I have made many career decisions based upon what I knew about the then current state of IT and most of them have worked out well even if, and probably in spite of, many of my predictions were wrong. Until I end my career I will be able to choose a path that will end up a cul-de-sac, however, I believe that it is the foundation skills, our techniques and processes as well as and our soft skills that ensure that we remain valuable contributors even long after systems and products we have mastered have been consigned to the past.