“One of the best things about Digit is the love and respect it commands among fans who’ve followed it for close to 15 years."
Dear Reader, it has been an honour and a privilege writing for you within the pages of Digit. This column is literally the last piece I wrote as I bid farewell to the past five and a half years’ way of life. Because that’s what Digit is, it’s not a job, it’s a way of life.
I invite you on one last journey, a trip down memory lane with me as I try to put into words the highs and lows of my time here at Digit, and my decision to move on.
There comes a time in everyone’s life where you have to do what you believe in, test your limits and see how high you can fly. It was the same belief that made me join IDG and PCWorld back in Jan 2008 (much against my parent’s wishes) and brought me to Digit back in May 2011 (easing my parent’s stress levels). Moving away from Digit was the last thing on my mind as an opportunity presented itself not too long ago. As much as I was happy at Digit, I knew deep down that I would forever regret not accepting what was on offer – a chance to prove something to myself. Which is what my last nine years spent in technology media have been all about.
I have no regrets of my time at Digit, only treasured moments and memorable lessons. I remember my first day vividly: no sooner had I finished unpacking my bags from Bangalore than it was time to report to duty at Digit’s Mumbai office. Why HR wouldn’t allow me to take a week off before joining soon became clear as Robert dropped the 10th Anniversary Special Issue challenge (no less than a 10 gigaton nuclear bomb to my unsuspecting eyes). I remember gulping audibly, no exaggeration, as the immensity of the task sunk in.
As things turned out, I ended up planning and closing one half of the special double-sided Digit issue and an additional SKOAR supplement! And in the process spent many a sleepless nights at the office with the team (good fun!), stressing out whenever we missed a deadline but working extra hard to ensure the issue shipped out on time. Scrambling to the finish line, not against each other but with everyone together. I was reassured constantly that if I could survive that manic anniversary issue month, I could survive anything. We still use that line on any intern who joins us in May or November every year, because it’s true. I can proudly proclaim that I survived the Digit experience!
And what an experience it has been!
Digit gave me lots of opportunities to flourish. My managers (Robert and Soham) never said no to anything, fought on my behalf, gave full freedom to pursue stories and demanded analytical approach and thought for every process-based review and comparison. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you, and I didn’t always do a great job, but I think I did enough to not get fired! I rose through the ranks and pretty much ended up doing a little bit of everything on the editorial side — ideating, executing and publishing a story, working closely with junior and senior team members in edit and other business units within 9.9. I’ve also had the honour of representing Digit at various international tech forums, speaking at events, and of course meeting important people shaping our tech world — all opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for Digit. And for all that and more, I’m eternally grateful.
One of the best things about Digit is the love and respect it commands among fans who’ve followed it for close to 15 years.
And having made the transition from a Digit fan to Digit Editorial member, let me tell you it’s great to connect with fellow Digit admirers and well-wishers. I am living proof of the fact, as are several others at Team Digit, that if you have an inconsumable passion for technology you, too, can realize your dream of working for Digit. So don’t wait, apply now!
While I’m sad to no longer be behind-the-scenes at Digit, I’d like to sign off on a positive note. There are plenty in the team to rise to the occasion and do a better job than I ever did, and I’m rooting for their individual and Digit’s success from the sidelines, as I transition back to life (coming full circle) as a reader.
This Editorial was first published in December 2016 issue of Digit magazine. To read Digit's articles first, subscribe here or download the Digit e-magazine app for Android and iOS. You could also buy Digit's previous issues here.
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Jayesh Shinde
Executive Editor at Digit. Technology journalist since Jan 2008, with stints at Indiatimes.com and PCWorld.in. Enthusiastic dad, reluctant traveler, weekend gamer, LOTR nerd, pseudo bon vivant. View Full Profile
