Why Being Helpful Can Be Such A Challenge
When you come across someone who is truly helpful to everyone around them, regardless of their level or status, you know you have found someone special. I’ve been privileged to work with several people like this, and this trait makes a huge difference in their effectiveness. I’ve worked hard to mimic these stellar people, and […]
Reducing Overwhelm with Just One Piece of Paper
One common refrain I hear from technologists is, “When am I ever supposed to get any work done?” The biggest challenge working in technology is the amount of information and distraction that hits us all day, every day. It seemingly never stops. You’ve got emails, Slack, or Microsoft Teams (or if you’re really “lucky” BOTH!), […]
When Did You Last Learn Something That Changed Your Career?
It’s been a while since I reviewed the ELEVAROS foundational model. I last wrote about it in April – but this time, I made a video to help you understand and apply it to your life. I created this model after surveying over 200 “tech-adjacent” people – those who work closely with I.T. workers. I […]
Impostor Syndrome is Your Friend
Letting your fears and insecurities guide you can be scary, but they can also lead you to tremendous growth. Have you experienced Impostor Syndrome? If you don’t know what that is: it’s that little voice (or maybe a really loud voice!) that tells you, “You can’t do that.” It seductively tells you that you’re terrible […]
What’s In Your Blindspot?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been talking with a lot of people. The good news is people are connecting with my work, and the conversations are positive. However, I see a common theme. See if you can spot it in this typical conversation: “So what do you do?” Me: “I teach and coach technology people soft […]
Seek Out the Positive (and It Will Spread)
If you have ever had to work with negative people, have you ever noticed how their negativity impacts you? It is contagious. Guess what? Positivity is contagious too! When you surround yourself with people that tend to see the best in all situations, then you’ll find yourself on a positive kick too. When you’re positive, […]
The Scarcity Mindset is Sabotaging your IT Career
I was listening to a podcast the other day, and the hosts were talking about the scarcity mindset and how it sabotages people’s success. Stephen Covey wrote in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: “Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie […]
The Secret to Getting More Done
There are myriad tools, techniques, and methodologies to help you become more productive. But what is the RIGHT one? Maybe you’re a fan of David Allen. His methods of capturing and clarifying certainly have some appeal. Or perhaps the Franklin Covey ABC-123 method has helped your productivity for years. How about the Pomodoro method? Working […]
You Are an Artist
In my 20+ year IT career, not one person has ever said, “You’re an artist.” I’m betting you’ve never heard it either. But you most certainly are an artist. Seth Godin defines an artist as, “…someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo.” Do you see yourself and your work […]
The Self-Imposed Blind Spot
One of the great lessons I learned while serving in the U.S. Air Force was about the self-imposed blind spot and how it can derail the troubleshooting process. One of the tasks our team had to do was set up an airborne radio relay network, so that we could facilitate long-distance communication without relying on […]