and that they don’t take offense at the post or my modification to the current Microsoft logo to add Purple in place of the actual Green square.

But, I do hope that those that have read this far appreciate it for what it is and if you have your own Microsoft Badge story to tell … please share it here.

Bonus: If you are a Microsoft Alumni and NOT a member yet … why not? Join Today!

The benefits are amazing … including a recent announcement for LinkedIn Premium Business.

You might like this post too: Microsoft Alum >> Blue Badge <G>

Additional Reading – More of my writing about the Microsoft and the Partner Ecosystem (PX):

• Tech Rock Stars Can Have One Name Too

• How the Partner Experience (PX) aligns with the CX

• Office 365 and SharePoint Saturdays Continue to Deliver

---
Jeff is business advisor, mentor and community engagement expert. He brings over 20 years of Channel Sales, Partner Marketing and Alliance expertise to audiences around the world in speaking engagements and via his writing. He has worked for Microsoft, Kodak, and K2.

Connect with me on Twitter @jshuey

Or connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Google+

He is a contributing author to Entrepreneur, Elite Daily, Yahoo, US News and to
the Personal Branding Blog with over 250 articles published.