So it comes down to this. 500 posts, maybe 300 of which are on this board. What better place to post #500, before I change my username and (_snif_) lose my TMF ID for good.

For three years I have been proud to work for TMF, but that pride doesn't end here. I'll always be proud to call myself "Fool".

I've always felt that the real value of The Motley Fool lies primarily in the most basic of its tenets: get out of debt, be skeptical of "experts" who have conflicts of interest, plan your finances, seek out better returns. But the value to me of TMF goes far beyond its value to most people, because I have received the following gifts from my TMF employment:

1. I have experienced probably the most gratifying sense of team spirit in any commercial enterprise I've ever encountered. Team Fool was a powerful, pervasive force in my life, and we were out to change the world.

2. I learned more about the "real" business world than I could have in any MBA program. I like to say that I got a free "real world" MBA by working at TMF, especially in the last year or so.

3. The TechDome. To describe TMF Techies, well, what can I say but, "TOTAL ROCK-itude". I have never, EVER, in my life, encountered a more highly-skilled, motivated, helpful, friendly, or just all-around cool bunch of folks than the TMF Techies. I've said this many times in internal emails, but perhaps for the first time here: In three years, we've had maybe one or two unplanned email outages, NO file server outages in memory, NO print server outages, and EXCELLENT connectivity (well, apart from the random snowstorm that cut off the ThinkQuarium laser :) ), RAS, VPN, end user support, and more. This was true when TMF was fully staffed, and true more recently when staffing was greatly reduced. I only hope that someday I will once again have the opportunity to work with such a talented, capable, and cool group of rock stars.

I know I'm gushing, but that's just how it is. If you are responsible for hiring Techies, and need a good Techie, I know a few folks who are available and who can fill most any need. Click "reply to this post" and check "email to author" and I'll set you right up.

(Of course, I wouldn't want to swell anyone's head, but we all know that Dwight is the leadership behind that great team -- thanks Dwight for the leadership, and thanks for building such a kicka** (don't want my 500th post pulled!) team.

4. And finally, thanks to everyone else who made working at TMF so great. As I have said before, working at TMF has been one of the pivotal moments of my life, and TMF has been one of the best workplaces I can possibly imagine.

Fool On,
Carl
Really, Just Some Guy, Now