Diamonds

Leadership isn’t about being seen when things work — it’s about being trusted when they don’t.

I once heard a line on a TV show that stuck with me:

“Diamonds aren’t expensive because they’re rare.
They’re expensive because they’re hard to find.”

That saying immediately made me think about technical talent.

Over my career in Information Technology, I’ve had the privilege of working with some truly exceptional people — real diamonds.

Many were knowledgeable.
But the ones I remember most were relentless.

The ones who didn’t stop at “good enough.”
The ones who stayed with the problem until it was resolved, regardless of the hour.

Anyone who’s been in IT long enough understands the tradeoff.

When everything is working, recognition is quiet — or nonexistent.
Stability is invisible.
Success is assumed.

But the moment a system goes offline, suddenly you’re the most sought-after person in the organization.

Those who’ve been in this field for a while accept that reality.
They understand that recognition often arrives only when things break.

And while that can be discouraging at times, it shouldn’t be.

Over time, I’ve learned that this is simply the nature of the work.

Because everyone knows the truth — even if it’s rarely said out loud:

Without strong IT leadership, organizations don’t function.
And without those diamonds in the trenches, they don’t recover.