Start contributing right away by drawing on specific expertise from your past experience. Steinhorn's retail-industry knowledge, for example, helped him deliver IT improvements to Hess's retail business in a matter of months.

Prioritize and re-evaluate all ongoing projects. When Thompson joined Amedisys, he found IT trying to focus on 365 projects, which he swiftly winnowed to 137, allowing "some important wins for the company."

Starting a new job in a new industry is doubly difficult, but it can be the ultimate success test for the CIO to go. I know there are many more of you out there, and I'd love to hear your stories, too.

Drop me a line anytime.

Michael Friedenberg is the president and CEO of CIO magazine's parent company, IDG Enterprise. Email him at .