https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog daily 0.75 2023-11-08 https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-pain-curve-part-i monthly 0.5 2023-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1699402734764-97Y17JS04G8S72CM2UQI/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Pain Curve (Part I) - Make it stand out True story: Someone just told this kid they’re going to be in IT when they grow up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1699402084320-3YR944KOT41CF07092FK/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Pain Curve (Part I) - Make it stand out Wait, wait, wait… you want me to leave the cave? I know it smells, and there’s lots of dead people in here, (those things might be related) but I’m good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1699402272104-XBQRKNK5W8UFGQDIPAK9/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Pain Curve (Part I) - Make it stand out Elephants are beautiful, and endangered animals. Don’t eat them… even if you’re really hungry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/3e483ab6-9088-489d-90d3-0a43999af656/image-asset.jpg Blog - The Pain Curve (Part I) - Make it stand out Every time I see any rot or anything on my house, I logically assume this is where things end up in a week. I’m not usually wrong. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1699402553380-KMCCHI78U5LNFAPDKOPG/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Pain Curve (Part I) - Make it stand out “I don’t know… rebuilding this seems hard and expensive. Can we just patch it?” “….No.” “Okay, we’ll go with your idea, then. Leave it unpatched. What’s next?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1699401999657-X28V99RJB7NJHNUXOR9G/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Pain Curve (Part I) - Make it stand out I think we can all agree that “die or do not die” is an extreme decision with consequences. I mean,…imagine all the stuff you have to do if you choose “don’t die.” https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/would-you-sign-your-name-to-it monthly 0.5 2022-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1657127033243-E5WOF2HYHUKJ5KC60ZW3/unsplash-image-TaROFjpUBCI.jpg Blog - Would You Sign Your Name To It? - Make it stand out “So many people are working on this that they’ll never know who did what.” -Everyone who works on constructing this, probably. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/2b4aa022-0804-4d06-b7cd-b309fad7d29e/R.jpg Blog - Would You Sign Your Name To It? - Make it stand out I’m not going to lie: those visible screws ruin this for me, but you can only find so many pictures of brick moulding… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1657127144315-D7ESWRRECJCVGKTKNZUC/unsplash-image-_nmfUwTe9nA.jpg Blog - Would You Sign Your Name To It? - Make it stand out Honestly, eSigning stuff is so much better than using a pen, but the sticky note is a little on the nose. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-to-shed-credibility-quickly monthly 0.5 2022-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/91e84a9a-cf41-44f3-9bda-c8a0d0ca3ad8/IMG_6115.jpg Blog - How to Shed Credibility Quickly - Make it stand out What he said, I guess. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/f2b38d48-6c05-4ae2-bc76-d88cedc239c6/ca-times.brightspotcdn.jpg Blog - How to Shed Credibility Quickly - Make it stand out If you can have slightly less facts, and just a bit more fantasy than Star Wars, you’re well on your way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1653444272183-S18TW9DGWP0F5VPFZ3OS/unsplash-image-1_mpz-9ssjQ.jpg Blog - How to Shed Credibility Quickly - Make it stand out Literal perfection. I see no reason to innovate here. Move along. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1653444372184-E8WBNAKUGIZE51G0CWSV/unsplash-image-JnoNcfFwrNA.jpg Blog - How to Shed Credibility Quickly - Make it stand out Pictured: You, sneaking out the back door and never looking back. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/lessons-from-my-first-it-crisis monthly 0.5 2022-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1652819217874-7MH550XSG93VB0ICEG0G/unsplash-image-sO6yji4O_FI.jpg Blog - Lessons From My First IT Crisis - Make it stand out This is quite the dramatic picture, but if you’re feeling burnt out, or think you’re trending that way - listen to yourself! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1652819068644-03LNFJWA6X3YLBK7TSKI/unsplash-image-o4c2zoVhjSw.jpg Blog - Lessons From My First IT Crisis - Make it stand out In keeping with our hero theme, the only real heroics I’ve ever done is reading the documentation really, really fast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/378b38f7-0cb4-48f6-b0b7-5b9f59ab96bb/R.jpg Blog - Lessons From My First IT Crisis - Make it stand out Unlike Dwight, I generally accepted being the “Assistant to “ things https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1652818974478-OL336UUHK14A59GPE5KM/unsplash-image-0EI_4R2r0qg.jpg Blog - Lessons From My First IT Crisis - Make it stand out Not all heroes wear masks. I do wear a mask, but I am not a hero. Clearly. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/on-risks-and-masks monthly 0.5 2022-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1651622143284-IHAD1C1XAGQL82WE5YT8/unsplash-image-vvd8f02y5_c.jpg Blog - On Risks and Masks - Make it stand out Everything seemed normal right up until I stepped off the jetway in Florida. First lizards running around, and now this? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/eba7b680-5802-4ab2-8e80-c035c7983b08/Risk+Graphic.jpg Blog - On Risks and Masks - Make it stand out This isn’t the exact chart we use in my office, but it’s close enough to give you an idea of what I’m talking about. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1651622038506-5ISDHV7JTPLOUAQ2CJXJ/unsplash-image-Vq__yk6faOI.jpg Blog - On Risks and Masks - Make it stand out A hallowed institution where really big judges work. True story: One time I walked up to the door of the Supreme Court and knocked on it. A man with a hat told me to move along. I obeyed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1651622310335-8MQW4MO2Q2YQOI1IN63R/unsplash-image-qexZLgMcbPc.jpg Blog - On Risks and Masks - Make it stand out “Oh, someone opened up the conference bridge? That’s great. I’m kind of going to check on my family first though. Then maybe few other things. I told you we should have moved to the cloud.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1651621971915-Y7Q5F5LG8O2WQKKPH3QN/unsplash-image-uOc3ldMSAiY.jpg Blog - On Risks and Masks - Make it stand out I apologize to all of these people. Well, except that one guy who took his socks off on the plane… I’m not sorry to him. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/thoughts-on-mentorship-part-iii monthly 0.5 2022-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/7434c21e-1a99-4f33-a145-fa918a73f860/unsplash-image-AjMXxHwxW_k.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentorship (Part III) - Make it stand out Pictured: an approachable senior engineer. Well, you’re probably not this scary. But don’t underestimate how intimidating you can be to people more green than yourself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1651022711768-XLTGH42K29VLH6363EI7/unsplash-image-rxpThOwuVgE.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentorship (Part III) - Make it stand out A mentor would have for sure told this guy that a long sleeve dress shirt with shorts looks weird. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/0827e044-f360-4a3b-89ad-a1fb569247f9/spacex-ceo-elon-musk-explains-the-future-capabilities-be9bd1-1600.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentorship (Part III) - Make it stand out Don’t worry, this guy definitely isn’t a Bond villain, what with him having spaceships, massive power generation capability, artificial intelligence capability, and now control of the media. Seems like a perfectly altruistic individual. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/thoughts-on-mentoring-part-ii monthly 0.5 2022-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1650467057206-25YFQANF20KR9NN8XJMR/unsplash-image-r2Tr3du99DM.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part II) - Make it stand out For a lot of kids, the anxiety over rejection can start when they try to find a seat at lunch. I figured out a hack for this when I was little: just tell the teacher you’re lonely and don’t have anywhere to sit. They’ll yell out to everyone that you have no friends and need one. After that, popularity and you will be inseparable. Or, you’ll spend a lot of lunches in the nurse’s office. Same thing, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1650465811494-NUTEAR83RJ2NZ1MUN74K/unsplash-image-4xChyRlbyWM.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part II) - Make it stand out Pictured: Everything I know about Tinder. When I was a kid, you had to get dates the old fashioned way: by having girls laugh in your face, or make disgusted faces at you. No? Just me? Okay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1650466311555-HUBWL02T71YIRYNLPBSG/unsplash-image-5bYxXawHOQg.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part II) - Make it stand out Notes! Not just for keeping track of the plot of Christopher Nolan movies anymore! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1650465951554-T08VI927QN0HCVRK13Q2/unsplash-image-3b2tADGAWnU.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part II) - Make it stand out C’mon, who wouldn’t want to get coffee at this place? Hey, you could ask me to mentor you in your Tinder use, and I’d accept if it meant spending an hour here. The advice would be worthless, but I’d get a scone out of it. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/thoughts-on-mentoring-part-i monthly 0.5 2022-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1649795127119-SH4D7EDVCHHJDGU4TGZP/unsplash-image-YRMWVcdyhmI.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part I) - Make it stand out Ah, yes.. college before Zoom, when you would be openly mocked for wearing slippers to class. I mean, I still did it… we all did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1649795860396-9QQIXURGWQR1MDFFX1P4/unsplash-image-Bc3Kjwxqu-E.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part I) - Make it stand out If your mentor ever tells you that this is a good idea, you have picked a bad one. Find a new mentor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1649795685046-F0GDX78RLF1TDWRM8G8I/unsplash-image-YloghyfD7e8.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part I) - Make it stand out Training is great, but at some point, you can’t learn every aspect of every job role in a classroom. Having someone to guide you can be invaluable. After all, someone needs to show you which water cooler the cool kids use. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1649795189014-60OLH5CC0YVGA3KEMGWX/unsplash-image-376KN_ISplE.jpg Blog - Thoughts on Mentoring (Part I) - Make it stand out Pictured: Mentoring, probably. Or alternatively, two people terrible at arm wrestling. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/why-i-care-about-my-teams-ability-to-find-a-new-job monthly 0.5 2022-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1649210708476-EPVUA6EPAWK2HZ1XJZ2K/unsplash-image-xRb4O75uymo.jpg Blog - Why I Care About My Team's Ability to Find a New Job - Make it stand out I recently got a burger, and more than 50% of the receipt I got was an advertisement for applying for a job at the restaurant. What do you think the ROI of receipt-advertising is? Let’s ask CVS… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/9be0f5a6-961b-4f69-b367-7df913c426a5/R.jpg Blog - Why I Care About My Team's Ability to Find a New Job - Make it stand out What? No - of course I don’t feel trapped in my car. Why would you say something so silly? We’ve been partners for 16 years, now. …It haunts me every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/14c63f3a-29c7-411b-a950-939127e33c4e/il_570xN.649938615_6yyh.jpg Blog - Why I Care About My Team's Ability to Find a New Job - Make it stand out Who am I kidding? I was born during the cassette revolution. The only record player I ever had was this one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1649211172302-RTZLXUSYRKOLISS0TITW/unsplash-image-l2ARBUWlHbU.jpg Blog - Why I Care About My Team's Ability to Find a New Job - Make it stand out Not only do people often leave training with new technical skills, but they also come back to the office with a renewed vigor for the work itself. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/guest-post-sometimes-cookies-help monthly 0.5 2022-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1647395138933-Y86EU9VV1EFF6YFYTYJ8/unsplash-image-Agh_2dS9mJQ.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Cookies are Great, so Have a Brownie Recipe - Make it stand out Ah, yes… sugar cookies. The most “meh” expression of what a cookie is. Flavor, texture, and character are all defined by the beige color. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/f5f97358-2025-4e1c-b98d-f027ec73bddb/mixer.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Cookies are Great, so Have a Brownie Recipe - Make it stand out If our mixer was any bigger, it would be that freestanding model they use at the Entemann’s bakery. It has never once voluntarily made sugar cookies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1647395233152-S1NS37U741J73BU6HLAF/unsplash-image-qczubsyHofQ.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Cookies are Great, so Have a Brownie Recipe - Make it stand out Now you’re talking! Brown sugar, molasses, chocolate chips - chewy perfection. Way better than a sugar cookie. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/guest-post-being-an-it-spouse monthly 0.5 2022-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1646843735983-HSEJI85QFUG70O8BI52K/unsplash-image-3bETLGHcAUU.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Being an IT Spouse - Make it stand out She means “nerds.” The kind of people who can (and will) readily point out the inaccuracies in this picture. There’s a better than 30% chance you clicked on this blog because of those inaccuracies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1646844047750-E04MUI6VMTUWSL4YEIRJ/unsplash-image-6hsfmat-t7k.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Being an IT Spouse - Make it stand out Note, there are better ways to show appreciation than to paint “THANK YOU” on the outside of a dilapidated warehouse. Have you tried making cookies? Cookies are usually a better choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1646843830595-0G919UUITGB8XIX782ZK/unsplash-image-IdRuL0Fb5Kc.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Being an IT Spouse - Make it stand out If this is the face you make every time your partner discusses their profession, you may want to reconsider your life choices. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1646843944702-EV8V8P89C4GW37BIZVOP/unsplash-image-QsRQGYLOXkQ.jpg Blog - Guest Post: Being an IT Spouse - Make it stand out Because emergencies happen and IT professionals need to get to the scene quickly, each and every one of them should be permitted to purchase a Corvette C8 (or faster) vehicle without any resistance from their spouse. (It’s my blog, and I write the captions - Steve.) https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/hire-a-vexpert monthly 0.5 2022-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/eac522fb-45f6-4796-b1e8-6da7d7fbbf24/IMG_2788.JPG Blog - Hire a vExpert - Make it stand out A picture from the 2019 vExpert party at VMworld in San Francisco. I can’t tell you how much expertise is in this room. It’s a lot. Like, a real lot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/bdd05229-2fbc-408b-9193-4d2743e2c4cd/IMG_20130528_204840.jpg Blog - Hire a vExpert - Make it stand out My honest-to-goodness unfiltered reaction back in 2013 when I found out I was named a vExpert for the first time. You can tell its vintage from the laptop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/a658dedd-ad99-468a-9780-c34700232926/vExpert-10.png Blog - Hire a vExpert - Make it stand out Neat trivia, you get one star for each year you are a vExpert. I’m proud of having 10 stars, but there’s still room for more… https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-problem-with-passwords monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1645034997828-KQIIA4G1HRPZL6HKL8TF/unsplash-image-pZyDC7BVN7s.jpg Blog - The Problem With Passwords - Make it stand out Pictured: A smoker grill that requires skill and finesse to operate. Mine is the opposite of that. Mine requires neglect. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1645035068769-N92SKI9YEORNDGVJWTUW/unsplash-image-FnA5pAzqhMM.jpg Blog - The Problem With Passwords - Make it stand out Security ProTip: try not to use a three-character all-numeric password, unless you really want your data to be stolen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1645035533810-7HM8VKZRV8C5FMWTVF1X/unsplash-image-DoWZMPZ-M9s.jpg Blog - The Problem With Passwords - Make it stand out MFA is an awesome way to improve the strength of your password, but I’m hopeful that we can be rid of the passwords altogether. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/pc-load-letter-and-why-i-hate-printers monthly 0.5 2022-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/923eb82a-8a26-4aa3-9070-fdd9260ab5c9/toyota_camry_87_4J7_01.jpg Blog - PC Load Letter and Why I Hate Printers - Make it stand out Look at this thing. It’s a beauty, isn’t it? I mean, besides the color, shape, condition, and odor, it’s a classic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/472079a7-92cd-4309-863a-77d73ce98788/Jeff+Bezos+Plane.jpg Blog - PC Load Letter and Why I Hate Printers - Make it stand out Pictured: a guy who struggles to afford ink jet printer ink, shown here with his personal intercontinental jet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1644422343431-WV9OSC72HJXCM9YNT2NB/unsplash-image-UdDCjj0rR7c.jpg Blog - PC Load Letter and Why I Hate Printers - Make it stand out This might be as good as the state of the technology ever got. Sometimes I miss the sweet, sweet sound of a dot matrix printer beating the ribbon mercilessly against the paper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/3e1d719d-485e-47c0-a8f3-a3abaf7d47da/BN-PN459_office_M_20160823163434.jpg Blog - PC Load Letter and Why I Hate Printers - Make it stand out If you don’t know what this is, stop reading this and watch this, instead. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/thoughts-from-the-surgical-center monthly 0.5 2022-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1643156077880-HL2Z111XS83VP5HZWRME/unsplash-image-xOhzHKCAhVs.jpg Blog - Thoughts From the Surgical Center - Make it stand out You know what’s more expensive than medical care, but still doesn’t make you feel any better when you have strep throat? Pretty much everything they sell at Disney World. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1643156789137-I5189LMU7J2YYB6JOW6I/unsplash-image-LPurJnihmQI.jpg Blog - Thoughts From the Surgical Center - Make it stand out Just because the stakes are lower doesn’t mean you should care less. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/a1d30793-bb47-43ea-854c-1d6e8f414572/external-content.duckduckgo.jpg Blog - Thoughts From the Surgical Center - Make it stand out I will never compare going to the DMV to getting surgery again. Going to the DMV is so much worse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1643156610021-DGWULBIPUKH8EBNXUD5A/unsplash-image-bxyV1SfGMFU.jpg Blog - Thoughts From the Surgical Center - Make it stand out This. Except with your little girl on it… wheeling away from you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/bdb30747-c553-45d0-9c52-0684b4ffb1d9/external-content.duckduckgo.jpg Blog - Thoughts From the Surgical Center - Make it stand out The medical care: amazing. The parking: substantially less amazing. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/be-honest-and-kind monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1642606669872-WH5GBBS9LKR4ER3EZNSA/unsplash-image-D4YrzSwyIEc.jpg Blog - Be Honest (and Kind) - Make it stand out It’s amazing what you can learn from books. Like how sorting by color is literally the worst way to organize them. How can you ever find anything like that? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1642606789934-DB6UPVA2ZMOA5AU5N5DW/unsplash-image-7de474KZIbs.jpg Blog - Be Honest (and Kind) - Make it stand out IT is a team sport. Unlike foosball, which is commonly played with two people. Still, those little fake footballers count as a team, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/7bc4fcc4-6435-4db7-87bb-195797c49275/unsplash-image-mzacqA8hHbg.jpg Blog - Be Honest (and Kind) - Make it stand out This is the best kind of jerk. Don’t be any other kind. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-importance-of-non-ip-networks monthly 0.5 2022-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1642005395729-UM7DZ6SEQBCNGTM1504M/unsplash-image-nOvIa_x_tfo.jpg Blog - The Importance of (non-IP) Networks - Make it stand out Networking: Not just for CCNAs, anymore! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1642005653912-NY11RT6HYT7WVZL21P93/unsplash-image-WScpndZFrOM.jpg Blog - The Importance of (non-IP) Networks - Make it stand out Islands: amazing for vacations, and terrible for careers, technology or otherwise. The most successful people build interstates with others, not moats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1642005559105-FRMDQWUTLR2S95L50Q3N/unsplash-image-aS4Duj2j7r4.jpg Blog - The Importance of (non-IP) Networks - Make it stand out I know next to nothing about videography and recording clips, but I know some people who are experts at it, and I have leaned on them a lot during the pandemic as more communication gets recorded. You could say the same thing about food. I don’t know how to cook, but I live with someone who does, I have also learned on her heavily during the pandemic. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/continuously-resolve-to-learn monthly 0.5 2022-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1641347554588-EPEBSXCCFJ0DXXR5CUU7/unsplash-image-4csdTPXTM1A.jpg Blog - Continuously Resolve To Learn - Make it stand out Once again, folks: I am at the mercy of the free stock photography. Living and learning are great. Loving is often great, too. Alas, that topic is far outside of the scope of this blog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1641347712998-IONIQIKRJP23XGIGZDHM/unsplash-image-AQ908FfdAMw.jpg Blog - Continuously Resolve To Learn - Make it stand out I am a big believer in education. While everyone’s circumstances are different, working towards a degree that you’re passionate about is often a fantastic investment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1641347495692-964SWWA7BCRMTYP7GOEQ/unsplash-image-3I3WVoA-Gks.jpg Blog - Continuously Resolve To Learn - Make it stand out I have always heard them referred to as New Years’ Resolutions. As in, they are the goals of the new year. Possessive. New Year Resolutions sounds like something a cave man would say. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/one-last-time monthly 0.5 2022-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/83321ff2-3249-4cce-88ed-5ca706815fac/THank+you+VMUG.jpg Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for giving me this opportunity. I sincerely hope I made you proud. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/7782c21e-bb78-4a02-859a-10ef3de1d81e/IMG_4652.JPG Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out While he’s moved on, Pat Gelsinger’s commitment to listening to customers is still very much alive at VMware. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/8bdbae26-304d-487f-99b2-8485a3f92e97/Notebook.jpg Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out My actual notebook from March 2020. I can safely answer myself that the likelihood that it blows over in 3 months is 0%. Sorry, 2020 Steve. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/a142b2cb-7c6a-4e44-9258-5a5c33b0d14e/onelasttime.jpg Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out This blog post probably isn’t this moment, but it feels like it a little bit in my head. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/68215832-57cc-442b-8827-82ad52e95de5/IMG_4612.JPG Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out Leader Summit is a powerful event, and being able to emcee it was a huge highlight for me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/b62ce149-4ba7-49fd-9e24-c09ef1a7e2e3/IMG_3482.jpg Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out It’s hard to believe the last in-person VMworld was more than two years ago. It doesn’t feel that long - but it also feels like a decade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/cbcb4750-5d45-41e9-982c-357039cd04c0/2496710c-8c8a-4902-92d6-2c5084836912.jpg Blog - One Last Time - Make it stand out The incredible VMUG team deserves so much more praise than they get. They are truly passionate about this organization and the whole community. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/lessons-from-1000-days-of-nodaysoff monthly 0.5 2021-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1640123323244-2HAXVBXHKMY5WJBRQ8TG/unsplash-image-AB7TcT_GVU0.jpg Blog - Lessons From 1000 Days of #NoDaysOff - Make it stand out I didn’t get a Peloton, because I don’t buy the high-end model or brand of anything. I got a Schwinn IC4. It’s solid, and no monthly fee! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/8256abe3-ad21-4575-b1d3-287c37a932b5/Award.jpg Blog - Lessons From 1000 Days of #NoDaysOff - Make it stand out I have been working towards this for almost 3 years. Also, ow - my legs hurt. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1640123462601-RGTXAYS23RT6CLQ7Q0J1/unsplash-image-ccBu7VNmShE.jpg Blog - Lessons From 1000 Days of #NoDaysOff - Make it stand out Well, I couldn’t have come up with this image if I tried. Score one for stock photography! https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-it-almost-ruined-my-christmas monthly 0.5 2021-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1639447874126-7QIRMHY0JZ5V3A5BNVRJ/unsplash-image-nCk-Pb0Lll8.jpg Blog - How IT (Almost) Ruined My Christmas - Make it stand out This is the actual card we picked, except it’s me in the reindeer headband. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/7e21c7ee-d405-4252-9c2d-87f24e73f236/unsplash-image-4gRNmhGzYZE.jpg Blog - How IT (Almost) Ruined My Christmas - Make it stand out Do you think there’s someone at Anderson Windows’ advertising group who’s chewing on their cigar and pontificating to their assistant? “Maybe today’s the day they don’t immediately recycle the mailer, Jimmy! It’s worth a shot, see? Of course, if they do – we can just send another one tomorrow!” Why else would they send me so many – so very, very many - advertisements for windows? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1639447783092-9EV6I1XXR29PS3CEDPJO/unsplash-image-IgUR1iX0mqM.jpg Blog - How IT (Almost) Ruined My Christmas - Make it stand out Tech pros are literally running the economy right now. What you do isn’t a “back office” function. Now go do great things for your organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1639447393552-OGGVWQK7VYRCIZJ1VOUW/unsplash-image-o6elTKWZ5bI.jpg Blog - How IT (Almost) Ruined My Christmas - Make it stand out If I can get five notifications every time someone messages me on LinkedIn to sell me “IT security services,” you’d think I could get one when my order is messed up, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1639447224578-ZMOIUESGU74X97VZWC5T/unsplash-image-CYwMB07Eguk.jpg Blog - How IT (Almost) Ruined My Christmas - Make it stand out These people are very showy; look at all that shelf space just dedicated to seasonal displays. All the shelves in my house are holding everyday necessities, like food, or Windex. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1639447522334-B5V5NKPCU6OO0YN84BM4/unsplash-image-e31ANd1PXUw.jpg Blog - How IT (Almost) Ruined My Christmas - Make it stand out While I am intellectually aware you can use this device to talk to someone, I greatly prefer not doing so. I don’t even like calling in for pizza. I order that on an app, too…. because I’m not a neanderthal! https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/mwgt1qdyvv7m40vby8dihd8fwgicw2 monthly 0.5 2021-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1638923867769-PY1G7NCXNIVGJI2O4URM/unsplash-image-jt1MA04uyjY.jpg Blog - Complexity Should be a Last Resort - Make it stand out “Oh… just uh… just this mule, huh?” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1638923270214-DAZV1WYT80JALC0S03NN/unsplash-image-3V8xo5Gbusk.jpg Blog - Complexity Should be a Last Resort - Make it stand out I have found that the time it takes to understand a problem goes down rapidly when you try to figure it out around a whiteboard. So, if you’re pressed for time - draw! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1638924005962-87PQDY8GDEVDUWVZPVPN/unsplash-image-l090uFWoPaI.jpg Blog - Complexity Should be a Last Resort - Make it stand out If your problem is how to turn the lights on and off, and this is your solution… you are part of the problem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1c94e772-82bc-4258-846c-a90697c63b35/Carlin.jpg Blog - Complexity Should be a Last Resort - Make it stand out I haven’t listened to this CD since I was in high school, but there are some parts I remember so clearly. Like standing in a long line at the bank and asking for change of a nickel. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/dont-put-your-career-eggs-in-a-single-basket monthly 0.5 2021-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1638310408839-5U3HYWLHRLO8YU7MDEMQ/unsplash-image-YLyxXawZm4w.jpg Blog - Don't Put Your (Career) Eggs in a Single Basket - Make it stand out Pictured: An extraordinarily stupid career move https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1638310461808-4MBGTZRK2BPDBV3CX455/unsplash-image-7nrsVjvALnA.jpg Blog - Don't Put Your (Career) Eggs in a Single Basket - Make it stand out Right where these two things meet is where the real value is…. for insurance adjusters. For you, it’s probably more about where security and infrastructure meet, or something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1638310581771-AUOG43UFO53PAZBFH59Q/unsplash-image-smgTvepind4.jpg Blog - Don't Put Your (Career) Eggs in a Single Basket - Make it stand out One of the best things about online networking is that it’s always coffee time. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/some-thoughts-on-resumes monthly 0.5 2021-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637633388563-3GG0XMYZ47UB1XTTBSHP/unsplash-image-oBX-b6ltYts.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on Resumes - Make it stand out If you have summited Everest, don’t just tell me that you hike. I want to know what you accomplished! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637633648121-OS9WZD389OB7V18XJK2M/unsplash-image-eF7HN40WbAQ.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on Resumes - Make it stand out Your resume’s job is to get you to this table. After that it’s up to you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637633503770-MZ9387HUYEBDMPZ2GN6Y/unsplash-image-YuQEEaNOgBA.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on Resumes - Make it stand out Make sure that your resume starts with the most impactful stuff. If you are Tim Berners-Lee, don’t put “I invented the World Wide Web” at the end of the second page. Maybe make that front and center. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/7f4b7a45-eb0f-44db-83c0-a0336347cdc5/unsplash-image-5lFMMtTFd4c.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on Resumes - Make it stand out Car ads used to be a lot simpler. And so did resumes. You need to up your game in 2021 - show me why your “car” is the one I should buy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637633098209-NOSWOGY76AD4AQ1KKHHU/unsplash-image-7iSEHWsxPLw.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on Resumes - Make it stand out Honestly, a blank page with some empty bullet points might not be the worst resume I’ve ever seen. It’s still not getting you an interview. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/reflections-from-an-incident monthly 0.5 2021-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637011142256-2G5R2RVE00LSOLLNJPYV/unsplash-image-dYEuFB8KQJk.jpg Blog - Reflections From an Incident - Make it stand out Is this the threat actor, or that weirdo in Information Security? I’ll leave it to you to decide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637011229953-4L848BEF61AL1YI2G2T8/unsplash-image-zFYUsLk_50Y.jpg Blog - Reflections From an Incident - Make it stand out Is this a bunch of backup nodes? Probably not, but it was free stock photography so let’s just pretend it’s a bunch of backup nodes. So why are they all in the same place?! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1637011535713-2BIQ67KOD6ESCUXRXNMR/unsplash-image-PXtfzoXVgVI.jpg Blog - Reflections From an Incident - Make it stand out Listen, when things are going really bad the last thing people need is you barking at them. Make yourself useful and go get some sandwiches and soda.. and not that Sam’s Choice crap. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/6632bc19-57e7-457b-9d0e-c984ba8c5d59/TheClub.jpg Blog - Reflections From an Incident - Make it stand out Laugh all you want. In the 1980s, this was the pinnacle of anti-theft. Do you want to hacksaw through that in broad daylight? Didn’t think so. Go steal someone else’s 1987 Toyota Camry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/b07a79a3-04b7-413a-b326-efa58f243c41/1234.gif Blog - Reflections From an Incident - Make it stand out If you don’t know this movie, stop reading this and go watch Spaceballs. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/am-i-doing-linkedin-wrong monthly 0.5 2021-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1623112607582-AK1H2QY3F65HXXBD3BHP/unsplash-image-h4qSn5twfls.jpg Blog - Am I Doing LinkedIn Wrong? - Make it stand out “Well, I checked every inbox across all my apps this morning. Time to get to work - it’s only 3:00 pm!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1623112748160-P0V359ED7ZC1PGSVLN5Y/5cgnua.jpg Blog - Am I Doing LinkedIn Wrong? - Make it stand out Seriously though - they should have used Stan Lee for this scene. Don’t @ me. They could have CGI’d it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1623113511597-UYQDRXJO31EUT8L5WN5P/BrokenLinkedIn.png Blog - Am I Doing LinkedIn Wrong? - Make it stand out I don’t know if it’s LinkedIn that is broken, or if it’s me. Are my expectations too high? https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/taking-a-week-off monthly 0.5 2021-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1622642801378-0AZWNV9DOXLO4T2T9BZU/unsplash-image-RN6ts8IZ4_0.jpg Blog - Taking a Week Off - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/sometimes-you-cant-fix-it monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621991345822-3FXPNTJ6G1NMZTOKLN6N/bee.jpg Blog - Sometimes You Can't Fix It - Make it stand out Look at this cute little guy covered in all that misery powder. No, seriously… I need some antihistamines. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621991156583-MXYZYT6KD5V9526NQUA2/download.jpg Blog - Sometimes You Can't Fix It - Make it stand out The font they use in Scrabble annoys me, and the way they do the point values in subscript isn’t pleasing, and look how all the letters don’t line up; they didn’t even try to get the vertical alignment right. Oh… sorry. I got carried away there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621991180377-PVQ96OP47V0HXR5IFXKH/aircast.jpg Blog - Sometimes You Can't Fix It - Make it stand out As cool as this thing looks, it’s a lot less fun to wear for a long time than you’d think. Pretending you’re Robocop wears off after about a month. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/information-security-at-35000-feet monthly 0.5 2021-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621373546638-FQ4J96SODBRR0AN85P51/unsplash-image-cVMaxt672ss.jpg Blog - Information Security at 35,000 Feet - Make it stand out Honestly having a mini Storm Trooper on every desk wouldn’t be a bad way to enforce security… if they could hit anything. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621373056762-88YH47ZFFUT5LWBVL91G/unsplash-image-rf6ywHVkrlY.jpg Blog - Information Security at 35,000 Feet - Make it stand out There is so much opportunity represented out there - so much to see and experience. Of course… you have to get through the airport first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621373282687-JGJYFPCOMGM24IP7Y5ZY/unsplash-image-wOK2f2stPDg.jpg Blog - Information Security at 35,000 Feet - Make it stand out I can’t even look at this image without getting the heebie-jeebies. No, not because of Covid… because they’re checking bags. Rookie mistake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1621373158213-1X9Z71KBVESLV9C9CS2K/unsplash-image-6NWphpA-QMg.jpg Blog - Information Security at 35,000 Feet - Make it stand out I typed “ransomware” into the image search, and it came back with this. Clearly, this cat is a cybercriminal mastermind. Kevin Mitnick’s keynoting gig is in jeopardy if she gets an agent. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/time-budgets-and-time-budgets monthly 0.5 2021-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1620691233253-YAGX1298GOHFI4ASVM6M/unsplash-image-URkqBy5EuPg.jpg Blog - Time, Budgets, and Time Budgets - Make it stand out I can’t tell if this guy is climbing out of the wall, or if the clock is installed on a table. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1620691128834-O0DLLBCMQJBNAF09K0JY/unsplash-image-unRkg2jH1j0.jpg Blog - Time, Budgets, and Time Budgets - Make it stand out Pro tip: Budgeting is way more fun when you use lots of colors! No, it’s really not. But it does make you budget more for ink. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1620691406337-8NUGUJFXWH6PACKUOL7T/unsplash-image-P43VRz8fLWs.jpg Blog - Time, Budgets, and Time Budgets - Make it stand out Nothing says “hyperconverged” like a picture of the CompuServe datacenter, amirite? https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/are-you-asking-enough-questions monthly 0.5 2021-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1620089394223-LRYUTKORRM5JBXSSH5VN/unsplash-image-8xAA0f9yQnE.jpg Blog - Are You Asking Enough Questions? It can feel risky to ask questions, but I guarantee you that it’s riskier to hang out wherever this picture was taken. It looks like an alleyway the Riddler hangs out in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1620089263476-PFS91LT57LUG9RZIAJM4/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-direct-feed-1564.png Blog - Are You Asking Enough Questions? Honestly, if you’re not into adventuring you can spend hours in Breath of the Wild chopping wood, finding ingredients, and cooking food. No risky dungeons or shrines required! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1620089480439-SP047VYCRNUI4GTIZIRU/unsplash-image-ECJWF1NxSpM.jpg Blog - Are You Asking Enough Questions? “Well, we measured your wrist circumference, so we should be all set.” ”Including the pants?” ”Yep. We good. That’ll be $799. Visa or Mastercard?” https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/getting-the-most-from-virtual-conferences monthly 0.5 2021-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1619567731102-RTUGY5UL81YIIWIA440R/unsplash-image-uf2nnANWa8Q.jpg Blog - Getting The Most From Virtual Conferences Not going to lie, I’m getting anxious just looking at a room full of people like that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1619568200533-CTO3I8K1TKDPPO8X46NM/DE21-VID1-1280x800-1-400x400.jpg Blog - Getting The Most From Virtual Conferences One of the things that I like about Dell Tech World is how varied the content is, there’s laptops, cloud, and BYO snacks! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1619567809875-FPCKH8RVLTVTF9RFS097/unsplash-image-qnWPjzewewA.jpg Blog - Getting The Most From Virtual Conferences The beauty of a virtual conference is that you can a ton out of it, without it taking a ton out of you. Yeah, I’m looking at you "Captain 42,000 steps a day at VMworld.” Note: that was me. My feet still hurt. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/your-it-career-as-an-rpg monthly 0.5 2021-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793771405-Y59OZ7XTXZU6183QGQL3/Main1.png Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793922890-XFLAMWAKHZURLCPTT0XO/Barbarian.png Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793707359-4N1BSNLRVSB4VD6R19V6/Main+2.jpg Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793855754-HNIZ990AVXZOM6WYO7HX/Wizard.jpg Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793821193-7LAHFUS4YAGIVI03N1OH/Warrior.png Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793886990-7IHRW7J4KVOMMQEMNPT0/Bard.png Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618793910043-1BSKNKCIL54ON90F03XU/Rogue.png Blog - Your IT Career as an RPG https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/make-the-most-of-11-meetings-with-your-boss monthly 0.5 2021-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618269712869-F1YZ44AQ4LBOXPK66VN0/unsplash-image-zCJrolkwRyE.jpg Blog - Make the Most of 1:1 Meetings With Your Boss My memory is exactly like a whiteboard ….that gets erased after each and every meeting. True story: This is why I photograph whiteboards in meetings. Microsoft Lens for the win. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618269379278-FS2KQ7AIDKIGTP14C2E4/unsplash-image-376KN_ISplE.jpg Blog - Make the Most of 1:1 Meetings With Your Boss You and your manager are a team. But if you’re high fiving during meetings, you might want to rethink how well you’re social distancing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1618269463999-KFAN9X3U12LTUQSH91B8/unsplash-image-dtTu8Ec_uAU.jpg Blog - Make the Most of 1:1 Meetings With Your Boss Don’t skip the notes part. I spend significant effort on this part, because it saves me a ton of effort during the meeting. Also, I type mine because my handwriting is straight outta med school. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/on-surviving-cannon-battles-and-it monthly 0.5 2021-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617753983387-B67ISO8T14B3I0VK1PJN/unsplash-image-YcE0feO4DLI.jpg Blog - On Surviving Cannon Battles and IT I find that just stopping to think when something is falling apart generally returns dividends many times over. Even when in the office. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617753821753-0ATDKEE0B09RTC18DSLW/maxresdefault.jpg Blog - On Surviving Cannon Battles and IT There’s absolutely nothing quite like the sea breeze and pirate cannon fire to teach you the principles of strategic IT survival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617754345942-JZ02H9U1TQ754SJ0Z4E9/unsplash-image-qWwpHwip31M.jpg Blog - On Surviving Cannon Battles and IT Look, I just like designing things more than I like fixing them. So for me, the ideal state is less broken stuff and more time spent on building new things. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/is-software-getting-worse-part-ii monthly 0.5 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617149550027-DR219RYOPVSBTPN9QPU1/unsplash-image-aKij95Mmus8.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part II) This is either the lobby of a software company, or a Bond villain lair. ….is there even a difference anymore? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617149840353-XXF2JIOIHXGR7SVAKATP/unsplash-image-F2eHfMwIOxA.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part II) Why is it that we complain immediately if there’s one pump too few of mocha in our lattes, but somehow with software just shrug and accept that this is just how it is? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617151499542-ZRTMWXW9U5N3JZA9A0C3/Porters.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part II) Transformational Technologist: Come for the tech blog… but stay for the poor graphics that help explain business school jargon! https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/is-software-getting-worse-part-i monthly 0.5 2021-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1616549001424-GL2VS907RMA7C68PL9LC/unsplash-image--15ZMeUKtJM.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part I) Look at this thing. Total bastard, amirite? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1616548868281-ICWLS89EJYTAG3T3A4GO/unsplash-image-4T5MTKMrjZg.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part I) How could code possibly be less reliable when it’s this easy to read and debug? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1616549519658-CLB18H1VZIPDCUFTJWVA/unsplash-image-DuHKoV44prg.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part I) Okay, folks. Buckle up - this one’s longer than usual, but I think it’s about something we all have feelings about. Even stronger feelings than I have about how portrait-orientation monitors freak me out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1616548730447-QEOE7ZDYONM0YIN525UA/Survey.jpg Blog - Is Software Getting Worse? (Part I) I’m not alone in this sentiment. Software QA doesn’t seem to be as trustworthy as it used to be. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/dont-under-promise-and-over-deliver monthly 0.5 2021-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1615853423505-2NAJ8EXCGZ7GQDZMKYAR/unsplash-image-sNVkn3507Oo.jpg Blog - Don't Under Promise and Over Deliver “Oh, the tile is coming in tomorrow - this place will be finished in two, three days - no worries! This is going to come together perfectly.” Narrator: It did not. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1615853579110-TYZW2JQWGVHJCQOPK16G/unsplash-image-sXCxht5Ivu4.jpg Blog - Don't Under Promise and Over Deliver I’m not asking you to underestimate the time it takes to complete a task - I’m just saying don’t intentionally overestimate it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1615853778486-FBLTR5OGBA53Q0RFE0G6/unsplash-image-NmGzVG5Wsg8.jpg Blog - Don't Under Promise and Over Deliver Ohhh.. “How Flour is Made.” That’s way better than doing this project. Let’s watch that. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/see-it-through-your-customers-eyes monthly 0.5 2021-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1615166310778-OMQ69RMQ7WO0C6O494VT/Robert_Irvine_161020-Z-DZ751-370_%2829850172084%29.jpg Blog - See IT Through Your Customers' Eyes Robert Irvine will fix your failing restaurant… or bench press it. One or the other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1615166083652-ZZL5FVEW2EJM4IPN15KP/unsplash-image-1Lf5Adh9SCg.jpg Blog - See IT Through Your Customers' Eyes Don’t underestimate the importance of asking your customers about their experience. Related: the Boston airport bathrooms have these little smiley faces that you can press on the way out to let them know how the bathroom was. Chances of me ever actually coming in physical contact with one of those buttons in an airport bathroom? 0% https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1615165970916-ADVTM00THQIWR41GP3W9/unsplash-image-R6_o_PPAS94.jpg Blog - See IT Through Your Customers' Eyes See the care that he’s putting into plating? Do you think he’d send those out if he didn’t think they tasted right? How do you think he knows? He couldn’t… taste it, could he? https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/surviving-the-mixer monthly 0.5 2021-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1614636970855-PY381NISZ6M0DFUTUYES/SyMTDx55G.jpg Blog - Surviving the Mixer If you haven’t watched The West Wing, take a week off of work and do so. Just watch it straight through. In my opinion, it was (and still is) the greatest television program - drama or otherwise - ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1614637081188-DZ943UV3F3GX78Q8DKD7/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Surviving the Mixer And remember, you can always spend time at the dessert table. If you aren’t chatting, you’re at least still using your mouth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1614627665274-7JW4XATGTU3WWJ3SLYZI/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Surviving the Mixer If the sight of this professional reception gives you heart palpitations, you’re not alone. Heck, I’m there there with you, but I’ve learned to adapt - you should, too. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/prioritization-is-critical-in-it monthly 0.5 2021-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1614044335176-CWW6UDEZFN5B8S7A3A6Y/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Prioritization is Critical in IT This picture has nothing to do with anything, but seriously… what is going on with that Windows XP sweater? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1614044400032-JFQWTNMKGVUYLVDX2ZDO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Prioritization is Critical in IT You only have so many hours in the day - best not to spend them wondering if this watch matches your wardrobe. It doesn’t. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1614044149941-QRZOF7OTYB1YGG3PKMUR/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Prioritization is Critical in IT Migrate all of this to Azure in a month? Check. Focus on my career growth over the next year? Eh… maybe next month. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/taking-a-rest monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1613495159819-SZHWIXO8CHUAB6T0XC0B/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Taking a Rest One of my top four food groups during vacation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1613495081759-XD3W0LPIQVSN9A3M74KT/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Taking a Rest Importantly, this is not where my vacation is. I’m just at home, living in a frozen hellscape waiting for spring. But I’m pretending this is where I am. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/dont-be-the-office-it-jerk monthly 0.5 2021-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1612905354212-KYHFJ7AZI1UYZAR11M7C/4899497f4a260b829a362f74d5db3f22.jpg Blog - Don’t Be the Office IT Jerk This skit makes my blood boil. It’s funny, but I hate that so many people get the joke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1612905134666-CHKR2AY9R404DDZ6RHTR/image.jpg Blog - Don’t Be the Office IT Jerk While this article is about people being jerks, I cannot endorse jerk chicken resoundingly enough. I love jerk chicken, French fries and a Ting on the beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1612904933256-LYQM66OQU4HLAQJ5JMGB/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Don’t Be the Office IT Jerk Live, from New York… it’s …… not Steve, because he’s in Massachusetts and can’t leave because of the pandemic. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/analogies-are-kind-of-like-a-translator monthly 0.5 2021-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1612278727750-S5BLEU5JHFF5VQT32F0A/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Analogies Are Kind of Like a Translator Look, I’m working with free stock photography. That it came back with anything when I searched for “analogies” is kind of a miracle. Side note: I can’t stand Scrabble. I’m more of a Monopoly person. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1612279763167-0HPBIZQRXBO054GK5E6Q/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Analogies Are Kind of Like a Translator I am not a graphic designer. Send complaints to the folks at Microsoft paint. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1612279666303-BEH3F84AG7Q0YLIRNC8J/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Analogies Are Kind of Like a Translator You may be surprised how often your audience is asking this… You may also be surprised when someone comes to your house and draws this on your driveway. If that describes you - move out of state. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/what-auto-repair-shops-can-teach-us-about-it monthly 0.5 2021-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1611694026826-5PUQACPIQ4UA0X8OBLDV/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What Auto Repair Shops Can Teach Us About IT This guy may not look like an auto mechanic, but if you pay attention, you can pick up ideas and ways to improve your IT shop just about anywhere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1611694148055-ATONKXBROSNG7AMRJ6Y3/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What Auto Repair Shops Can Teach Us About IT This is not my car. However, it is a rough approximation of the color of my car. I bet I have more cupholders. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/when-not-if-you-get-a-new-boss monthly 0.5 2021-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1611102503891-KD0YTGXQUQXYW4LWYT70/image-asset.jpeg Blog - When (Not if) You Get a New Boss Your new boss probably has a packed calendar. It’s not that they don’t like you - it’s just that they’re really busy getting the lay of the land. I mean, I guess it’s possible they don’t like you - but if you follow these steps, it’s a lot less likely. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1611102765115-J5ETT4O9XRHOPKBOWMWD/image-asset.jpeg Blog - When (Not if) You Get a New Boss The suit says “boss” but the stern look and crossed arms say… uh… well, I guess it also says “boss.” This guy is a boss, or at least plays one on stock photography. I like his suit, though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1611102354860-LMZYXSFYIEHEJC04EO3C/image-asset.jpeg Blog - When (Not if) You Get a New Boss It is more likely than not that your new boss won’t live in government housing… or a fortress. But they may have a lawn, so it’s kind of like this. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/it-isnt-about-being-on-the-bleeding-edge monthly 0.5 2021-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1610489540282-J99THJF2MD8QO5FI6G6K/image-asset.jpeg Blog - IT Isn’t About Being on The Bleeding Edge I don’t run your company, but if I did I probably wouldn’t authorize you to build an autonomous transformer. …despite the fact that I’d really want to approve it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1610489682996-RCFTIGTBZ3SJVQ77FSUL/image-asset.jpeg Blog - IT Isn’t About Being on The Bleeding Edge I’ve got to be honest - this thing totally fits the needs of our family. We’re loving it, and it’s not even close to the latest thing on the market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1610489387563-629E0J4I2094AFLYV4KX/image-asset.jpeg Blog - IT Isn’t About Being on The Bleeding Edge This is not my Xbox Series X, because I don’t have one. Apparently, Microsoft only made 7 - and we all had to fight it out for who would get one of them. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/hiring-for-a-skill-you-dont-have monthly 0.5 2021-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609883842411-E9C6TPFNWD0TSWUZLMI2/6a09aa942e9027986e773820f43bd394.1000x1000x1.jpg Blog - Hiring For a Skill You Don't Have Yes, I owned this album. No, I did not buy this album. I won it at a Halloween contest. Yes, I am guilty of opening it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609883686405-31K7M3T4RNF8ECE82EMZ/1990-dodge-grand-caravan-4.jpg Blog - Hiring For a Skill You Don't Have You had to know getting in this rad mobile that you weren’t making any decisions - it was Dad’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609883259176-GUNZ4VUK3Q6C12QE9D1R/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Hiring For a Skill You Don't Have Some day, this fish & chips trailer hopes to get big enough to need an IT team, but they don’t know how to hire them. Guess they’ll just have to pick at random, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609883084749-Z65XF2GQWOOZ2P5K2MAJ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Hiring For a Skill You Don't Have “Thanks for coming in. It says here that you have 10 years of experience with vSphere 8. Please tell us about time travel - we’d very much like to get out of you know… now.” https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/dont-resolve-make-goals monthly 0.5 2020-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609268220519-2E8KGU8XVG2BKN23H26V/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Don't Resolve... Make Goals The best way to celebrate 2020 coming to a close is by… throwing weeds in our champagne? Go home, stock photos… you’re drunk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609268881564-NCTS77REFOWUS32DRGCR/image-asset.png Blog - Don't Resolve... Make Goals It would be more believable that this person was actively learning if their phone wasn’t obscuring most of their notes.. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609268984548-11534HZ9CNVHUU94COLO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Don't Resolve... Make Goals Woo hoo!! It’s a new year! Let’s blow some stuff up and scare some dogs! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1609268811453-4SI4VZAEG34AGVWRIXBJ/GOals.jpg Blog - Don't Resolve... Make Goals https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-need-to-disconnect monthly 0.5 2020-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1608684272234-TDONNJZBUQL9RGWJE2AD/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Need to Disconnect This looks like the perfect location to crush through some support tickets. It has four bars of WiFi! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1608684400968-IVJE9I43FX8C97FJ9B48/image.jpg Blog - The Need to Disconnect I probably have a little more gas left in me than this car… …but not much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1608684479227-L0ZWWBPOSQWOLY0VTBPW/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Need to Disconnect On balance, I’m not entirely sure these things have been good for us as a society. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/your-infrastructure-and-team-are-only-as-strong-as-the-weakest-link monthly 0.5 2020-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1607995554930-MIXCWJ29EQ5799UVUVAK/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Your Infrastructure and Team Are Only as Strong as the Weakest Link Every time you give me feedback, a good boy gets a head rub. Think about it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1607995407373-YVAZEX4GPKUADB7JXFCO/24445486463_a3c6298ed0_b.jpg Blog - Your Infrastructure and Team Are Only as Strong as the Weakest Link Honestly, though - what happened to this particular link? Like… why that one? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1607995222743-JM9S2VUM6TR29RHKUC05/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Your Infrastructure and Team Are Only as Strong as the Weakest Link This is what I thought the picture was of - a Pirates of the Caribbean style bridge. To be clear, I’m not going on this bridge regardless of its level of repair. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/humble-pie-actually-tastes-pretty-good monthly 0.5 2020-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1607477059964-AB0X66X58AB1YAO3VP0T/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Humble Pie Actually Tastes Pretty Good Look at this arrogant jerk. Someone needs to tell him to study up, because he’s not nearly as smart as he thinks he is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1607477295491-BQTILMXKRYCTZ6DU3UFL/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Humble Pie Actually Tastes Pretty Good So, our debate in the conference room was somewhat less dramatic than this, but this captures my heartrate during that discussion pretty well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1607476255700-B3OQE7FTIWZP2DDRSZH4/image.jpg Blog - Humble Pie Actually Tastes Pretty Good This consultant started at the company on a 3 month contract when he was fresh out of college. His last day is next month… unless we extend his contract, since there’s some loose ends he could tie up for us. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/what-termites-taught-me-about-careers monthly 0.5 2020-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606842428405-UKIMGI9CQB532TYJ7DMC/IMG_1871.jpg Blog - What Termites Taught Me About IT Careers Termites. Just chewing straight up a pressure treated post. Sweet. My spring was about to get fun! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606842644625-CV3B1ZC11O15PIWD07K1/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What Termites Taught Me About IT Careers I don’t know how the project went south. His LinkedIn photo was spectacular! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606842298986-QFUY6Q9AE0EWA1VIYHGQ/IMG_4936.jpeg Blog - What Termites Taught Me About IT Careers This is an actual picture of my old staircase in a pile. Note the insect damage to the pressure treated stringer. Pressure treated lumber, you may or may not know, isn’t supposed to be susceptible to insect damage. This made my day. So much fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606842682824-JLZ6HRQZI38248FDRH6F/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What Termites Taught Me About IT Careers Oh, I have no doubt it causes some awe. None at all. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/five-tech-things-im-thankful-for monthly 0.5 2020-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606271493355-M4QJCUZBMVLUYN68PXG2/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Five (Tech) Things I’m Thankful For Honestly, it’s easy to put more emphasis on the pie part of the day. I mean, have you HAD great pumpkin pie before? With homemade whipped cream? Mmm… pie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606271737881-7ICYWT3FIV7YT1L2J284/image.jpg Blog - Five (Tech) Things I’m Thankful For It’s access to effectively everything humanity has discovered, flying through the air …and they give it away for FREE at coffee shops. C’mon - you gotta be happy about that a little, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1606271880142-X8CLYWTW125SG05460I2/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Five (Tech) Things I’m Thankful For I wasn’t messing around. I’m going to go have some pumpkin pie now. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-to-stand-out-outside-the-office monthly 0.5 2020-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1605493771323-L2RRC9NK2XUNSKSYGP78/IMG_1122.jpg Blog - How to Stand Out Outside the Office Presenting at VMUG UserCons has been a true career accelerator for me, and one of the things I most enjoy. Even when it’s not in Australia. But especially when it’s Australia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1605492597125-7WEXGFQCF4CST87QA24T/IMG_3430.JPG Blog - How to Stand Out Outside the Office Getting to see some friends and fellow techies I don’t get to see often was a highlight of VMworld Europe 2019. I hope I get to see them again in 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1605492830812-ZHZHRKYL092F55635N1H/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Stand Out Outside the Office I still use a Betamax VCR, so video editing is probably not in the cards for me, but if you have this skill, it’s definitely a great way to stand out. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/some-thoughts-on-it-vendor-management monthly 0.5 2020-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1605056527345-1KKYF1EKDFD3VC74O7V6/s-l1600.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on IT Vendor Management Sure, it looks super cool - but do you have any idea how much of my flesh was torn off in one of these? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1605046536501-8SDDGMRYX5BRWTCIB3XW/fundraiser-OTIS-SPUNKMEYER-FAM-845x550.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on IT Vendor Management Look, they’re good. Even real good. But don’t base your infrastructure decisions on cookies. That’s really all I’m saying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1605055637473-ZR5RCPCYWT77RKSYAGFS/partnership.jpg Blog - Some Thoughts on IT Vendor Management A great test of a vendor is if they can spell “partnership.” https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/show-genuine-appreciation monthly 0.5 2020-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1604370262923-L7DPEQ0VAAGLK4JU68FG/loveletter.jpg Blog - Show Genuine Appreciation This person took it WAY too far. Do not do this. Do not even consider doing this. Just say “Nice job - way to get after it,” or something. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1604370418296-WV14TM74MSVY76O6GMOZ/image.jpg Blog - Show Genuine Appreciation Our theme in pictures today has been “stuff I don’t recommend.” Just get a rollerball. Why you gotta complicate everything like this? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1604369584342-4093S82ET2VF4YYEUH85/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Show Genuine Appreciation I was never the cool youth leader with sunglasses and a whistle. I was the dorky one with a Palm Pilot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1604369914589-5YLELCAKD9LOFHE7WW7U/card.jpg Blog - Show Genuine Appreciation I actually don’t recommend that you get cards that say “Thank You” because sometimes you want to say “congratulations,” or “sorry about eating your entire birthday cake.” Still, you get what you get in Creative Commons, so here’s a Thank You card. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-importance-of-showing-up monthly 0.5 2020-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1603754854535-KFBBV2E7KJRP7PVKSZBX/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Importance of Showing Up I’m pretty much always going to show up for cake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1603754750007-PNIOX6L2HNQ88EK5FIY6/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Importance of Showing Up Look, I probably like crowds less than you do, but I realize how beneficial these events are for my career. I hope you see it soon, too. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/am-i-coming-in-clear monthly 0.5 2020-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1603207032621-0GL7D12SGZ5Z1JE607EJ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Am I Coming in Clear? My organization aesthetic and philosophy is a lot like Apple’s: if you just get rid of everything there’s nothing to be disorganized. Problem solved! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1603207219670-TK7D2WWKYR54571TNFS1/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Am I Coming in Clear? Clarity is like a box of donuts - you never appreciate how great it is until it’s gone. Also, I very badly want a donut. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1603206651899-TQ9Y1N0MC19A3H6P91CT/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Am I Coming in Clear? I don’t listen to this kid’s podcast. It’s just a bunch of screaming about Lucky Charms. He really wants them. Like… badly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1603206877054-BBG3CM5RQ6GBNN5YD4SB/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Am I Coming in Clear? Indian is possibly my favorite cuisine, but my taste buds still haven’t recovered from that first time.. Wowza! https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/a-balanced-approach-to-change-management monthly 0.5 2020-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1602621980799-80ZGWL55ZZWF0ESCIUZN/image-asset.jpeg Blog - A Balanced Approach to Change Management We don’t give out stickers for voting on an RFC… but maybe we should! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1602621845675-X86XSZ3TN1IM848060WO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - A Balanced Approach to Change Management I petitioned to get this sign put over the conference room we use, but it got shot down pretty hard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1602622194511-RKLGLM3KQCEI1O8YJGDI/image.jpg Blog - A Balanced Approach to Change Management I’m not saying an empty conference room is a productive conference room, but… https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/cross-training-is-critical monthly 0.5 2020-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1602004612979-54UIVRO1RT7XF9TAW668/25392512853_3462461c21_k.jpg Blog - Cross-Training is Critical Generally, I prefer to learn more informally in someone’s cube, but if they’re willing to break out the markers and whiteboard, I’m game for that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1602004953426-LGU1QXSUD723GP53OV41/google-datacenter-tech-21.jpg Blog - Cross-Training is Critical Pictured: a stunningly simple environment that anyone can know everything about and manage all by themselves! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1602005789409-K2YHUSMTZZOT03RDVH85/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Cross-Training is Critical This is actually not a bad representation of our old manufacturing floor. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/some-thoughts-on-vmworld-2020-so-far monthly 0.5 2020-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1601516544108-W74KNG6JPOHQ80KNSRIW/image-asset.png Blog - Some Thoughts on VMworld 2020 (So Far) VMworld is a lot different this year, but the graphic design is still tight https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/reflections-on-volunteering-to-lead monthly 0.5 2020-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1600871044726-C0OFUPU5PIJQS6VNTKTS/Edited.jpg Blog - Reflections on Volunteering to Lead I’ve gotten to do some fun things, for sure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1600810204695-BPLC883IA9QMQ0PCQPUW/Boat.jpg Blog - Reflections on Volunteering to Lead This shirt is like a collector’s item these days. We’ve upped our graphic design game. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1600810679149-550RLLFXCGFQPXHCKPJI/IMG_0532.JPG Blog - Reflections on Volunteering to Lead We really did give a way a lot of home labs… https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/what-tom-brady-taught-me-about-it-careers monthly 0.5 2020-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1600131576293-XVBIKOP07R7EI9XZVTNO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What Tom Brady Taught Me About IT Careers Don’t just plan what your goals are, Plan what actions will help you hit them, and do those things https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1600131778246-RO0GFXMGJ0TXR8TQ4XN6/image-asset.jpeg Blog - What Tom Brady Taught Me About IT Careers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1600131391099-KX9ZCTPGSGAO807UCCJT/BradyDouche.jpg Blog - What Tom Brady Taught Me About IT Careers Now that this guy doesn’t play for my team anymore, I will willingly admit that he’s not super likable. Who sits like that?! And what is that rug?! But man… can he win football games. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/not-knowing-something-is-ok monthly 0.5 2020-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1599616360344-E15V85KP5PEIIFFJP36S/Zack.gif Blog - Not Knowing Something is OK Zack Morris would have been a great IT pro, you know… if he wasn’t such a jerk. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1599616721824-Q14QSA9J9XN5M6ER8IHQ/Duckduckgo-tall.big.png Blog - Not Knowing Something is OK DuckDuckGo: It’s like the other search engines, but less evil. Also, patently ridiculously named. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1599616261236-FPFPPHRKM5GVA7H9KFX5/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Not Knowing Something is OK We tell kids not to lie, but is bluffing that you know something you don’t a lie? Yes. Yes, it is. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/vmworld-the-epicenter-of-cloud-giveaway monthly 0.5 2020-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1598925655113-VBCU5VYHWCDU0ABCTDOF/IMG_4199.jpg Blog - VMworld: The Epicenter of Cloud (GIVEAWAY!) My favorite part about this picture is that I had just watched “A New Hope” with the kids before I left, and they were legit worried I was going to be killed by stormtroopers. They haven’t realized stormtroopers have terrible aim… yet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1598925815524-IQNG0HABN2JVIG8BDFEO/IMG_4226.JPG Blog - VMworld: The Epicenter of Cloud (GIVEAWAY!) Sometimes people stop by the VMUG Lounge… that’s all I’m saying. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-service-can-set-you-apart monthly 0.5 2020-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1598320004745-4SW8U5Z23RS4AEREL50X/100613102-irs-building-gettyp.1910x1000-1120x600.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Service Can Set You Apart I said virtually every organization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1598319943638-HNB5F5XUIQFCTM1LG95U/awesome-wow.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Service Can Set You Apart If you haven’t seen Hamilton, you don’t get this reference. Watch it. Not because I told you to, but because you’ll be a better person for it. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-everyday-empathy monthly 0.5 2020-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1597784057312-4GF9WUS0CE0UKOHIATEB/image-asset.jpeg Blog - STRIPES: Everyday Empathy Look, there are very few public domain images that relate to empathy, so you get someone crossing a street. I’m not a designer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1597783514414-B3P259HQ1GCST9SE70CQ/empathy+box.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Everyday Empathy Empathy: Now sold at Circle K and other fine retailers. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-perseverance-means-performance monthly 0.5 2020-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1597180037137-SWQDWU1YLDQEDEXEJXEX/answers.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Perseverance Means Performance Pictured: An answer machine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1597179391903-8H089KY9DKPSW70R0MRT/Key.png Blog - STRIPES: Perseverance Means Performance I keep this key on my desk - not because I need a Synology key, but because of a reminder that perseverance is the determining factor for outstanding results. However, it would look a lot cooler in dark gray. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1597179721748-1TJ0B32FN4YD43IT5QHV/image-asset.jpeg Blog - STRIPES: Perseverance Means Performance You can almost smell the grit. No joke, though - there are some great restaurants on this street. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-inclusion-should-be-intentional monthly 0.5 2020-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1596586620192-AM10FP53XLM3FO75VISY/image-asset.jpeg Blog - STRIPES: Inclusion Should be Intentional Tech careers are for everyone. Great banners however, are for the moneyed elite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1596586208139-54X0GQFIKOU58QXGRLDV/image-asset.jpeg Blog - STRIPES: Inclusion Should be Intentional This picture is courtesy of Women of Color in Tech Chat. They discontinued the program in 2016 but still have a ton of stock photos up. Using their pictures is a simple and profound way to include the most poorly represented group in tech. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1596586504335-76YDAR7ELBCJ9KQ40BQR/download.png Blog - STRIPES: Inclusion Should be Intentional I told you, I’m not great with kids. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-respect-is-career-lubrication monthly 0.5 2020-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1595982032598-8OHN8IJKOMZW9TKYXQZL/Nick-Burns.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Respect is Career Lubrication I still think these are funny. But also, deep in your heart - you know this person. They work in your department. And every time they act like this, we all look worse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1595981105803-5KOIRM06KY285JS7NKYN/TUG.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Respect is Career Lubrication Seriously, my father spent a lot of time in a VA facility before they passed. These things are great at getting medicines around - they even dispense them to the patient! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1595980983611-VOXAHE2XL12KP3ZYQOOW/respect.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Respect is Career Lubrication I needed a graphic to represent the post, but seriously - what even is this? The text isn’t in the same plane as the screen, they’re cockeyed, and almost no words are readable. This is a terrible, terrible graphic. You deserve better, reader. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-teamwork-makes-the-team-work monthly 0.5 2020-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1595376559861-55PZCME8MXK3VTR9R0M6/image-asset.jpeg Blog - STRIPES: Teamwork makes the Team Work This guy has the right idea! I just have no idea where is team is… and I don’t think he does, either. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1595362987712-E7BD6Y6SNV63QZKOFRRR/DieHard.jpg Blog - STRIPES: Teamwork makes the Team Work Let’s be honest - if this movie were real, John would have been dead 10 minutes in. Then who would have played opposite Samuel L. Jackson in Die Hard 3? https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/stripes-the-significance-of-sincerity monthly 0.5 2020-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1594771377066-6F2BF6AK08GW8NHRPO69/StripesSticker.png Blog - STRIPES: The Significance of Sincerity My kids live for the days they get these stickers. They come home beaming, and we are proud parents. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1594771486382-PUWVE2B4MHQ2J5187C7L/image-asset.jpeg Blog - STRIPES: The Significance of Sincerity Is this a kindergarten or a Silicon Valley late-stage startup? I don’t know…. and neither do you! https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/some-thoughts-on-it-certifications monthly 0.5 2020-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1594085172868-VYIGZKLCKEU1U70NLUDK/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Some Thoughts on IT Certifications John Malkovich isn’t sure about IT certifications. He doesn’t have to be. He’s a millionaire actor - and none of this matters to him at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1594085082760-HNNRG8TVXFINB88VNOND/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Some Thoughts on IT Certifications If you got your certifications from Hogwarts, you either: A: Got ripped off, big time. B: Probably don’t need IT. Wizard that tech up! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1594085269122-MHCV3SP9K5CXUQHH9I0N/image-asset.png Blog - Some Thoughts on IT Certifications When I got my first certifications, they sent you real swag. You could wear this pin on your suit to look dapper! Now you get a PDF file. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-best-it-advice-i-ever-got monthly 0.5 2020-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592789540603-QH2QSMEV2VOXQ8V1YZIB/p_v19arugn9yq0930.jpg Blog - The Best IT Advice I Ever Got We were “two peas in a pod.” I miss this man terribly, but am immensely thankful for his wisdom. (I know I usually make jokes in these, but not this time. Sorry.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592789632225-P0LFYH73RTPZWZN1HG9D/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Best IT Advice I Ever Got There are downsides to an office with a window https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/why-do-we-do-this-at-all monthly 0.5 2020-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592332910761-2AUCGI0O7CMRIZYLX9X0/iquQO5RN.jpg Blog - Why Do We Do This At All? Isn’t it great that I had a pro photographer with me when I guest lectured? What are the odds? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592332633712-O92F370U08QVBY1U9UH7/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why Do We Do This At All? I want you to be passionate about technology and what you’re doing! I also want you to be passionate about why you’re doing what you’re doing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592332486185-OJWTQT3MZ8DDJA8CAF2Q/just_horrible_home_alone.gif Blog - Why Do We Do This At All? This one. It’s this face that I make. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-importance-of-explaining-why monthly 0.5 2020-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592331517628-30QC6GO4JEDZCTULSDZY/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Importance of Explaining Why Pictured: a miserable hellscape that awaits me six months a year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1592331855818-2EOHAZLTW60MU9N9Z2BQ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Importance of Explaining Why How much do you want to bet that everyone on this team can tell you how their work benefits the team goals? https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/black-lives-matter monthly 0.5 2020-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1591189335038-FUXTIJUY9N2Z5KO3L7WW/100898965_10217655415280594_5167665480445460480_n-860x451.jpg Blog - No Room for Racism https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/prioritization-how-and-why monthly 0.5 2020-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1590529018018-UVQ2DD6O2OIXHVGKB7UD/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Prioritization: How and Why This guy is so productive he has a whole wall for three tasks. All of which are empty. And one is checked off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1590529144144-LR0CBKVKVBN79MIH4MBH/Matrix.png Blog - Prioritization: How and Why Today on “pictures I stole from the internet,” we have this beauty! (If this is yours, let me know and I’ll give you credit. I’ve had this in my file for a long time…) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1590529305748-52GOU89LGFBF6L3ANTJO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Prioritization: How and Why Quick sidebar: Does anyone use a pocket-watch anymore? Do they make a “smart” pocket-watch? They do! It’s called an iPhone… or if you like suffering, an Android. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/task-vapor-lock monthly 0.5 2020-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1589904733015-IXUM9U7MB26W57BGFWWM/stress Blog - Task Vapor Lock Stock photography for the win! This is pretty much the exact emotion I’m talking about, right here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1589904520261-FA4IBAKLECGC7LVW8WU1/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Task Vapor Lock I use software to organize my task list, but if my handwriting was this neat, I might use paper, too… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1589904838930-G8I2K19WF5HSC9D4IC8I/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Task Vapor Lock Some steps are easier than others, but each step leads you to success. …..Or hypoxia and cerebral edema. You won’t find out until you get there! https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/delivering-bad-news monthly 0.5 2020-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1589229711593-7M40LLG9GU4R60PA3HIC/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Delivering Bad News You: Wow, Steve went full emo on this post. Intense Me: Stock photography is rough, I’ll just use whatever pops up first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1589229946193-7M1UDVTQGL3IBQSQ8HR4/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Delivering Bad News This post starts out kinda rough, so here are some puppies to inoculate you against it. Aren’t they cute? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1589229800975-J6BG5KXPTRLPJA9FLBOY/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Delivering Bad News Uh, greetings from the flight deck. Folks, I have some bad news. I know we were headed or Miami, but, well.. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/community-more-important-now-than-before monthly 0.5 2020-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1588719622294-DILJ046JTH9XIJ75FHMH/IMG_4605.jpg Blog - Community - More Important Now Than Ever Before Community is about helping people - or just pointing at screens, maybe? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1588719216329-42LOSXOUFC57F57H7G8S/IMG_2873.jpg Blog - Community - More Important Now Than Ever Before One of my favorite groups in the community: VMUG Leaders! (I’m in there somewhere…) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1588719686155-Z94WLCT1CWFFE1X5STIT/IMG_4628.jpg Blog - Community - More Important Now Than Ever Before VMware posted this up for VMUG Leaders last time I was on campus. I was smitten with the phrasing - it’s just the truth when it comes to the technology community. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/an-important-question monthly 0.5 2020-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1588122451095-7SPCX2UPBCLQY6CDNXN4/1__YIuaml_vaFi-K2_A_eEBw.jpeg Blog - An Important Question Important note: if question marks ever start floating in front of you - quickly write down what you have recently eaten - you’ll need it later for the deposition in your civil suit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1588121907511-T92NC8LO9I3BY7ECYKCQ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - An Important Question This picture is 98% too inspirational for this blog, but the aspect ratio was right, so I’m going with it. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/some-thoughts-on-free-time monthly 0.5 2020-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1587516166626-RCLX2PYRJERRZUO5LJ9J/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Some Thoughts on Free Time Free time: Noun 1. time available for hobbies and other activities that you enjoy; a time period when you are not required to work. 2. something you may not have any of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1587515781764-JRIYRANRBKCRGX7S2LLJ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Some Thoughts on Free Time Lee Cockerell ran this. Not jealous at all…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1587516629217-WWL4GE2PDFEVZ6OBVK4N/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Some Thoughts on Free Time Honestly, this is 100% valid these days. No one is within 6 feet, and no kids are asking for help with the iPad. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/k59mcrey69le9a9juf5dt0os1ggqyc monthly 0.5 2020-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1586918027158-G9YPKASEC6KQJ1YORUBN/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Thanks, IT I should hang this up outside our data center https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1586917889420-GJ2JYGULXFVOQDLJT1OK/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Thanks, IT I can’t write you all a “thank you” note, but if I could, I would. Hang in there, everyone. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/i-miss-my-office monthly 0.5 2020-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1586303679088-3FZHJS5ACY79FENDL363/image-asset.jpeg Blog - I Miss My Office Stepping on one of these hurts. Stepping on one of these during a team meeting is soul-crushing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1586303986958-QTH4J46U41I747V9AK23/University-Crossing-River-Hawk-Shop-Exterior2-1400-opt_tcm18-203932.jpg Blog - I Miss My Office I work in that building. I miss it so, so very much. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1586303819348-RURZAJJ5CMYU7D01IVLV/image-asset.jpeg Blog - I Miss My Office This picture is 100% lies. It never looks like this. Never. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/why-i-hate-vpn monthly 0.5 2020-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1585497761294-M1TBG1QWNSSW4A177KAO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why I Hate VPN Pictured: Where your company’s employees would rather work from: home. Not pictured: actual work-from-home attire consisting of sweatpants a hoodie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1585497616769-SHBKP7TOYIXS39XGXZTE/dan-nelson-5hymX0di55Y-unsplash.jpg Blog - Why I Hate VPN Shut up. VPN is not this simple. This is all a lie. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-to-keep-morale-up-when-yours-isnt monthly 0.5 2020-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1585183214228-QAE2ZS7BLK2D4BOYY4ZO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Keep Morale Up When Yours Isn’t This is relevant. Just keep reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1585183073485-Y372GY4EKF0FCVKNNEQB/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Keep Morale Up When Yours Isn’t I don’t have fancy furniture in my office, but if I did, I would have looked a lot like this. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/under-pressure-its-all-about-the-psi monthly 0.5 2020-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1584361257861-R5DPK8B7N4ZYQ36J7WYA/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Under Pressure? It's All About the PSI! While this is a stand-up meeting, it mostly serves to remind me that I do not work on a beach. Seriously, though - informal information sharing is critical. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1584361418025-X0521FFNBVW6E53B4ZK4/JtVH5Khvihib7dBDFY9ZDR.jpg Blog - Under Pressure? It's All About the PSI! This thing is so very small to have caused so much disruption. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1584361030138-Q22WRXAM5JPTT9A2QBVU/priority.jpg Blog - Under Pressure? It's All About the PSI! Generally speaking, in a crisis your priority should not be playing Scrabble. Incidentally, “priority” is not a great word based on score. Better hit the triple word space. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-to-know-your-team-and-why monthly 0.5 2020-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1583114011699-SOZMFTCFCUZMJOEC1MJ3/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Know Your Team... and Why Important: if you get off here, there is a Mike’s Pastry and also a college. The bakery is more fun. Get the Florentine Cannoli. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1583114382839-EMUBNN72VK0NX4TOWNMY/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Know Your Team... and Why Do you know how hard it is to find a picture that shows two professionals and conveys relationship building? Just look at the puppy and be happy, okay? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1583114456588-92BM1G8LYLOJDN0NR0XV/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Know Your Team... and Why Pictured: Too much. No one is asking you to do this with your team. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/its-abc-simple-always-be-communicating monthly 0.5 2020-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1583112837555-6PXOTTK8EUFIRQTO8Q9H/image-asset.jpeg Blog - It's ABC Simple: Always Be Communicating! Pretty much what I imagine it looked like in the OR. It could also have been a cave with sticks - how do I know? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1583112998825-J88JRE6VN22AYR86E7ZZ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - It's ABC Simple: Always Be Communicating! Pictured: People talking. Do this. Do it often. https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/why-definitive-blanket-statements-arent-good-business monthly 0.5 2020-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582649256260-TU7C93NT5D2JVL01ZP1J/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why Definitive Blanket Statements Aren’t Good Business Hopefully, Sue has better equipment than this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582643039832-24UWVTNC1VNVWWMQJOLK/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why Definitive Blanket Statements Aren’t Good Business Pictured: a very public cloud https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-to-get-by-giving monthly 0.5 2020-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582051831258-CZ2YNPHRUHPJR0CAMRPL/VMUG+Leadership+Conference-116.jpg Blog - How to Get by Giving https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582052069217-PXXCIWBPKZT8V6PBE00F/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Get by Giving https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582052534219-PRXAEDTSH04QGMWOEC7D/JAN_7274.jpg Blog - How to Get by Giving https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582051753282-FOHGRJ06MH0SGOCQ4PJ4/VMUG+Leadership+Conference-52.jpg Blog - How to Get by Giving https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1582052251121-6K8O6V83MTS4CXQ13294/IMG_3720.JPG Blog - How to Get by Giving https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/how-to-learn-new-technology-skills-and-why monthly 0.5 2020-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1581445028950-MZFJ6MASP3QLDWG32TAR/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Learn New Technology Skills (And Why!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1581445860042-I9NWAQA1UH3HGA2JGEVE/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Learn New Technology Skills (And Why!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1581445577088-3XHBQ2RO4HZX3ZF27628/shutterstock_625972778.jpg Blog - How to Learn New Technology Skills (And Why!) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1581444876110-F6LYRG1KTJ3RLUI4ETKO/image-asset.jpeg Blog - How to Learn New Technology Skills (And Why!) https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/why-you-should-always-be-more-than-a-techie monthly 0.5 2020-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1580269575333-BSAUT7C34XSGCPTT4AMT/shutterstock_116443600.jpg Blog - Why You Should Always Be More than a Techie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1580269303501-F4DTR4HCM1X2YQ2C344A/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why You Should Always Be More than a Techie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1580269272834-M3MYRUGFLJWSE60E8N7W/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Why You Should Always Be More than a Techie https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/the-welcome-post monthly 0.5 2020-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1580268846153-729460HPBT1JV92LDVHC/IMG_3482.JPG Blog - The Welcome Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1580264645113-W9BJRCX9SDV13CQQFOXQ/VMworld_Wednesday_VMware%2BLeader%2BLunch_1067.jpg Blog - The Welcome Post https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/category/NYC monthly 0.5 https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/blog/category/Streets monthly 0.5 https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-04-01 https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/home daily 1.0 2023-11-08 https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/about daily 0.75 2021-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5da9d4fa7e42095872ed7c43/1617294180786-LP0F6APNW66APRCML6VV/JAN_7273.jpg About https://www.transformationaltechnologist.com/contact-skye daily 0.75 2025-05-09