Advice – Page 174 – Steven Savage

Stereotype-Fu: Bring Them Along

November 24, 2009 by Steven Savage

Well I guess I wasn't done with my stereotype-fu columns was I?

If you're dealing with geek stereotyping on the job or career-wise (and I will go on about related issues Friday), there's many strategies I've detailed.

Another one I'd like to suggest is this – invite your stereotyper to experience just how neat what you're a fan or geek of IS. In short, find a way to invite them along.

Take them to a film, lend them a DVD or a game or a book, invite them to have lunch with you at a local convention. Get an appropriate "crossover" gift (give a baseball fan a DVD of "Princess 9" to show them anime, or a mystery fan a "Surrogates" graphic novel to introduce them to comics and sci-fi). Show them how neat it is.

I think people are often afraid to be inclusive when the stereotypes come out – they don't want to be judged, they don't want to be humiliated, and they probably worry the stereotyper MIGHT be right.

Well forget that. You've got enough common sense to know what they may or may not understand.

This has two advantages:
* First, you do something FOR the person. This helps you connect with them and develops a bond period.
* Second, you get a chance to show them things are different and help them understand and appreciate you and what you care about.
* Third, the deliberate inviting-of people can help break many stereotypes applied to fans and geeks (which are often images of fans being antisocial).

Next time you're stereotyped in your career, invite people along for the ride. Build some bridges and show people just how interesting what care about is – and make some friends!

– Steven Savage

Why your fandom habits may help you do more in your career

November 22, 2009 by Steven Savage

Being a fan gives you all sorts of benefits for your career – gaining skills while having fun, networking with interesting people, traveling to places that may be good to relocate too. I, as is obvious, am big on Leveraged Geekery to benefit one's career and life.

It's too easy to focus on "obvious" things like, well, the above. But there's one less obvious – but very important – thing fandom does for you.

It teaches you new, useful habits habits – habits that may be good on your career or indeed to improve your whole life. Yes, in short, fandom may be making you a better person.

You just may not be aware of it.

Convention Idea – Speak to Parents, Teachers, and more

November 11, 2009 by Steven Savage

(The rest of the Convention Idea series is here).

I love convention professional events, as you've pretty much guessed. I've certainly done enough in the past, and am always looking for new things to do and new ideas.

However I noticed one thing lately – convention events focused on professional issues such as writing careers, artists, etc. focus on the people doing the work and looking for jobs. They focus in short, on the people who need the advice.