Episode 10

Last updated Sep 4, 2022 Edit Source

Topics 

3:30 - 7 Month Check-In on Nick @ VMware  

• Nick describes the transition from IT Operations to the vendor side. 

• John and Nick talk about differences between being a generalist and specialist in VMware technologies. 

• What’s the biggest surprise? 

  • Helpful co-workers 

  • Emphasis on training 

• What’s better than you thought it would be? 

  • Management style of leaders, interaction cadence, emphasis on employee growth 

  • Manager 1-1s 

• How does it feel to be involved in the sales process?  Many IT pros think it’s icky. 

  • How is this job like working the help desk? 

  • John shares experience in online forums and its relation to this role. 

  • Emergencies still exist but are a little different. 

• What could Nick have done to better prepare / short-circuit the process of getting here? 

  • More exposure to other technologies in personal time 

  • Achieve certifications faster 

  • Earlier community involvement – speaking sessions 

    • Listen to John’s public speaking experience. 

    • Everyone started somewhere. 

35:19 - Imposter Syndrome 

• What is impostor syndrome, again? 

  • John and Nick weigh in on what they think impostor syndrome is. 

    • How can seeing what good looks like affect you negatively? 

    • How have John and Nick experienced impostor syndrome? 

• Homework for the listener 

  • Read Cody de Arkland’s post on the subject -  https://www.thehumblelab.com/lets-talk-about-imposter-syndrome 

  • Nick’s post that was inspired by Cody’s -  http://blog.thenetworknerd.com/2018/06/30/fighting-the-impostor-within 

• Who feels / will feel impostor syndrome at some point? 

• John says being uncomfortable is the only way to grow. 

• Maybe setting expectations is the problem. 

• John admits he wants to be nerd famous. 

• Are we measuring success properly? 

• People in software support live with a different level of discomfort than other roles like Pre-Sales, etc. 

• Is John an ice man? 

• Nick talks about math and problem solving. 

• Beginners mindset 

  • Don’t worry about being bad, you will be 

• Smart Kid Syndrome 

  • https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-secret-to-raising-smart-kids1/ 

58:32 mic bump 

• John shares the birth of the journeyman mindset and then has a mic drop moment.