Some career advice from LinkedIn

female office worker relaxing with feet on table

I know a number of people don’t see the value of LinkedIn. I, however, find a valuable tool, both as a networking tool and for advice in this continuously morphing economy and job market. Today, I came across this gem with the first line ‘The common advice is to find a stable role with a good team and “vest and chill”.’

I’ve heard that advice for most of my life, though mostly when I was young. Especially to young sailor me. Do the minimum, don’t attract attention…these pieces of advice are rather alluring on the surface. They seem to appease fear, any adversity to risk, to minimise the chances of failure. However, as Mr. LoPrimo, the writer of the post, points out, you’re relying on pure luck. I’ve long given up on that mindset, even though it still haunts me.

For years, I’ve “given plenty of thought” to where I am going. My challenge? There are so many options and variations, it’s so damn hard to pick amongst them. I guess that’s preferable than sitting here after a layoff wondering where I should apply.

I want my career to be more than reacting; I want proactivity, to be ahead of the curve. I don’t want to be playing the game of scrambling to find work again. And to be evolving in a direction of my choice. So I build myself, my mind, pointing towards the future I want.

What about you?

Some motivation for those seeking to learn something new

I face this challenge every time I’m learning something new, this sense of awkwardness. It’s hard for me to accept this interim period where I lack expertise. It’s rather insane to expect to start studying something new and instantaneously become an expert. It’s rather cruel, no?

I think its roots lie in insecurity. It seems to me the confident won’t be impacted at all. Therefore, I’m working at keeping this at bay and, eventually, purging this tendency from my habits.

How about you? Are you one of those folks who stare blankly at anyone who fights imposter syndrome or its variants? I’ve long wondered what that feels like. Let me know, if you know, you know?

Some Monday morning wisdom for you

low section of man against sky

I’ve been meditating on things like growth, effectiveness, and what makes a good life. Elena’s post offers some great insights into resilience, which I’ve come to believe is a central component to all of those things. One key thing, for me, is staying focused when I come against obstacles. Part of me expects “the right path” to be frictionless. If there are challenges, well, I must have chosen wrong. And, though I know that’s wrong. Really, it’s a rather foolish and damaging mindset. I’m good about keeping that at bay, but, man it raises up ugly sometimes.

So, I appreciate the reminder of what resilience is and it’s importance to a well-lived life. And I recommend going and reading her post.

Reflecting on The Half-Life of Magic

person doing card trick

I make it a point to read Seth Godin blog posts every day (well, I try my best). Today, he wrote “The half-life of magic“.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Arthur C. Clarke

In this post, Mr. Godin points out how quickly magic wears off. And, by magic, I ascribe the appreciation and wonder. The rate of change has increased so dramatically that one of our challenges is to find wonder in life.

It is hard when we externalize this. When we’re waiting to find wonder, delight, joy, it becomes so much harder to find. Let me propose another alternative: to actively seek it. Take a moment and consider how amazing our lives our. With my cellphone I can look up almost anything humanity has ever learned. Almost all knowledge is, literally, at our fingertips. but these technological marvels are only a small piece. Look out the window, watch the rain, see the hummingbirds drift amongst the blossoms, or the juncos dark amongst the tree branches. Or the eagle drifting overhead, over this suburban human habitat.

Life is full of wonder if you choose to look for it. And that’s the pathway to a joy-filled life: searching for wonder.

A Winnie the Pooh Quote for your Friday

I find this quote just lovely, and fits the life I try to live.

I hope it finds you well this first of March Friday morning. May your day and month be fulfilling and uplifting.

Quote of the Day

My friend and fellow blogger Pooja over at Life’s Fine Whine posted this quote yesterday. I felt this is one that strikes home, and is important to embrace if you’re living focused on growth.

Speaking for myself, it’s easy to expect that enacting positive life changes will all feel like smooth joy. No, often, it starts out HARD! Whether a diet, new exercise regime, training for a new role for work…with any of these changes, we start out needing to work hard in order to overcome our life’s inertia.

So, I recommend checking our Pooja’s blog, Life’s Fine Wine.

Quote of the Day


For today’s quote, I opted for this one by Thomas Merton. His writings have had a profound impact on my life. It seems quite fitting to share something from him.

To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands,
to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to the violence of our times.

Finished, and Next Steps

information sign on shelf

I just finished my final in Enterprise Architecture. By successfully completing this class, I’ve completed the requirements for some additional certificates:

I also have applied for the following certificates:

I’m done being a student for the near term, but I think I’ve accomplished a lot during these past 2.5 years. I’m proud of all I’ve done and look forward to finding ways to implement all I’ve learned.

Another goal is to land a full-time role with a company that will pay for me to continue my studies. There’s so much more to learn! I plan to start a new role sometime around the end of this year, and then be able to start classes with that company in 2023.

An Asimov Quote For Your Friday

“Education is not something you can finish” ~Isaac Asimov

Dr. Asimov’s work had a profound impact on me. I fully embrace everything that this quote entrails. Continued learning is key to a vibrant life.

The Opportunity of Morning Sunlight

​morning sunlight

breeze changes direction

opportunity

I see so much opportunity, and how privilege feeds that. How I can pick and choose amongst these choices, while so many others struggle to get by. 

How can I leverage privilege and expand opportunity for all? 

Is this how I make the world better?